Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce

🌍✈️✨ The Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce (GAAST) is proud to strengthen our partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) programme to shape a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready aviation workforce. Our recent #GAAST meeting in Abu Dhabi, graciously hosted by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), marked a significant milestone in our shared mission of attracting and retaining talent and ensuring the workforce of tomorrow is equipped to meet the challenges ahead. 🔗 🌟 By working together, we’re ensuring aviation remains a beacon of progress and possibility for generations to come. Let’s continue to soar toward a brighter, more inclusive future—together! 🌟✈️💡 #GAAST #ICAO #NGAP #Sustainability #Aviation #Aerospace #GlobalPartnerships

The aviation industry faces a significant challenge: building and sustaining a skilled and diverse workforce to secure its future. Attracting and retaining talent is a top priority for achieving ICAO’s strategic goals through 2050. Addressing this challenge requires collaborative and coordinated action from all aviation stakeholders. A key milestone in this collaborative effort was the second meeting of the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce (GAAST). The meeting provided a platform for active collaboration between ICAO’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Programme and GAAST to address workforce challenges and align strategies for building a resilient and sustainable talent pipeline for the aviation and aerospace industries. The outcomes of this collaboration will play a pivotal role at ICAO’s 42nd Assembly in 2025, where NGAP and GAAST will present a coordinated plan of action to further advance global workforce objectives. Special thanks to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for hosting the second meeting of GAAST and to the Alternate Representative of the UAE, Mohammad Salem, for their strong support and hospitality. Appreciation also goes to GAAST Chair Nina Brooks and Vice-Chair Fiona Hau (née Douglas) for their leadership and commitment to this initiative. Together, we aim to strengthen the aviation sector’s appeal, positioning it as a top career choice for diverse talent worldwide while ensuring sustainability and resilience for future generations. **************** This collaboration builds on ICAO NGAP’s four key focus areas: 1. Advocacy, Outreach, and Promotion of Best Practices: Raising awareness of workforce challenges and opportunities, sharing best practices, and promoting policies that reflect the values and needs of the next generation. This includes improving the industry’s value proposition, public perception, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as gender equality, access to quality education, decent work, and reduced inequalities. Engaging youth and showcasing aviation as a rewarding career path are also central to this focus area. 2. Workforce Forecasting: Leveraging data to inform strategic decisions and targeted actions to address workforce needs and ensure a sustainable talent pipeline for the future. 3. Education and Training: Enhancing programmes to meet the changing needs of both the industry and workers. This includes bridging gaps between training and operational and fostering global mobility through mutual recognition of competencies and training credentials. 4. Capacity Development and Implementation Support: Empowering States with tools, resources, and expertise to build inclusive aviation workforces. This includes ensuring access to affordable education and supporting States in delivering effective workforce solutions so no country is left behind. #ICAO #NGAP #GAAST #Aviation #FutureWorkforce #SDGs #UNyouthoffice

When your target market spends a large proportion of their time on Roblox…. Create a virtual world to demonstrate to them our incredible sector, including flights, operations and being “employed” and paid in Roblox money! What a great initiative to inspire the next generation and demonstrate the potential career prospects in our sector. Well done Mohammad Taher

I'm very proud to be the Chair of the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce alongside a fantastic team, Fiona Hau (née Douglas), our Vice Chair and Casey Ferriter, our Programme Manager. We had an action packed productive week in Abu Dhabi, kindly hosted by UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Mohammad Salem. Lots of work to do to achieve our goals, but we're truly on the right path, with an enthusiastic and dedicated group of people. Special thanks to International Civil Aviation Organization for their valuable participation last week as well. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/egZZAcsa ICCAIA - International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations

ICCAIA is proud to be chairing the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce, such a dedicated and enthusiastic group, working towards ensuring a resilient future workforce for aerospace and aviation.

❓ What does it take to secure a skilled, resilient, and inclusive aviation and aerospace workforce for the future? The aviation and aerospace sectors want to ensure lessons are learned from the pandemic and as demand continues to grow that we are able to fulfil the full potential of the sectors and meet future skills needs. Addressing these workforce challenges isn’t something any single organization, country, or sector can achieve alone—it requires unprecedented collaboration 🌍 between industry, governments, regulators, and academia. The Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce (GAAST) was established to meet this challenge head-on. By uniting global stakeholders 🌏, GAAST provides a platform for open dialogue, shared learning, and coordinated action. Under the steadfast leadership of Nina Brooks as Chair, and Fiona Hau (née Douglas) as Vice Chair, supported by the unwavering dedication of our Program Manager, Casey Ferriter, the taskforce is committed to breaking down barriers and creating practical solutions for the workforce of tomorrow. Last week, the taskforce convened for its second meeting, graciously hosted by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The sessions showcased the power of international cooperation, with participants working across borders and disciplines to craft work plans that ensure the aviation workforce remains adaptable and prepared for future challenges. A particular highlight was the collaborative spirit in the room, which this time saw women leading the charge—a promising sign for the diversity the sector so urgently needs. We are especially grateful to Jorge Vargas and Latifa Hadbi of the International Civil Aviation Organization for their insightful contributions, and to Mohammad Salem and the UAE GCAA for their warm hospitality and for providing the perfect setting for such meaningful progress. GAAST’s mission is clear: to build a future-ready aviation and aerospace workforce. Together, we are laying the foundation for a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient industry. Thank you to all who participated in an engaging and insightful week. If you wish to find out more please contact: secretariat@gaast.aero #aviation #aerospace #skills #GAAST #workforce #futureaviation #collaboration

How often we participate in meetings that address far-reaching topics with lasting impact across multiple sectors of the aviation industry and what we see is a room full of male and only a hand full of women?. This week, I had the privilege of participating in a group that could potentially drive one of the most significant changes in aviation—a topic everyone is discussing, yet where decisive collective action has been somehow lacking. This is not environmental, not technological, not safety, not commercial, but something intersecting all of these aspects and of dire importance….. human sustainability!. I’m humbled and proud to see mostly women in the picture this time. They are once again stepping up to lead this vital effort, championing progress for the benefit of all. During this week kindly hosted by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and Mohammad Salem the GAAST - Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce, met to craft the work we started in late 2023. The GAAST is a group of volunteers led by Fiona Hau (née Douglas), Nina Brooks and Casey Ferriter, aiming to address talent acquisition, retention, and development challenges in the aviation and aerospace sectors and for all groups. By uniting industry, governments, authorities and academia, the group focuses on building enablers that guarantee a future-ready workforce to support the aviation ambitions in a future full of challenges and opportunities. Working in a group, predominantly composed of women, this week was both enriching for me and reinforcing my beliefs. It wasn’t the first time, and I truly hope it won’t be the last. I always admire women’s collective dedication and tenacity in advancing causes that drive meaningful progress, always with mutual respect, and encouraging the free exchange of ideas. When the group is international, these qualities become even more evident. I’m confident my fellow GAAST allies share these sentiments as well. The GAAST in a collaborative effort from organizations such as: Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, Civil Aviation Authority, Airport Services Association (ASA), ACI World - Airports Council International, EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency , Heathrow Airport, airBaltic, ANAC - Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil from Brasil, The International Air Cargo Association TIACA, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan , Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), EUROCONTROL and many more. It also included International Civil Aviation Organization as a participant in this meeting. Also, The Adventures of Capt Paddy and Lucky sponsored by ASL Airlines was present brining the group closer together over a charitable and noble cause.

EASA and the UK CAA...United by Teddy Bear Diplomacy! 🐾 Both organisations share the same concerns and see eye to eye in believing that practical action is essential to demonstrate aviation as a promising career, profession and life choice for young girls and boys. The "Bear Force Two" The Adventures of Capt Paddy and Lucky sponsored by ASL Airlines, highlight how aviation can unite to raise money for two wonderful causes in Ireland. This is proof there’s nothing stopping us from working together on something far more important than ourselves🐻🛩 LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice https://www.dogstrust.ie/ For more information and ways to make donations, please visit https://lnkd.in/efHwT79B Sophie Jones, MBA Fiona Hau (née Douglas) Casey Ferriter Nina Brooks Jason Phelan

Ensuring there are enough qualified #aviation professionals is not a problem only of one organisation, or one type of organisations, or only one region of the world. People are needed for each and every phase of any flight for it to go smoothly, flights handled by many different stakeholders. Our industry can be sustainable not only if it is profitable, and environmentally responsible, but also if it makes sure it stays attractive to have enough motivated and capable people to meet the demand of our customers and deliver services. #Proud to be representing EUROCONTROL at the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce, leading the #Attraction and #Outreach stream together with Milena Capeluppi. Happy to be back from an intense, and successful week of work with so many other inspiring people. Huge thanks to Nina Brooks, Fiona Hau (née Douglas) and Casey Ferriter for #leading persistently and skillfully this work. Excellent presentations from Jorge Vargas and Latifa Hadbi focusing the attention to the most urgent issues. None of this would not have been possible without the #hospitality of our colleagues from UAE- thank you Mohammad Salem for the organisation #NGAP #aviation #future

⏰ Last chance to have your say! We want to understand the perception of the aviation and aerospace sectors. Please participate, share, comment and like to help us reach as many people as possible. Target audience is any member of the public, not just aviation professionals to get a broad understanding on what people think of our sectors! 🌍 Our global survey is open until 8th November. Thank you 🙏 Survey now also available in Brazilian Portugese.