How Amman Mujahid Is Making Aviation Maintenance Visible

Amman Mujahid didn't set out to become an aircraft maintenance engineer. Like most people, Amman only knew aviation's visible roles: pilots and cabin crew. The mechanics signing off on airworthiness? Invisible.

Today, Amman is part of a workforce the industry needs but struggles to keep.

Boeing's 20-year outlook projects demand for 710,000 new maintenance technicians globally. Oliver Wyman warns of workforce gaps in North America by 2027, with some scenarios showing shortages exceeding 9% of required technicians.

This now shows up as operational constraints and capacity limitations. The average age of US aviation maintenance technicians is 51. Retirements are accelerating. Pipeline development isn't keeping pace.

Amman entered aviation by chance. When initial plans shifted, aircraft maintenance engineering became the path forward.

But the hangar environment presented immediate challenges. Early guidance pushed toward administrative work, not technical roles. Assumptions about appropriate functions created barriers to hands-on experience.

The numbers: women represent less than 3% of aviation maintenance technicians globally. Only 2.6% of FAA-certified A&P mechanics identify as women.

Amman's response was direct: "There’s no female or male engineer- just engineer."

Getting technical experience required advocacy. This pattern reveals industry-wide issues: who gets development opportunities, who advances, and why capable people leave.

Amman calls maintenance engineers "doctors for aircraft." The description fits. Every inspection matters. Every sign-off affects safety.

Yet this function stays invisible. Pilot shortages make headlines. Maintenance gaps don't, even as they compound operational problems.

The economics: maintenance represents 10-15% of airline operating costs, second only to fuel. Training constraints limit the number of new engineers entering the field. Experienced technicians leave for the automotive, manufacturing, and energy sectors, where pay is comparable but demands differ. Young people can't pursue careers they don't know exist.

Relocating to the UK reset expectations. Credentials didn't automatically transfer. Technical expertise mattered, but so did communication, networking, and confidence.

Amman created Aviation Maintenance Escapades, a platform for visibility, mentorship, and realistic career information. When the industry doesn't spotlight the work, individuals build alternatives.

Now balancing career and parenthood, Amman shows that professional growth adapts through life changes.

Visibility drives discovery. Young people need to know this career exists. That requires partnerships with schools and vocational programs, as well as intentional representation.

Capability must drive opportunity. Barriers based on assumptions rather than aptitude undermine industry capacity. Organizations that match opportunity with capability build stronger teams.

Retention requires more than pay. It needs respect, clear advancement, skill development, and recognition that this work is mission-critical.

As fleets expand and demand grows, the challenge of maintaining the workforce intensifies. Boeing's 710,000 projection isn't mere speculation about the future. It's the present reality.

Solutions require making the work visible, removing entry and advancement barriers, and building cultures that support sustainable careers.

Aviation depends on engineers who keep aircraft airworthy. The industry must change how it finds, develops, and supports them.

If you work in workforce development, training, or talent strategy: what are you building today?

Amman Mujahid is an aircraft maintenance engineer and the founder of Aviation Maintenance Escapades on LinkedIn.

Workforce Projections:

Industry Data:

This podcast conversation is now available on all podcast platforms. Listen now.

Until next time,
Shaesta