INDUSTRY OUTLOOK 146565588 | © ZORANDIM | DREAMSTIME.COM COVID-19 calamity will not solve the worldwide shortage of pilots and mechanics. by Steven Markhoff 42 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 n its face, the apparent drop in demand for air travel appears to portend misgivings for those wanting an aviation career as pilots or mechanics. We should not forget that pre-pandemic, the worldwide aviation industry was bemoaning an historic shortage in pilots and mechanics. The pandemic has not and will not make that shortage go away. There will be an unprecedented shortage of both pilots and aircraft mechanics in the medium and long term. First, the US aviation industry faces an epic rate of pilot retirements. Over the next six years, 42 percent of pilots at Alaska Airlines, United, American, Delta and Southwest face mandatory retirement. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGYhttp://www.DREAMSTIME.COM