RELIANCE AEROTECH ANNOUNCES 2005 AVIATION MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY SURVEY RESLULTS – MAINTENANCE MANAGERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF SKILLED PERSONNEL

Nashville, TN – General Manager of Reliance Aerotech Services Inc. (RAS), Ron Jordan, announced the release of RAS' third annual Aviation Maintenance Industry Survey.  "The 2005 survey demonstrated the critical need for maintenance managers to work with aviation staffing specialists that use advanced screening methodology to not only source workers, but to screen which employees to spend training dollars on," stated Jordan in making the announcement.

Following on the results of Reliance Aerotech Services' 2003 and 2004 industry surveys which identified a "fulfillment gap" between the expectations of maintenance managers and the performance of contract maintenance workers and the screening methods to find the "right" people, the 2005 survey sought to understand what additional problems might be created by the impending shortage of aviation maintenance professionals and the specific strategies maintenance managers could use to ensure they get the "right" people in a constricted labor environment.

Key findings of the Reliance Aerotech 2005 industry survey included:

• The majority of maintenance managers are concerned about their ability to have the skilled workforce necessary for mission success over the next three years.
• Avionics specialists will be the sought after professionals over the next three years.
• With the exception of the corporate sector, maintenance managers view on-the-job training as the preferred method.
• Internal training programs are not keeping pace with demand, especially when it comes to integrating military and apprentice level professionals into maintenance organizations.

"Partnering with an aviation staffing firm that offers training solutions can speed the integration of apprentice and military trained aviation professionals into maintenance organizations," said Jordan.  "Reliance Aerotech has a track record of success in training and we will be building additional capacity to meet the training needs of our customers and employees."

Reliance Aerotech Services began the annual surveys in 2003 to increase the level of professionalism in the contract maintenance industry.  Surveying both aviation maintenance managers and contract maintenance workers, Reliance Aerotech has been establishing benchmarks to guide decision making when using outsourced maintenance professionals.

A copy of the Reliance Aerotech Services 2005 Aviation Maintenance Industry survey can be obtained by going to www.relianceaerotech.com/services

About Reliance Aerotech Services
Founded in 1998, Reliance Aerotech Services is an innovator in the provision of outsourced aviation maintenance personnel and integration solutions for the defense, government, business and commercial aviation markets. RAS leverages technology and processes to provide the highest quality personnel through innovations such as its industry leading employment center, total value assessment program and annual industry surveys. 

RAS is a member of the Team Reliance Group of Companies, providing dependable repair and overhaul, maintenance, private equity and advisory service solutions for the aerospace industry.
 

Contact

Douglas Anweiler, Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications
416.203.8493 x223; e-mail: danweiler@relianceaerotech.com