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Saturday, 16 December, 2000, 02:12 GMT
Delays fear over engineer shortage
Air passengers could soon face delays because of a shortage of maintenance engineers, the Civil Aviation Authority has warned.
Up to a quarter of the jobs for avionics engineers remain unfilled and overall the aircraft industry needs more than 3,000 extra staff.
The CAA wants airlines to make more of an effort to recruit apprentices.
Spokesman Tony Ingham said: "If the companies don't react now, you could see more delays, simply because you can't get the aeroplanes out of the hangar on time."
An aircraft can't fly without an engineer
Andrew Bloxham
Aircraft have to undergo rigorous checks before each flight and require extensive routine maintenance.
It is thought that while some airline jobs such as pilot or cabin crew are seen as glamorous occupations, engineering is less attractive to youngsters choosing a career.
But apprentice engineer Andrew Bloxham said he felt the job was prestigious.
Drift abroad
"I couldn't say what everyone thinks of engineers, but I imagine everyone sees them as important people.
"An aircraft can't fly without an engineer," he told the BBC.
Some airlines say they now have to pay their maintenance crews more than their pilots, to prevent them taking better paid jobs abroad.
But there is still a shortage of 3,500 staff in Britain and more than 10,000 in the US.
The British Government is currently looking at the problem, and a working party is due to report within a few months.
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