"Supposedly" the trend and need for tech crews and engineers is huge. We've been hearing this for how many years now? And what have we seen?
- minimum experience requirements lowered;
- training standards lowered;
- costs cut & slashed under false guises whereby the real & only reason is profit at the expense of high standards & quality training;
- salaries for the said tech & engineering crews lowered;
- managerial / execs / bean-counters bonuses sky rocket;
- industry skill and knowledge plumet (& kids wonder why I get upset in the sim when they cannot define V1, or the 4 stages of a t/o, or Vmca in a heavy twin transport - stuff once thought of as our aviation bread and butter...., like RT);
A crew lands a stricken A320 on water & is praised for "explorary skill" where by the Capt's own admission they only did what training and experience directed them to do in a professional manner. Can a Capt with 1500-2000 hrs TT and FO with 175-250 hrs TT do the same nowadays as is the case at some "airlines" (loose term) given this new era we work & live in?
Sorry for the pessimism, but our history is the best indicator of our future.