Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is emerging in Australia, bringing new technologies that will transform transport, strengthen connectivity, and create opportunities across multiple industries. The sector lacks clarity on the skills, roles, and training required to operate and support AAM operations in national airspace particularly as CASA progresses its regulatory roadmap.
This project will deliver a comprehensive skills gap analysis to identify emerging AAM roles, define capability requirements, and determine the updates needed to VET and identify Higher Education pathways. Through consultation with industry, regulators, and training providers, the analysis will also map future training needs and to CASA’s training and regulatory requirements, outline required training products, and identify clear career pathways to support workforce transition and growth.
To ensure technical accuracy, ISA will engage an AAM specialist to support stakeholder engagement, skills analysis, and development of the final recommendations, with ISA overseeing delivery and quality.
Advanced Air Mobility represents a new generation of aviation powered by electric propulsion, advanced battery systems, automation, and uncrewed operations. These technologies require specialised skills across piloting, engineering, maintenance, and ground operations, along with new capabilities in areas such as remote piloting, Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM), and automated maintenance systems.
AAM is expected to deliver cleaner, quieter, and more flexible aviation, improving connectivity, particularly for regional and remote communities, and supporting sectors such as emergency services, logistics, and agriculture. However, Australia cannot scale AAM safely without a clear understanding of the workforce, training products, and career pathways required to operate and support these new systems.
With most future AAM roles likely to be filled by an already stretched aviation workforce, defining these requirements now is critical for workforce mobility, safety, and long-term industry sustainability. This project will provide the evidence base needed to align national training systems with emerging AAM roles, close skills gaps, and prepare Australia for safe and effective AAM deployment and commercialisation.
This project will produce an Advanced Air Mobility Skills Gap Analysis Report outlining the workforce skills and training requirements needed to support the national AAM industry. The final report will include:
- Skills and knowledge frameworks
- Career and training pathways
- Workforce modelling scenarios (dependent on the availability of data)
- Recommended updates to VET qualifications
- CASA requirements and infrastructure considerations
- Implications and recommendations for other JSCs
How this will be achieved
- Interviews with key stakeholders and CASA
- Identification of new and emerging AAM roles
- Definition of required skills, knowledge, and training needs
- Mapping of CASA defined roles, endorsements, and maintenance role requirements
- Feasibility assessment and development of AAM workforce modelling (where possible)
- Analysis of findings against national qualifications and CASA requirements
The project is due to be completed by 24 November 2026
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Haidee Whiteley Project Manager M: 0427 385 159 |