DECEMBER 2025AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM8In My OpinionTHE FUTURE OF TECHNICAL OPERATIONS IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRYBy Barry Lott, Director, Aircraft Records and Maintenance Reliability, Southwest AirlinesWith over 40 years in aviation, Barry Loft is an A&P Certified Mechanic experienced with both military and commercial aircraft. He has held leadership roles in Technical Training, Maintenance Planning, Technical Writing, and Aircraft Reliability, contributing to Boeing MRBs and the Maintenance Programs Industry Group at Airlines for America. Currently, he leads Aircraft Records, Maintenance Reliability, Business Optimization, and Technical Analytics at Southwest Airlines. His prior experience spans McDonnell Douglas, Northrop, Airborne Express, ATA Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Atlas Airlines and Gulfstream.Harnessing Emerging Technology to Redefine Airline Technical OperationsAirline technical operations are at a pivotal crossroads. Across the industry, we are confronting an era defined by rapid technological evolution, shifting workforce demographics, and increasing operational complexity. The challenge is not just to maintain reliability and safety, it's to do so in a world where both the aircraft we fly and the workforce that supports them are changing faster than ever before.Today's fleets are larger, more technologically advanced, and far more data-rich than the aircraft of even a decade ago. Yet the technical workforce that maintains and supports these fleets is both shrinking and aging. Many of our most experienced technicians were trained on analog and cable driven aircraft systems, and while they've adapted admirably to digital aircraft, the pace of change continues to accelerate. At the same time, we're competing for a shrinking pool of new talent against industries that barely existed twenty years ago: Self-driving vehicles, commercial space ventures, drone and UAV manufacturers, even advanced robotics companies. The result is an unprecedented pressure on airlines to do more with less, while still meeting the uncompromising expectations of passengers and regulators alike.Barry Lott
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