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🇬🇧 UKSOC 5234· Skilled Metal, Electrical and Electronic Trades

Aircraft maintenance and related trades

Aircraft maintenance and related trades fit, service, repair and overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies. Licensed aircraft engineers are coded to Unit Group 3113.

Aeronautical engineerAircraft electricianAircraft engineerAircraft fitterAircraft mechanicMaintenance engineer (aircraft)
£44,704
median salary
£36,193 –
21,400
currently employed
28,221
projected 2035
Declining
6 tasks scored1 AI Automates2 AI Assists3 Human-Led

Task Bundle Breakdown

How AI interacts with this occupation's task bundle

17%
33%
50%
17%
AI automates
33%
AI assists
50%
Human-led

Task-by-Task Breakdown

Every task scored individually — sorted highest to lowest AI exposure

78

maintains comprehensive repair logs

AI Automates

AI tools like Copilot or specialised MRO software can auto-generate, structure, and populate repair logs from technician inputs or sensor data, significantly reducing manual documentation time and errors.

56

examines drawings, manuals and specifications to determine appropriate methods and sequence of operations

AI Assists

AI tools like ChatGPT or specialised aviation knowledge systems can rapidly parse technical manuals, cross-reference specifications, and suggest operation sequences, but a human engineer must verify and apply this to the specific aircraft context.

56

examines and inspects airframes and aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and de-icers to detect wear, cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems

AI Assists

Computer vision AI systems (e.g. Rolls-Royce's IntelliIoT or similar inspection platforms) can assist in detecting surface cracks and anomalies from images, but human engineers must confirm findings and make airworthiness judgments.

33

replaces engine components or complete engines, installs and tests electrical and electronic components and systems in aircraft

Human-Led

AI-assisted diagnostic tools can help identify electrical faults and guide testing sequences, but the physical replacement, installation, and hands-on testing of components requires trained human technicians on-site.

22

fits and assembles parts and/or metal sub-assemblies to fine tolerances to make aircraft engines

Human-Led

Precision physical assembly of engine components to fine tolerances requires skilled hand-eye coordination and tactile judgment that robotic systems cannot yet reliably replicate in complex, variable maintenance environments.

22

maintains, repairs and rebuilds aircraft structures, functional components, and parts

Human-Led

Hands-on structural repair and rebuilding of aircraft components demands physical dexterity, contextual judgment, and regulatory accountability that AI cannot substitute for in current maintenance environments.

ROI Calculator

Aircraft maintenance and related trades

10.9hrs
saved per week
525hrs
per year ≈ 14 weeks
£13,039
salary-equivalent capacity freed per year

This is not a pay rise — it's 525 hours of productive capacity that AI could return to you, valued at your current rate.

£22,352
value at risk — 50% of role exposed to AI

The portion of your current salary tied to tasks AI can automate or augment. Not a prediction of job loss — a signal of where your role is changing fastest.

How is this calculated?▾

Task weights — each task is weighted by its O*NET frequency rating. Where frequency data is absent, equal weighting is applied.

AI time reduction — tasks scored as "AI Automates" assume 80% time saving; "AI Assists" assumes 40%; "Human-Led" assumes 5%.

Salary equivalent — annual hours saved × (salary ÷ 1,800 working hours/year).

Value at risk — salary × share of role time in AI-automate or AI-assist tasks.

Figures are indicative estimates for planning purposes, not guarantees of productivity gain or job loss risk.