The Rise of Competency-Based Training (CBTA) in Aviation Maintenance
A Shift Towards a CBTA Approach
Aviation maintenance is evolving. Traditional training programmes built around rote memorisation and rigid curricula are increasingly being complemented by competency-based training and assessment (CBTA). This approach reflects a broader industry shift: moving from purely theoretical learning to greater emphasis on the practical demonstration of key competencies, skills, and attitudes in real-world scenarios.
Regulatory authorities, including EASA and the UK CAA, have expressed support for CBTA principles and are engaging with operators and training organisations through policy initiatives, rulemaking projects, and industry consultation. The goal is to ensure training remains aligned with regulatory standards while also meeting the demands of today’s dynamic aviation environment.
For engineers, CBTA means training delivery that is more closely aligned to job requirements and performance outcomes. For employers, it provides confidence that staff are better prepared for today’s operational and compliance challenges, strengthening the development of a competent workforce.
With new technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and AI-driven analytics emerging in the training environment, CBTA is also being enhanced by tools that help the next generation of maintenance professionals learn, adapt, and progress. These technologies support continuous improvement and make training more efficient and engaging, strengthening overall training effectiveness.
This blog explores the drivers behind CBTA, its benefits for both engineers and employers, and the technological advancements making it a more effective approach. It also considers the long-term implications for workforce development, aviation safety, and operational excellence across the industry.
What is CBTA in Aviation?
Definition and Core Principles
Competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) focuses on measurable knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs). Unlike traditional approaches that are often structured around classroom hours and knowledge recall, CBTA places greater emphasis on whether a trainee can demonstrate core competencies in a safety-critical environment. This aligns with elements of evidence based training, where performance is assessed on outcomes rather than hours.
The approach emphasises:
• Performance as well as theory: success is measured by demonstrated ability, not just exam results.
• Scenario-based learning: engineers apply technical skills to realistic operational challenges.
• Safety culture: CBTA integrates behavioural and decision-making abilities alongside technical knowledge and human factors.
This model reflects the increasing complexity of aviation maintenance. While compliance with EASA Part-66 or CAA licensing requirements remains essential, CBTA strengthens training by ensuring engineers can act correctly under pressure, adapt to evolving technologies, and collaborate effectively within an MRO environment. As CBTA implementation continues, training organizations are finding new ways to apply these principles consistently across different regulatory contexts.
Regulatory Drivers and Industry Adoption
Role of Regulators
Authorities are playing an influential role in shaping how CBTA evolves. EASA and the UK CAA have expressed support for CBTA principles and are engaging with training providers through best-practice initiatives, policy discussions, and pilot projects to explore how competency-based methods can complement existing regulatory frameworks.
While CBTA adoption is not currently mandated for Part-66 licensed engineers, regulators are encouraging its adoption in training environments as a way to strengthen compliance, safety culture, and workforce development.
Current Adoption Levels
Industry adoption is growing, particularly in pilot training. According to IATA and CAE data, around 47% of operators and training organisations across aviation have implemented CBTA practices, while 65% of the remainder plan to do so within the next three years. Uptake in the maintenance sector is at an earlier stage, but momentum is building as MROs and training providers look to enhance both efficiency and competency validation.
This trajectory demonstrates strong industry interest, with regulatory support positioning CBTA as a likely future standard and a foundation for safer skies.
Why CBTA is Being Prioritised
Safety Improvements
Safety remains the foremost driver. Evidence from aviation training indicates that competency-based methods can reduce operational risk, as reflected in safety audits and performance assessments.
By focusing on applied competencies rather than purely theoretical knowledge, engineers are better prepared to handle unexpected maintenance challenges such as unscheduled inspections, deferred defect rectification, or troubleshooting during turnaround.
Alignment with Skills Needs
The aviation industry is undergoing rapid technological change. From digital diagnostics to increasingly complex avionics systems, the skills required in maintenance are shifting.
CBTA aligns training outcomes with evolving job demands, ensuring that engineers are competent not only in current tasks but also adaptable to new technologies. For example, avionics engineers operating under B2 approvals face expanding requirements around software integration and fly-by-wire systems. These are competencies that benefit from CBTA-style delivery, where decision-making and problem-solving are core components.
Training Efficiency
Traditional training can sometimes lead to both over-training and under-training. CBTA addresses this by tailoring learning to each trainee’s competency gaps.
This reduces wasted training hours, accelerates skill acquisition, and improves return on investment for employers. In practice, this means engineers can avoid unnecessary repetition where competence is already demonstrated, while focusing intensively on areas that need further development.
Benefits of CBTA for Engineers and Employers
For Engineers
1. Skills Tailoring: Engineers receive more targeted training, focused on safety-critical tasks such as line maintenance sign-off or base maintenance inspections, rather than solely on generic knowledge.
2. Continuous Learning: Regular assessments and refresher training help maintain compliance and technical agility as regulations and aircraft systems evolve. CBTA frameworks allow recurrent training to be better aligned with an engineer’s demonstrated competencies, reducing unnecessary repetition.
3. Career Development: Competency evidence can increasingly be captured through digital records and learning platforms, providing engineers with verifiable credentials to support mobility and progression across operators and jurisdictions.
For Employers
Workforce Quality and Retention: CBTA provides structured insights into competency gaps, helping employers upskill staff more effectively and reduce error rates.
Regulatory Alignment: Adoption of CBTA-aligned practices demonstrates a commitment to compliance readiness and safety culture, which can strengthen stakeholder confidence during audits under Part-145 and CAMO oversight.
Operational ROI: Training investments are used more efficiently, with reduced retraining costs and improved productivity. Organisations can align training outcomes more closely with operational requirements, streamlining recurrent authorisations and type-training programmes.
By linking individual growth with organisational outcomes, CBTA supports the development of a more resilient and future-ready workforce.
The Role of Technology in CBTA Methodologies
VR and AR Integration
Immersive VR and AR environments are increasingly being used to replicate real-world maintenance scenarios. These technologies allow engineers to practice technical tasks, stress management, and decision-making in a controlled environment without the risks or costs of live errors.
Early studies in aviation training suggest that VR-based practice can improve situational awareness and accuracy in competency assessments, though adoption in maintenance is still developing.
Biometric and Real-Time Data Tracking
Emerging tools such as eye tracking, motion telemetry, and biometric sensors are being tested within CBTA programmes. These technologies offer instructors objective data on reaction times, error rates, and proficiency, helping to build more accurate competency profiles. While promising, their use in maintenance training is not yet widespread.
AI and Data Analytics
AI-driven platforms like CAE Rise and Acron Aviation’s CARA can aggregate training data to generate insights on both individual and group performance. These tools help identify competency gaps, support instructor standardisation, and fine-tune training pathways. Adoption in engineering training is growing, particularly in large-scale organisations seeking efficiency gains.
Digital Passports
Digital competency passports are an emerging concept in CBTA. Linked to training data, simulator outputs, and maintenance records, these tools could provide a transparent record of an engineer’s skills and certifications. They are designed to support career mobility and simplify compliance across operators and aircraft types, though development is ongoing and industry-wide adoption has yet to be achieved.
The Future of CBTA in Aviation Maintenance
Scaling Adoption
With growing support from regulators and industry stakeholders, CBTA is increasingly recognised as an important model for aviation training. While it is not yet part of EASA Part-66 licensing training requirements, there is potential for competency-based principles to influence future approaches to recurrent type training and assessment methods.
Building the Next Generation of Engineers
CBTA equips engineers with not only technical knowledge but also decision-making, adaptability, and communication skills. These competencies are critical for managing modern aircraft systems and cross-functional maintenance teams in both line and base environments.
Long-Term Workforce Sustainability
By aligning training more closely with industry needs, CBTA can support long-term workforce resilience. It offers a way to address skills shortages, accelerate onboarding, and help ensure safety-critical roles are filled by fully competent professionals.
As workforce demographics shift, with many licensed engineers nearing retirement, CBTA is increasingly viewed as a valuable tool for attracting and preparing new entrants to the profession.
Conclusion
Competency-based training and assessment represents an important evolution in how aviation maintenance is taught. It offers a pathway towards a safer, more efficient, and more adaptable workforce.
By prioritising real-world performance, embracing new technologies, and aligning training with evolving job demands, CBTA is increasingly contributing to the development of the next generation of aviation professionals.
For engineers, it provides opportunities for personalised career development and the tools to thrive in a rapidly changing industry. For employers, it supports higher workforce quality, compliance assurance, and operational resilience.
CBTA is not a replacement for existing licensing frameworks, but it is emerging as a valuable approach that complements traditional methods and helps prepare the workforce for the future of aviation maintenance.
About Chevron
At Chevron Recruitment, we work closely with MROs, airlines, and training organisations to ensure engineers are placed in roles where their skills can be applied effectively in compliant, real-world environments.
We help employers by matching them with engineers whose competencies align with operational and regulatory needs, strengthening teams and supporting long-term workforce resilience.
For candidates, we provide access to opportunities that build on both technical and behavioural skills, supporting career growth in an industry increasingly shaped by competency-based approaches.
Hiring or looking for your next aviation role?
Contact Chevron Recruitment to discuss how we can support your workforce or career goals.