"We are requiring and expecting more training, and more supervision, and more quality control," said Whitaker.

WATS 2024 kicked off with a dynamic keynote by FAA administrator Michael Whitaker, celebrating the aviation industry's resurgence amidst technological advancements while addressing critical challenges like training deficiencies and safety concerns.

"I have seen companies that fully grasped this issue, and have changed the way they hire and they way they train," said Whitaker. "They've changed the amount of training they do, and they've changed their expectations, from their new employees. And I have seen companies that seem to be oblivious to this, so that is really our challenge, to make sure that this is understood and mitigated as a risk."

View the full keynote presentation below.