eli5 how do countries with crumbling infrastructure afford to properly train and field pilots and airliners?

Question

Ethiopia, for instance. Most of these airlines have remarkably good safety records considering how loosely regulated I would assume they are.

In: Economics

Answer 1

One “benefit” from standardization is that services in airlines are a global commodity. (ELI5 simplified) There are not too many types of commercial aircraft and pilots are certified on the craft can do so anywhere in the world. They don’t NEED Ethiopian pilots to fly in Ethiopia. Nor do they need Ethiopian engineers to maintain aircraft since the vast majority of aircraft are standardized. A certified maintenance crew for a Airbus A380 is certified internationally and there are companies that will service your craft in various countries.

And the good thing about international transport is that no international airport will allow you to land if you don’t meet their insurance requirements, don’t hire certified pilots and don’t maintain aircraft. So there is this sort of discipline enforced regardless whether the airline is from a rich country or a poor country.