What Is MRO In Aviation?

Maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) in aviation is the repair, service, or inspection of an aircraft or aircraft component. It is essentially all maintenance activities that are carried out to ensure the safety and airworthiness of all aircraft according to international standards.

The MRO Forecast: Clear Skies Ahead

As the year-end reports roll in, it can definitely be said that the aviation industry can look forward to clear and sunny skies in the future. IATA reports that the annual number of passengers will exceed 4.3 billion by the end of 2018 and, by the next year, the average world citizen is likely to travel once every 21 months.

That’s a lot of people claiming airline miles this year. Whether for work or pleasure, more people find themselves struggling through crowded terminals and to the max of the islands.

As value in the aviation market increases, support operations for example the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market will have the opportunity to win additional business, while facing greater challenges to meet relentless demands. The increase in travel requires more use of airplanes and that, in turn, ignites the overwhelming demand for services from the industry.

Key factors such as increasing demand for air travel, increasing digitization, and legacy management information system (MIS) upgrade to digital MRO software are influencing growth within the MRO software market.

Understand Where MRO Has Been, To Conquer Where It Goes

First, let’s go back to the moment when the MRO came into being.

Aircraft maintenance happens to be essential to maintain product obtainability, dependability and quality. Airline operators relies on MRO to make sure safety and acquiescence with Airworthiness Directives.

The MRO market became a viable business in aviation because Airframe original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) would focus primarily on development and production rather than the aftermarket. 

With the aviation industry booming, MRO operators and airlines require software that optimizes productivity and keeps operations in line with demand. Aircraft MRO Services in Malaysia manages the maintenance process and offers solutions to improve efficiency and enhance the end-user experience.

The Technology That Drives MRO to New Heights

IoT has become a buzzword in the tech landscape, but what people are discovering is that there is value underneath the buzz, especially for aviation. IoT maximizes efficiency across the industry, improving competition, operational efficiency, and profitability.

IoT is being used to enlarge aviation with ground-breaking technology. Big Data and IoT sensors are helping to improve and optimize condition-based maintenance (CBM). The data analysis that is collected provides information to improve operations and reduce maintenance delays. That vision enables predictive maintenance techniques that identify repairs before visible indications appear.

IoT extensions are expected to transform MRO software in different ways. Below, some of the other game-changing breakthroughs have been explored to be implemented in the aviation industry.

Artificial Intelligence: As it is continuing to get discovered new ways to harness AI, more inventions are being created to optimize productivity. An autopilot system can help the pilot control the aircraft and, over time, learn from the data to make decisions during the flight.

Laptops: Another by-product of IoT are wearables and robotics. Wearables and robotics offer innovative maintenance options to help with timely repairs and facilitate connectivity.

Rolls Royce is developing a small “bug-type” robot that can improve aircraft maintenance. The robot will speed up routine maintenance checks and eliminate the need to remove the aircraft engine for service.