In aviation, MRO or Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul refers to the repair, service, or inspection of aircraft and its components. It helps to keep the plane in airworthy condition and safely transport the passengers and cargo during flight. In addition, regular maintenance minimizes AOG (Aircraft on Ground) issues and costly downtimes. Most aviation companies outsource the MRO services to a service provider for cost-effective and robust maintenance of aircraft.
The MRO provider uses advanced technology and follows a data-driven approach to optimizing a plane across its lifecycle. You can also pair comprehensive aircraft MRO capabilities with value-added services like aircraft/engine sales and leasing and other proprietary solutions. MRO provider follows an integrated approach to enable your aviation company to deliver the best services in the competitive landscape.
Outsourcing the aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul services will enable you to enhance efficiency, optimize opportunities, save costs, and maximize value across various stages of the aircraft lifecycle. However, choosing the right service type amidst a pool of options available in the market can be daunting. Here are a few factors you should consider while choosing Aircraft MRO services.
Table of Contents
Service Category
You need to primarily identify the kind of MRO service you require for your aircraft. The aircraft should be designed following the applicable airworthiness limitations. You need to ensure that your plane continues to satisfy the highest standards in aviation. Maintenance of aircraft is categorized into different levels. The basic one is the Line maintenance checks which are routine inspection checks for components like wheels, brakes, and fluid levels.
The next category includes the A checks for inspecting aircraft’s interior for damage, absence of parts, deformation, and corrosion. B checks are used to check the alignment and torque of the landing gear. The heavy maintenance checks categorized as C and D checks are high-level checks involving extensive tooling, test equipment, and exceptional skill levels. These tests are performed after a specific interval, and depending on the kind of service you require, you need to choose a suitable company.
MRO Strategy
Assess the MRO strategy the company has in place. They should be able to apply proven methodologies and proprietary tools to maximize aircraft performance. The MRO provider should leverage best practice processes. To develop the right strategy, they should have a fundamental understanding of current market trends. Using a data-backed methodology, the MRO provider should efficiently manage both the aircraft’s external and internal maintenance operations.
MRO Business Model
Aviation MRO can differ widely based on the business type. Independently owned repair stations are smaller MRO stations that have a specialty in a specific area. A fixed-base operator (FBO) located at non-commercial airports typically provides services to local aviation communities. The major commercial airlines support the airline’s fleet and are usually available at the airline’s central hub.
Regional airlines, in contrast, operate at more minor crossroads. Military MRO facilities service provides support to different aircraft varieties. Large corporations often tend to integrate an in-house MRO facility into their business to support the aircraft 24/7.
MRO Supply Chain Solutions
The Aircraft MRO company should be capable of providing Just in Time (JIT) inventory. It should follow a robust supply chain solution to save costs and ensure on-time delivery to the designated place. Review the inventory precision and positioning capability of the MRO provider. They should be able to provide affordable, high-quality inventory and source out aircraft parts, tools, and spare parts on time to bring your plane into service quickly.
Technical Expertise And Experience
The Aircraft MRO company should have skilled engineers and robust infrastructure to cover the maintenance work at the highest quality level. Ensure that the company has the required accreditations to carry out the MRO services on the concerned aircraft. Skills and certifications will help you to determine if they are capable of handling your aircraft. They need to be certified by relevant regulatory authorities to deliver the best quality services.
24/7 Support
Is the company capable of providing emergency services at any hour? Ensure that your MRO provider can give you 24/7 support so that you can minimize downtime and ensure a safe flight. They should provide you with adequate support to procure and supply spare parts round the clock.
Certification
Ensure that the MRO provider is certified by the FAA to cover standard manufacturing, operating, and maintaining operations. The company should also align its services with the standards for the import, assembly, and induction of aircraft. The MRO provider should ensure the safety and compliance of the plane with Airworthiness Directives.
They should follow a quality-led approach to perform inspections for airframe and engine maintenance by following the legal aviation standards.
To Conclude
The right MRO provider will supply the requirements of the correct service on the right assets at the right time. Hence it will enable you to perform preventative maintenance tasks at the lowest possible costs to maximize the aircraft performance across its lifecycle.
Using the expertise and experience of your MRO provider, you can significantly minimize total maintenance costs and achieve economies of scale. In addition, it will enable you to maintain the safety and airworthiness of an air transport vehicle for a longer term.
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