Prof. (Dr.) Dewakar Goel, an esteemed aviation expert, shares insights on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO)—a field vital for airworthiness—highlighting how expanding MRO to include ground support vehicles could create new revenue and efficiency opportunities for the air freight industry.
MRO in aviation is crucial for ensuring aircraft safety, functionality, and readiness. In aviation, MRO covers three primary activities:
- Maintenance: Ensures an aircraft remains in optimal condition through routine servicing to prevent any potential failure.
- Repair: Addresses unexpected issues, such as engine malfunctions or broken components, caused by the high demands placed on an aircraft’s parts.
- Overhaul: involves thorough inspections, often requiring dismantling the aircraft to assess each part’s functionality, ensuring compliance with international safety standards.
These activities are fundamental to the air freight industry, where MRO directly impacts safety and operational readiness.
Growth of the MRO Market
The global demand for MRO services has surged, with expenditures projected to rise from $191 billion in 2018 to approximately $255 billion by 2028. India’s MRO industry, too, has witnessed substantial growth, increasing from $800 million in 2011 to $1.5 billion recently. This growth is driven by several factors, including a rising fleet size, advances in digitisation, and the adoption of MRO software, estimated to reach $4.93 billion in 2022. Technological innovation, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and condition-based maintenance (CBM), now enables more precise, data-driven maintenance, optimising MRO activities for both efficiency and safety.
MRO Challenges in India
India faces unique challenges in the MRO sector:
- Dependency on Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs): Repairs often require services from OEMs, such as Boeing and Airbus, which increases costs.
- Limited MRO Facilities: While EASA has approved 145 MRO centres globally, only eight major players operate in India.
- Regulatory and Infrastructure Constraints: High taxes, complex import procedures, and infrastructure limitations further hinder growth.
Despite these hurdles, the growing aviation industry in India presents a promising future for MRO.
Emerging Trends: Beyond Aircraft
A unique approach to MRO has gained attention recently, broadening the scope to include maintenance of non-aircraft vehicles and equipment operating within airports, such as buses, taxis, fire vehicles, and cargo-handling equipment. Currently, these vehicles are maintained at external facilities, incurring additional costs and logistics complexities. Establishing dedicated MRO services for these vehicles within airports could streamline processes, reduce operational costs, and generate new revenue streams for airport operators.
Future prospects
With the Indian aviation sector expected to double passenger traffic in the next decade, demand for MRO services will increase due to higher aircraft orders and airport infrastructure expansion. Strengthening domestic MRO capabilities through indigenisation can reduce reliance on foreign OEMs and enhance India’s global aviation standing. Expanding MRO to encompass ground support equipment offers operational and financial benefits for airports, positioning India’s MRO sector as a significant player in the international market.
(Insights by Prof. (Dr.) Dewakar Goel, Chairman, Aero Academy of Aviation Science & Management; HR Consultant, ICAO; Human Performance Technologist, IATA; Associate, Joint Aviation Authorities; Ex-Executive Director, AAI; Director, Indian Aviation Academy, GoI)
