What Exactly Is MRO in Aviation & What Does It Stand For?

The acronym MRO stands for maintenance, repair, and overhaul. MRO is a broadly used term for describing activities related to aircraft maintenance and repair. In this blog, we will be briefly discussing MRO services, allowing you to better understand their importance.

Airports worldwide have different types of requirements for maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities, and many vary in the facilities located on-premises. Mostly, maintenance work requirements are for the airframe or engine of the plane. However, a new segment of component MRO has emerged in the past couple of decades to address other needs.

MRO services may need to be delivered at airports or off-airport facilities, varying based on the service that is to be carried out. Activities such as routine in-service inspections, regular troubleshooting, or daily check actions are performed when the aircraft is parked at the airport. On the other hand, if radios, avionics, or any other removable parts require servicing, they have to be removed from the airplane to perform the required MRO services. In general, there are 3 core types of MRO operations:

Maintenance: This includes all the activities that are done in the aircraft to make sure it is in top-notch condition under the umbrella of maintenance. In maintenance operations, the key focus is to service the aircraft to keep it functionally ready to fly.

Repair: With hundreds of thousands of moving and sintegrated parts working together, handling repairs in aircraft can be very complex and challenging. If a part does not perform the way it is supposed to or if there is a dent, broken window, or engine failure, repair operations are conducted.

Overhaul: Overhaul operations take care of worn and torn parts. Airplane parts have a high rate of wear and tear, necessitating the need for overhauls. Most airplanes have to undergo an overhaul after a specific duration of flight operations. In the overhaul process, planes are disassembled and dismantled part by part, and each part is thoroughly inspected and then reassembled. The process enables an in-depth inspection of all internal and surface parts of the airplane and is a critical element of the lifecycle management and enhancement of the aircraft.

The aircraft repair station industry is quite vast, and it goes way beyond providing services for all segments of aircraft maintenance. No matter which aircraft maintenance industry vertical you work in, aircraft operators and owners today are greatly dependent on many organizations for their MRO requirements.

The aviation maintenance industry comprises small repair stations that perform various specialized activities, including plating, welding, and non-destructive testing services. Most of these services are complicated processes that need expertise, experience, authorization, and special equipment. Other types of repair stations offer MRO services with regard to specific types of parts and components like mechanical actuators, fuel systems, avionics, electronics, and carburetors. Aircraft maintenance personnel that work in this segment of MRO services rarely or never actually see or touch an aircraft. There are also specialized maintenance, repair, and overhaul stations for large aircraft with complex components like reciprocating engines, turbine engines, and auxiliary power units. Separate facilities are also available that provide direct maintenance and repair services on the airplane itself.

In-line MRO features an intuitive software that takes care of line station maintenance operations. The software also takes care of effective work scoping, flight service billing, and defect reporting. On the other hand, hangar MRO services offer a comprehensive cycle and take care of aircraft induction, billing, task card digitization, work scope management, connected inventory, efficient planning, and automated invoice functions.

Conclusion

Alpha Aerospace Parts is a prominent parts and component distributor that caters to numerous industries, such as the aviation, defense, aerospace, and IT hardware verticals. Being a part of the ASAP Semiconductor family, we have a strict No China Sourcing pledge and make sure all procured parts are shipped alongside their qualifying certifications and manufacturer trace documentation. Therefore, if you are looking for high-quality aviation products, reach out to Alpha Aerospace Parts today!