MRO in aviation stands for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. It concerns the inspecting, servicing, and upkeep of aircrafts to ensure they are structurally sound, technically compliant, and fit to fly.
In this article we’ll explore the definition of MRO in aviation in more detail, taking an in-depth look at key areas of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul in relation to aerospace applications. We’ll also talk about the important role that tool control in aviation MRO plays when it comes to in-flight safety, and introduce you to three key types of MRO in aviation.
What does MRO stand for?
In the aviation sector, MRO stands for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. It’s a process by which aircraft are inspected, assessed, and maintained, either as part of routine scheduled maintenance or as a result of emergency repairs.
MRO is broken down into the following areas:
- Maintenance
MRO maintenance covers pre-planned aircraft inspections and regular planned repairs/upgrades to address aging parts and diagnose any potential safety issues that may arise. - Repair The repair of an aircraft refers to replacing outdated or damaged parts identified during routine maintenance inspections. It also involves emergency unplanned repairs, for example, if an aircraft sustains unexpected damage in flight.
- Overhaul
Overhaul in MRO involves the replacement or upgrade of existing parts or systems of an aircraft in order to make the craft compliant with the latest aviation standards.
In this regard, MRO is both reactive and preventative. By routinely inspecting aircrafts on a regular basis, engineers are able to spot potential safety risks, such as worn or damaged parts, before they lead to any serious safety failures. Likewise, if an aircraft were to sustain damage while in flight, MRO teams can take responsibility for assessing the damage and carrying out all necessary repairs to ensure the aircraft is safe to fly in future.
The Importance of MRO in Aviation
MRO in aviation is important for the following reasons:
Safety
Maintenance, repair, and overhaul play a vital role when it comes to passenger safety. With thousands of aircrafts taking to the skies each day, the responsibility for ensuring each one reaches its destination safely weighs heavily on MRO teams’ shoulders. Conducting regular audits of aircrafts ensures that any defects are identified and righted early, helping to prevent and minimise in-flight safety failures.
Safety
Maintenance, repair, and overhaul play a vital role when it comes to passenger safety. With thousands of aircrafts taking to the skies each day, the responsibility for ensuring each one reaches its destination safely weighs heavily on MRO teams’ shoulders. Conducting regular audits of aircrafts ensures that any defects are identified and righted early, helping to prevent and minimise in-flight safety failures.
Efficiency
Having just one aircraft in your fleet grounded unexpectedly can lead to huge disruption to your flight schedule, inconveniencing passengers and damaging your public image. Preventative maintenance helps to limit the amount of time your aircrafts spend out of service by allowing you to quickly diagnose and repair a potential part or systems failure before it leads to your aircraft being grounded.
Cost-effectiveness
Investing in MRO is a proven way to keep your aircraft fleet in the air and limit the amount of time they spend out of service. Preventative maintenance measures, like those that make up the core of MRO activity, are often less time-consuming and costly than reactive repairs, helping you to keep your fleet airborne, your overheads low, and your profits strong.
Compliance
The aviation industry is rigorously regulated for compliance, and those who fail to deliver can find themselves facing steep fines and penalties. Like any industry that’s governed by strict regulations, compliance in aviation is subject to review and it’s the responsibility of aircraft operators to ensure they comply with the latest legislation. MRO forms a key part of ensuring compliance in your fleet is met, saving you from avoidable penalties that could have serious ramifications for the future of your business.
Types of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul in Aviation
Many systems and components go into making an aircraft operational. As such, MRO is a complex undertaking that requires different areas of expertise. The primary types of MRO in aviation are categorised as:
- Airframe MRO
Airframe MRO is the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of an aircraft’s structural shell and framework. This also extends to its systems and components. - Engine MRO
Engine MRO is solely focused on the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft engines. - Components MRO
Components MRO refers to any scheduled or unscheduled maintenance and repairs related to an aircraft’s component parts, which don’t include its airframe, engine, instruments, avionics, batteries, or tires.
In addition to the above, line maintenance and base maintenance also fall under the MRO umbrella. Line maintenance takes place by airport technicians on the ground and includes pre-flight checks on each aircraft before the all-clear is given to fly.
Base maintenance, on the other hand, involves a more in-depth assessment of an aircraft’s outer shell and interiors, part of which includes systems evaluations and phase-checks to overhaul specific components. This level of maintenance plays a critical part in the lifetime safety of an aircraft and its compliance with regulatory legislation.
How to Choose the Right MRO Aviation Tools?
As an aircraft engineer, working with the right tools is every bit as important as the technical knowledge you need to perform your role. Essential aviation tools for aircraft mechanics need to be of a specification that meets the standard for aerospace applications. Requirements of such tools include precision accuracy, anti-corrosion properties, and the resilience to withstand stress and extreme temperatures.
Our dedicated article on Essential Aviation Tools for Aircraft Mechanics goes into more detail about the specifics of aircraft tooling, which tools are most needed by aircraft mechanics, and how to choose the right MRO tools for aviation applications.
The Importance of Tool Control in Aviation MRO
Tool control in aviation MRO is the process of logging, tracking, and organising your tools, both while working and when coming off a job. As well as offering you a solution for keeping your tools safely stored and protected when not in use, a robust tool control system is also the most effective way to ensure your tools are all accounted for.
It’s a solution that can save a lot of time, money, and stress on the job, both to DIY and professional tool users, but it is an especially important practice for those working in aviation MRO, where tool control policies play a critical role in preventing aviation accidents.
Tool control in aviation MRO helps to reduce the risk of tools being left on top of or inside of an aircraft following an inspection, repairs, or routine maintenance. Were this to happen, there is a risk that the tool may cause damage to the aircraft in-flight, which could threaten the integrity of the aircraft and the safety of those travelling on board.
You can read more about the importance of tool control in aviation MRO and how to create a failsafe tool control system in our article: Shadow Foaming: The Ultimate Tool Control Solution in Aviation Maintenance.
Popular Aviation MRO Tool Kits at Red Box Tools
At Red Box, we offer a number of off-the-shelf and bespoke tool control solutions, including custom shadow foaming that adheres to all aviation MRO tool control regulations. We also specialise in complete aviation MRO tool kits, including those used specifically in maintenance and line maintenance servicing.
Discover our most popular MRO tool kits below or browse our full range of aerospace grade tooling, including individual socket, rachet, screwdriver, and wrench sets.
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From tool bags and tool chests to tool boxes with wheels, tool belts, tool cases, and trade-specific tool storage, at Red Box Tools we offer high-quality solutions you can count on.
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