The Sevenfold Change in Commercial Aviation Operation

Aerospace and Defense Review | Tuesday, May 31, 2022

“Cloud solutions, for example, provide scalable growth across MRO operations internationally, allowing any airline to save both time and money.”

Fremont, CA: In the recent year, commercial aviation has had a lag in returning to entire operations due to pandemic pressures, resulting in passenger reluctance, staffing issues, and day-to-day operational constraints and unpredictability. After a rough year for commercial aviation, 2022 is the year to look ahead and capitalise on technological advances. Subsequently, airlines, maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) businesses, and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) must be forward-thinking and nimble to produce and survive tomorrow's market. 

1. Cloud Becomes King for MRO

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As airlines start to seek top-notch technology as a crucial component of their recovery plans, cutting-edge aviation maintenance software is at the forefront of this search. It unlocks the potential for efficiency improvements that will enable better fleet configuration management, modernisation and optimisation of maintenance planning, and standardisation of reporting throughout an airline's operations to give insights across the whole value chain. Cloud solutions, for example, provide scalable growth across MRO operations internationally, allowing any airline to save both time and money. These variables, in turn, enable better financial performance visibility, higher efficiency, and more cost-cutting opportunities—and the good news is that realising these benefits does not always necessitate large-scale digital overhauls or significant IT investment. 

2. Predictive Maintenance Becomes a Staple for Airlines 

By employing multivariable predictive maintenance forecasting algorithms powered by advanced AI, OEMs, airlines, and MROs can collect precise and real-time data on the health of every onboard system and sensor-connected component in their fleet. This practice is well established for engines, which are relatively self-contained units. It can result in a 30 percent performance efficiency gain over traditional analytics techniques, allowing a maintenance team to safely and efficiently service and maintain aircraft components while maximising their life and minimising aircraft downtime. 

3. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aircraft the Green Light this Year 

According to Deloitte, advanced air mobility (AAM) will be revolutionary and enormously profitable, growing to a 115-billion-dollar business in the U.S. by 2035 and employing more than 280,000 people. The introduction of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) is the only factor fuelling the rise of AAM. This technology, in turn, will bring in a new era of commodities and cargo transport, as well as short- and long-distance commercial travel and commuting. It will entail employing technologies such as drones and electric or hydrogen-powered eVTOLs that can service city destinations from out-of-town airfields and nodes. 

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