Business jet activity is rising, according to the most recent TraqPak data from Argus, even as mandates for avionics equipage loom, and cabin and cockpit upgrade options proliferate. This makes the need for quality maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) assistance greater than ever. More than 250 companies in the U.S. and Canada are government authorized to provide MRO services, but “that does not guarantee knowledge or competency—it merely establishes a minimum standard,” noted Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association.
Many service providers stand out for the higher standards they’ve established. These organizations enhance the value of ownership and the aircraft they care for. In fact, “an ongoing working relationship with an MRO lowers the cost of operations,” said a representative from the Maintenance and System Technology Committee at the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). “And it really helps when the operator needs them at 2 a.m. on a weekend, when it’s
8 degrees outside, and the aircraft is AOG.”
That’s why even fleet operators that handle their own maintenance often turn to experienced providers for help. “Performing major inspections and upgrades isn’t an efficient use of our time and resources,” said Greg Hanelink, flight operations and maintenance director at corporate operator Stryker, which flies domestically and internationally. “That’s what I look for when working with a good MRO: reduced downtime.”
Here are key service areas where quality MRO makes a difference, with examples from some of the industry’s leading providers.
