DESPITE rapid innovation in the aviation industry over the last few decades – from advanced aerodynamics and composite materials to making planes lighter yet stronger – the technology to support on-ground engineers maintaining and certifying aircraft is still stuck in the 20th century.
In the final two decades of the last millennium, coinciding with the advent of the Internet, rapid advances have been made in front-end aviation, such as dynamic pricing, slicker marketing and online bookings.
Low-cost carriers (LCCs) are on the rise, particularly in Asia. Other commercial aircraft – significantly bigger than previous models, and carrying more passengers or cargo – are made of sophisticated composites that help reduce fuel consumption, and fly with smart computers and avionics on board.
Despite these advances, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work is largely stuck in the 20th century. Engineers on the tarmac and in the hangars still inspect aircraft largely in the same way as they did decades ago. A great deal of certification is still done on pen and paper. Parts and logs are checked manually after landing and before take-off.
