Reviews Civil Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, And Alterations Markets

A report recently released by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) provides a comprehensive economic review of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) marketplace. The report, entitled “Global MRO Market Economic Assessment,” is sponsored by ARSA and was produced by ICF SH&E. The report provides a review of the civil maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration markets with a focus on the heavy airframe, engine, component, and line maintenance segments.

According to the report, the global turbine-powered civil aviation fleet is about 80,000 aircraft, with more than 26,000 aircraft operating in the air transport fleet. Nearly half the civil aviation fleet is domiciled in North America with 37,000 aircraft, followed by 16,000 aircraft in Europe, and 11,000 aircraft in Asia Pacific. These aircraft fly more than 85 million hours per year, with the air transport fleet accounting for almost 80% of those hours.

The report estimates the 2012 civil aviation market at more than $65 billion; engine overhaul is the largest segment at $26.1 billion, followed by component at $16.8 billion. North American-based fleet accounts for $23.5 billion. Heavy airframe maintenance accounts for $13.0 billion; more than 70% is provided to air transport aircraft, with 38% performed on aircraft based in North America.

Engine overhaul accounts for $26.1 billion; more than 86% is provided to air transport aircraft, with 36% performed on aircraft based in North America, while component maintenance accounts for $16.8 billion; more than 70% is for air transport aircraft, with 37% ultimately being installed on aircraft based in North America. Line maintenance accounts for $9.9 billion, with almost 30% of the market for North American-based aircraft.

The report says that every dollar spent on heavy airframe maintenance generates $1.39 dollars of economic activity. One dollar spent on engine overhaul and component maintenance generates $1.88 and $1.68 of economic activity, respectively. Line maintenance generates $1.19 of economic activity for every dollar spent.
? In the United States, nearly 4,100 firms with 196,000 employees operated in the civil MRO market. Small and medium-sized enterprises account for 84% of the total and 21% of all employees. There are more than 143,000 technicians in the United States and approximately 36% are certificated. "he U.S. maintenance industry has continued to grow and add jobs through one of the worst periods in the nation’s economic history,” AED Executive Vice President Christian Klein said. “It’s a testament to the quality of the work our members do and the efficiencies our members provide to air carriers.”

FMI: Full Report