Aviation maintenance industry leaders gathered at MRO Americas' 30th anniversary conference this year described a sector expanding despite ongoing supply chain strain and geopolitical disruption in the Middle East. Analysts project the global MRO market will reach approximately $97 billion in 2026, up from $91 billion in 2025, with engine-related services accounting for up to 53% of total aircraft maintenance demand.
Conference sessions this year centered heavily on artificial intelligence adoption within maintenance operations and the ongoing challenge of attracting, training, and qualifying new technicians as experienced workers retire. Separately, the FAA and international counterparts including EASA, ICAO, and CAAC have issued rule changes taking effect in 2026 covering digital recordkeeping mandates, revised safety management system requirements, expanded Part 145 auditing, and new fatigue risk management thresholds.
FAA estimates suggest 31% of maintenance records still contain at least one traceability gap tied to manual recordkeeping processes, a figure regulators are citing as justification for accelerating the shift toward electronic technical logs and digital signatures. Industry groups say the transition away from paper-based tracking is reducing administrative burden while closing gaps that manual systems have historically produced.
Source: Aviation Week -- https://aviationweek.com/mro/supply-chain/mro-2026-industry-leaders-predict-trends-challenges-investments