COVER STORY is assessed. All repair stations must have proper tooling required by the manufacturer in place when the work is performed. Training skills - Personnel training is required and demonstrated. Operators must assess the experience and competency of MRO personnel. Training is required for certificated and non certificated personnel alike. The same criteria are applied to in house maintenance operation for operators. The standards and expectations of performance are the same. Outsourcing Challenges Capacity and infrastructure - Some MROs still suffer from operations geared for the repair of older aircraft and have been slow to invest in technologies that would support maintenance on new generation airframes. In recent years, MROs have made investments in training and equipment to service new generation aircraft. Infrastructure with improved IT platforms are becoming available that include the use of big data, predictive maintenance and AI. With MRO heavy check capacity becoming saturated, the MRO industry is starting to assess the risk of investment in new check facilities through acquisition or construction. The MRO industry is expected 14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 to grow 3.5 percent per year through 2029. With hangar space filling up fast, air carriers are now making hangar slot reservations years in advance to assure availability of space sufficient to support their fleet maintenance schedules. Personnel -Based on surveillance standards used and performance metrics by air carriers, training and competency of foreign repair station personnel are equivalent to the A&P mechanics as a matter of practical application. Further, MROs have the same challenges as air carriers when it comes to acquiring trained and experienced personnel. How well they can continue to compete for the necessary skills and talent remains to be seen. Concerns regarding supervisory ratios of supervision are warranted, but not as important as the resources and competency the maintenance provider has invested in the work force in general. Technician Shortages The simple math is that seasoned experience levels are being spread thin. MROs and air carriers are suffering from diminishing technical skill as experienced mechanics leave the workforce. MROs especially are losing experienced mechanics as air carriers draw them in to support their own operations. For both, necessary labor needed to AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY