When we talk about maintenance one of the things that first comes to mind is the place where the work is being done. Aviation safety starts on the soil and in the hangar. Maintenance hangars are large, wide-open platforms with the single intention of managing major repairs on aircraft. MRO is an indispensable requirement to assure that aircraft are maintained in pre-determined requirements of airworthiness to reliably carry travelers and cargo.
Maintenance hangars are composed and constructed from the ground up with a separate purpose in mind. They are a greatly diverse object than a line or storage hangar. Regular line hangars have one main purpose which is to reliably and securely house the airplane. They are not designed to be large or spacious but rather subsist to house an airplane. MRO hangars are not at all airport. They are pricey matters, and they are not just introduced to house and repair aircraft.
In the commercial aircraft sector, the architect demands to rely on Facility and Planning Criteria that are published by the aircraft manufacturers for their aircraft or a third-party collection of data. The architect of hangar must understand local building codes and integrate the features of all potential aircraft that can populate the hangar to develop the space requirements for the intended use of the hangar. It is essential to keep in mind for which type of aircraft the hangar is designed, in order to avoid subsequent inconveniences and additional expenses.
The maintenance hangar must be equipped to respond to progressive and changing work conditions while preserving control of both capital and operating expenses. Aircraft maintenance is a demanding task that requires a lot of space. It is necessary to be able to maneuver the engine unhindered from the stand to a transport dollie, and to harmlessly move it out of the frame.
Line maintenance actions at such an area, which involve both scheduled and non-scheduled assignments, are time severe in nature as they influence dispatch reliability. It is crucial to decrease airplanes maintenance time in the hangar and maximize their availability to fly. Therefore, maintenance hangars must be created in such a way that required support equipment is accessible instantly, docked and stowed for service. The maintenance hangar must be provided with parts hold or supply point, shipping and receiving on location.
The determination of base maintenance is simple – it is any maintenance which does not fall beneath the line maintenance level. In practice, this will be principally heavy checks such as C and D checks. During these checks, major and minor aircraft systems are being assessed together with complicated and time-consuming assignments such as corrosion prevention, structural work, replacement of major components, interior refurbishment, etc. Of course, all this work needs to be done in a hangar and demands quite a bit of planning and a meaningful dose of collaboration between the airline and the MRO.
Maintenance hangars are crucial to the MRO means. Not only do they preserve equipment and staff from the elements, but they are a driving force in the means as a whole. Poorly composed maintenance hangars moderate servicing because of inefficiency. The floorplan must be made to meet the vision of the organization, and able to adjust to changes and expansion.
Constructors should be realistic to the current needs of the organization, but also aware of the direction that the organization is taking. Investing in quality equipment up front will yield untold benefits in the future, and MROs must stay ahead of the curve in advancing technologies.
