Do the OEMs want to put the independent MROs out of business? The short answer is no, but OEMs want to increasingly capture the more profitable parts of the business. For economic reasons, OEMs will continue to push to increase their aftermarket business. This represents a continued and real threat to the independent commercial aerospace MRO business model, but not its end.

After validating assumptions on the manufacturing cost and efficiency of laminar flow, Boeing is proceeding with a baseline design for the horizontal and vertical stabilizers on the 787-9. Boeing’s patented hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) system will be the industry’s first use of a drag-reducing technology that works by sucking in the air flowing over the skin to keep the smoother boundary layer attached to more of the chord. The result is a delay in the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, which cuts drag.

Competition in the airline aftermarket continues to be fierce, as evidenced by the fact Pemco and Aveos Fleet Performance recently filed for bankruptcy protection.

The number of engine overhauls this year should experience a 3.7% compound annual growth rate over last year, according to Aviation Week’s MRO Prospector data, with the IAE V2500 requiring the most, at 1,034 overhauls. Roscoe Musselwhite, who was promoted to president and CEO of AirLiance Materials in January, expects the V2500, CFM56-5 and CFM56-7 engines to drive about two-thirds of worldwide engine MRO business in two to three years.

Air New Zealand expected almost all of its regional services to be operating yesterday after the temporary grounding of its fleet of 11 ATR 72-500 turboprops caused major flight disruptions in the past few days.

Aveos Fleet Performance, the former maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) arm of Air Canada that has been operating as independent, privately held company since 2004, suddenly closed its doors over the weekend and sought court protection from its creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). In a statement late Monday afternoon, Aveos, whose primary customer is Air Canada, said it has ceased its airframe MRO operations and will make decisions about its other operations, primarily engine and component MRO, after assessing its options.

Members of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) voted overregulation as their number one long-term concern in the association’s annual member’s survey, but uneasiness about skilled worker shortages was close behind at the number two spot, said Christian Klein, EVP, ARSA, at the association’s symposium last week in Arlington, Va. The workforce issue came in as the second most important long-term threat to the aviation maintenance industry, tied with high fuel prices and grievances with the FAA.

After years of delay, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is placing a high priority on its long-awaited repair station security rule, but is still targeting the fourth quarter for its release, a senior TSA official says.