It plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft and their continued operation. The importance of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul can be understood in the following ways.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential to keep aircraft in safe and operational condition. This includes scheduled inspections, routine servicing, and minor repairs to prevent issues before they become critical.

Repair: When aircraft components or systems experience damage or malfunction, they must be repaired to ensure the aircraft's safety and functionality. This can range from minor repairs to extensive overhauls.

Overhaul: Overhauls means renovate and it involves a comprehensive process of inspecting, repairing, and refurbishing aircraft and their components. Overhauls may be performed at regular intervals whenever aircraft engine gets old or the whole aircraft is towards the end of it's operational lifespan. 

The MRO industry in aviation serves both civilian and military sectors. It includes a wide range of services, such as aircraft maintenance, engine maintenance, avionics repairs, component maintenance, and more. 

These services are provided by specialized MRO organizations, which can be airline-owned, third-party service providers, or independent maintenance facilities. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is starting MRO services in India.

The MRO industry is highly regulated to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft, and it is a critical part of the aviation ecosystem. Proper maintenance and repair are essential to the safety of passengers and the efficient operation of airlines and other aviation-related businesses.

India’s annual MRO revenue could grow more than threefold to $55-60 billion from roughly $18 billion by fiscal 2028, on the back of broad growth in civil aviation and government support. IATA predicts that India will surpass the UK to become the world’s 3rd largest aviation market by 2026. 

Niti Aayog, the Indian government’s top public policy think tank, has recommended that the country take incremental steps to boost its MRO sector. These include setting up joint ventures with established global MRO players, first focusing on segments with less stringent IP control such as electrical and electronics, avionics, and structural repair, and gradually ascending the value chain.