Reuters reports that the number of casualties in huge commercial airplane crashes rose in 2020 to 299 worldwide, even though crashes have been reduced by more than 50%. Aviation consulting firm To70 said there were 40 accidents last year involving large commercial passenger planes. In 2019, there were 86 accidents, resulting in 257 fatalities. The decline in crashes came amid a sharp decline in flights due to the coronavirus pandemic—but aircraft maintenance companies are at the receiving end as they are in a holding pattern due to deferred heavy maintenance and dried-up line activities. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 crisis did not stop forward-thinking aircrafts to digitally transform their infrastructure. According to Research and Markets, the Digital MRO market will grow from $606 million in 2020 to $1.8 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 11.6%. And this is where proactive maintenance comes into play. Digital “Proactive” Maintenance — Methods & Benefits Various factors — workflow efficiency enhancement, aircraft downtime reduction, growing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) adoption, increasing AR/VR implementation, aviation management information system improvement, and repair and maintenance operations optimization — drive MROs’ shift to digital. But budget constraints and the high cost of buying an integrated MRO software suite are obstructing MROs’ flight to digital. But the good news is you can circumvent budget constraints and fast-track time-to-value by using a proactive approach with digital transformation. Proactive maintenance in aviation originated in the mid-90s and encompasses a business-like management approach to the safety of flights. In recollection, the initial “fly-fix-fly” system (1920s–1970s) was reactive in nature. Individual risk management, intensive training, and accident investigation were the focus of this approach. It was progressively replaced by a new system-based concept. From the 1970s to the mid-90s, the implemented model was primarily influenced by the evolution of technology and shifted the concern toward human error. Containing and mitigating human error through regulation and training became the new focus. Lessons were being learned from incident investigations and other industries. Despite significant resource investments in alleviating human error, the most important reason for safety breakdowns remained to be attributed to inadequate human performance as a persistent factor. From the mid-90s onward, a modern approach toward managing safety was embraced: proactively employing and analyzing regularly accumulated safety-related data. Proactive maintenance is based on following a risk management strategy that includes detecting hazards before they occur into incidents or accidents and taking required actions to lessen the safety risks. Components of a proactive safety management strategy are: Safety policy ensuring commitment to safety Hazard identification and risk assessment using advanced digital methods Safety reporting systems Investigation of safety incidents Safety monitoring and oversight Dedicated safety training for personnel Safety lesson distribution and best practice sharing Building a corporate safety culture Proactive Maintenance with EmpowerMX By partnering with an industry expert like EmpowerMX, you will not only get a technology solution, but also a deeper and wider industry perspective necessary to understand proactive maintenance. Buying a technology solution from industry experts is a competitive advantage because they have worked with other companies similar to yours. Tailor solutions based on industry trends and customize your solutions based on your unique needs. Invest in proactive digital solutions — such as Line Maintenance and Support Shops — that can help you perform proactive maintenance. EmpowerMX provides you with proven solutions and industry expertise to help you “fly to digital” without friction. Based in Frisco, TX, EmpowerMX is a leading cloud-based software platform that is designed to accelerate digital adoption in the Airline, MRO, and Defense establishments. Our product suite helps engineering and compliance, heavy and line maintenance, and shop and materials management. For more information, contact EmpowerMX.