MROs and peak flying season
With spring in full flow, the aviation industry has shifted into high gear to take holiday makers to their destinations of choice. For MROs (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul organisations) across the UK, this isn’t just a change in seasons, it’s the beginning of a critical operational window.
With the summer surge in passenger travel on the horizon, aircraft fleets require fast, meticulous maintenance to ensure safety, performance, and compliance. Here’s a look at how MROs are preparing and why calibration is taking centre stage in their seasonal strategies.
Spring and Summer, the peak periods for Aviation MRO
The warmer months bring with them a sharp increase in flight schedules, tourism, and business travel. Airlines often ramp up capacity, reintroduce stored aircraft, or shift aircraft between long-haul and short-haul operations. This creates a spike in demand for:
- Line maintenance and A-checks
- Component inspections and replacements
- Cabin upgrades and interior refits
- Engine health monitoring and overhauls
It’s a tight balancing act; maximising fleet availability while maintaining uncompromising safety and airworthiness standards.
Trending focus areas for MROs in 2025
As we move through 2025, UK-based MROs are sharpening their focus on a few major areas:
- Sustainability in maintenance
- Emphasis on extending component life and optimising part usage
- Greater adoption of predictive maintenance to reduce waste
- Digital tooling and calibration data
- Using IoT-enabled tools that feed calibration data into maintenance software
- Improved tracking of tool usage, wear, and calibration status
- Return-to-service checks
- Aircraft brought out of storage require extensive recalibration of sensors, pitot-static systems, and avionics
- A spike in demand for quick-turnaround calibration providers
- Staff Training & Tooling Compliance
- Ensuring all maintenance personnel are equipped with calibrated tools and up-to-date certificates
- Regulatory inspections increase in frequency during peak season – MROs must be audit ready
The role of calibration in aircraft readiness
While much of the spotlight in MRO tends to fall on engines, airframes and avionics, UKAS calibration plays a quieter, but vital, role. Calibration ensures that all instruments, sensors, gauges, and tooling used in aircraft maintenance are operating within exact specifications. This is non-negotiable for both regulatory compliance and operational safety.
At CoMech, we support MROs by providing:
- Accredited calibration of torque wrenches, pressure gauges, thermometers, and other critical tools
- Rapid turnaround services to minimise maintenance downtime
- Onsite calibration solutions, allowing for in-hangar efficiency
- Data and certification traceability, essential for CAA and EASA audits
Calibration isn’t just a tick-box requirement, it’s a key enabler of reliable, efficient, and cost-effective maintenance during this high-demand period.
Why CoMech is a trusted partner for MROs
CoMech understands the fast-paced, high-stakes environment MRO teams work in; especially from spring through summer. That’s why we offer:
- Flexible service models, from scheduled UKAS calibrations to onsite call outs when required
- Tailored support for aviation maintenance standards, including ISO/IEC 17025-accredited services
- Specialised knowledge of aviation tools and instruments, making us a calibration partner not just a provider
- A range of other services such as PAT for electrical, HAV assessments and material testing equipment servicing.
