The aviation industry continues to struggle against high labour costs and skilled workforce shortages. And as the aircraft order backlog only goes up, effective maintenance and repair is more crucial than ever in keeping older aircraft in service for longer.
Robotics could play a crucial role in filling these gaps, able to service aircraft to a high standard in collaboration with human overseers. At Aerospace Tech Week 2025, we sat down with Okan Ozkan, R&D and Business Development Director for myTECHNIC, to discuss developments in the industry so far, and where robots could be deployed next.
The challenge facing maintenance workers is considerable. The industry is expected to add 45,900 new aircraft by 2043, but ongoing supply chain challenges have frustrated delivery. Moreover, the influx of new aircraft and keeping old aircraft in service places increasing strain on technicians. Scaling recruitment of these key personnel is a top priority, but with every staff member requiring years of training, other complementary solutions are needed.
Ozkan believes robotics are key to supporting and even improving human output, offering better reliability and accuracy. However, several key adoption challenges remain.
The main difficulty is regulation. If you’re using any robot in the hangar space, you have to ensure that it’s not damaging the aircraft. Safety comes first.
As well as securing regulatory approval, robot capabilities for maintenance remain in the early stages of development. Ozkan explains how deploying robots for autonomous aircraft repair and overhaul remains a long-term goal as the industry explores the full potential of robotic arming technology. In the future, smart robots could service and repair aircraft completely independently.
I like Star Wars, and I remember seeing the robotic technologies on screen for the spacecrafts there. And now I am seeing that time coming in real life because of how robotic technology is growing.
🎥 Watch the interview to hear Okan Ozkan’s full insight on how robotics is developing in aviation MRO.
Questions asked include:
- How are you seeing robotic technology impact aircraft maintenance activity?
- How do you see innovation in robotics having an impact on sustainability?
- How do events like Aerospace Tech Week help drive the industry forward?
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026 to discuss the cutting-edge technologies transforming MRO, including AI and robotics.
For more like this, see: