Program management will shift from many airlines to MROs and OEMs. This will require the MROs to have more data, analysis and surveillance—and to absorb some regulatory risks. They will have to integrate more of the processes and data acquisition that the airlines may not do.

We are on the cusp of major changes in our industry, and it is about time that today's data, information and technology become the drivers of the future of maintenance. This could be very exciting—or threatening—depending on your perspective. In this case, the past is not the prologue to the future.

Ray Valeika, retired from Delta as senior vice president of technical operations, is an internationally recognized aviation operations executive. He advises airlines, OEMs, private equity firms and lessors on MRO. He has won several awards, including the A4A Nuts & Bolts award and an Aviation Week Laurel.