reduce the need for manual inspections and improve maintenance efficiency.”
Leonardo’s Campagna agreed. “The nature of maintenance will continue to evolve. With AI, digital twins and predictive analytics will play a larger role in planning and decision-making.” However, he doesn’t think this evolution will demean the value of human technicians on the shop floor. “Helicopters are highly complex machines operating in demanding environments, and real- life, hands-on expertise will always be essential,” he said. “Looking ahead, the future of helicopter maintenance will not be about replacing people. The focus will be on providing them with innovative, faster, and more effective tools to empower them.”
This view is shared by Sikorsky’s Schmidt. “As for the question of whether a time will come when there is no longer a need for hands-on work, it’s likely that AI and automation will augment human maintenance workers, but not entirely replace them,” he said. “At Lockheed Martin we are trying to look at how AI can be used to make us better at our jobs and more efficient. It will not take away the ability for us to work; rather, it will change the way we work for the better.”
Robinson Helicopter’s Smith similarly sees
an ongoing role for
human
technicians. “Hands-on work will always be essential to perform rotorcraft maintenance,” he told Rotor Pro. “While digital tools are transforming how maintenance is performed, they are meant to assist, not replace, physical interaction with aircraft. The human touch, physical inspections, and routine maintenance tasks remain critical for ensuring safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.”
More than anything, human curiosity and intuition will ensure our place in the rotorcraft maintenance hangars of tomorrow.
“Robots are designed and programmed to solve a specific problem, but lack the holistic view and curiosity to say, ‘Wait a minute; that doesn’t look right’ if they see an anomaly in the system or the component at hand,” Aguirre said. “In the helicopter industry, lives are at stake every time a rotorcraft takes flight. Our people have a deep passion for their work and a profound sense of responsibility. That’s something I believe you can’t outsource to a robot or AI.“The human element of care, judgment, and dedication is what makes our maintenance and our aircraft truly safe.”
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Sept/Oct 2025
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