Fresh from a sizable win for its airline supply chain business, AAR is eyeing an international acquisition that would further boost the segment, CEO David Storch says. Speaking to analysts during a Dec. 19 earnings call, Storch confirmed that Wood Dale, Ill.-based AAR is “looking at a fairly sizable deal that would expand our presence” outside the U.S. The deal would likely be an all-cash transaction, he adds, offering few additional details.

Africa •Engine MRO expenditures are projected to be more than $800 million. •The continent's total fleet will decrease by six aircraft. Asia-Pacific •The region—excluding China and India—will generate $1 billion of spending on modifications, about one-fourth of the global modification market. •Excluding China and India, the region's fleet will increase 13%. China •Chinese operators will spend $1 billion on component MRO.

OEMs entrench further into the aftermarket as independents innovate with engineering, partnerships and mobility. Lessors & Life Cycles Lessors continue their evolution toward offering services throughout aircraft and engine life cycles by partnering with MRO providers, part-out specialists and others offering synergistic solutions. Supplier Innovation

The digital revolution first put maintenance data online, saving paper and major hassles. Then laptops brought data to techs, saving walking time to desktops and kiosks. Smartphones, handhelds and tablets are starting to cut weight from techs' bags and shoulders. What's next?

The future is now for airlines strategizing their surveillance system purchases and installations ahead of the FAA's 2020 mandate for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) equipage. Although six years away, the January 2020 deadline for ADS-B is high on the to-do list for maintenance shop visits even now, especially for smaller operators with large fleets who already know they will have problems complying.

DEFENSE: Global hotspots and country-by-country analyses of national priorities, budgets and programs. See pages 38-47. MILITARY AVIATION: Rivals upgrade their combat aircraft as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter begins to gain international traction. Special missions become a key part of transport market. See pages 58-67. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT: Europe finally may be getting its act together on UAS, but China and civil developments are moving faster. See page 68.

1. Inertial Reference System Support Supplier: Navhouse Corp.

Analysts tracking the commercial aircraft turbine engine MRO market see a growth period for the industry from 2014 through 2023, although at a percentage rate in the low-to-mid-single digits. According to data generated by Aviation Week analysts, the global value of the engine MRO market for 2014 is estimated at $20.3 billion, based on the in-service engine fleet of 63,000 for that year—including 3,952 new deliveries. Some aviation industry analysts project slightly higher numbers for the same period.