Novel technologies are improving aircraft hangars, and particularly the activities that take place within these hangars (final assembly or heavy maintenance and modification work). Industry 4.0 trends have positively changed the way aircraft are built or maintained in hangars, leading to the emergence of smart hangars.

This research discusses trends like edge computing, IoT, and artificial intelligence with respect to aircraft hangars; an analysis of the drivers and restraints affecting the adoption of smart technologies in aircraft hangars, covering a 9-year time frame, supports a thorough overview of these trends, along with industry use cases for each one. The use cases cover applications in both aviation and other industries.

Advanced technologies enable smart systems and processes and the Industry 4.0 trends being implemented in aircraft hangars. These hangers are essentially equipped with smart solutions for common applications and ensure improved productivity, consistent quality output, and timely execution of tasks. For instance, IoT devices like drones and robots are being used for aircraft inspections, while AI has found its way into aircraft maintenance and assembly operations by virtue of predictive maintenance and augmented reality applications, respectively. These applications and technological trends, along with general trends like shifting to paperless operations, the impact of next-generation aircraft, and stakeholder pros and cons are discussed in greater detail.