Commercial airliners have continually voiced the need to improve the availability of their fleet and with current financial pressures facing many airlines this need has even become more significant. SHM can contribute to enhancing aircraft availability through substituting routine heavy structural maintenance inspections with automation. However, specific aircraft locations and the impact of SHM alternatives are yet to be defined. The paper presents a two stage approach centred on analysing maintenance intervals, and areas where improvements to an aircraft's availability can be achieved. This approach is explained with reference to real aircraft maintenance scenarios where critical areas are identified and the impact of implementing such technologies are assessed.