Where to Buy Aircraft Parts

Looking for aircraft parts for repair or replacement? Here’s a guide on how to source the aircraft parts you need.

4 Considerations When Shopping for Aircraft Parts

Aircraft production and maintenance is a highly regulated industry – not just anybody can buy and sell aircraft parts. Any negligence in buying a quality aircraft part can lead to liability issues and potentially catastrophic failure, so it’s key to perform due diligence and research before making a purchase. 

Your Needs

The first item to focus on is what you specifically need in a provider and part specification to ensure reliable delivery, quality information, secure shipping, and the exact item you need for your legal requirements. Parts are broadly available from OEM and PMA options.

Distributors for the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM): These companies sell parts for all aircraft models they make. This source can feel the most reliable because OEM parts should match the quality of a new part and often come with a warranty, but other factors such as local availability, shipping speed, and value for price should be factored in. While people feel confident ordering from an OEM, it is often not the best option for their needs.

Parts made by the original manufacturer must meet FAA standards for safety and airworthiness, with varying levels of certification: 

1. Type Certification – shows approval of the aircraft design and all component parts
2. Production Type Certificate – shows approval to manufacture duplicate parts
3. Technical Standard Order (TSO) – a minimum performance standard for specified materials, parts, and appliances
4. Technical Standard Order Approval (TSOA) – shows that a part meets a minimum performance requirement, independent of that part’s intended installation

Companies with Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA): These are companies authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make replacement parts that meet industry standards even though they aren’t the original maker of the aircraft,

There are three methods for companies to gain PMA approval for making a replacement part:

1. Identicality – showing that the design and manufacture will produce a replacement part that is identical to the original component
2. Identicality by Licensure – showing that the company has licensed the design from the original maker to make an identical part
3. Test & Computation – showing that the replacement part meets the functional needs of the original 

Companies must also pass Production Approval to show that their manufacturing process meets FAA standards, as determined by the FAA Manufacturing Inspection Divisional Office (MIDO). With these regulations and approval processes, PMA parts then meet safety and airworthiness standards and the price or availability might just be better for your budget.

Selecting Trusted Vendors 

Before purchasing a part, you should ensure that you can trust the source of that part. You’ll want to verify that the sellers are reliable, the product information listed is legitimate, and all the necessary paperwork is in order.

What to Look For:

• Check the vendor’s inventory to see if they deal in the spare parts designed for your aircraft.
• Look to see if the supplier makes a detailed description of the products they list.
• Check that the supplier provides the engine maintenance history for the part.
• Look for the airworthiness certification of either the aircraft or the part.
• Check if the seller provides warranties, delivery, and after-sale services of those aircraft parts.
• If you’re using a certified repair station or MRO for testing, repair, or overhaul, double-check that they have current certification.

All of these details should indicate whether the source of the part is reliable, and therefore if the part itself is also reliable. 

The Type of Aircraft & Parts You Need 

The kind of part or aircraft you’re looking for will help determine where to look – as will the use you’re planning for it. For example, finding old airline seats to use as office furniture will likely be an easier endeavor than trying to source an engine for an older model Cessna. 

Depending on the age of the aircraft, or the type of replacement part you need, you may have fewer options for purchase. Don’t worry if you can only find a PMA part; as stated previously, those parts are held to FAA standards as much as OEM parts are, so you’re not losing on safety or usefulness by sourcing a PMA replacement part.

Check for the serial number, either on the part itself, the aircraft, or in your owner or service manual. With that information, you can check a paper catalog, call local sources, or leverage an online aircraft parts search engine like ours, to instantly search billions of lines of inventory to find the part you need.

Know & Understand The Condition 

Most people are familiar with new and used conditions. Since aircraft and their parts are heavily regulated, the definition of their condition code is very important in identifying the function and value of the part. Below are the most used aviation condition acronyms and terms involved in aircraft part sales.

1. As Removed (AR) –  The part is sold in the condition it was in when removed from the aircraft. There are various reasons why a part would be removed, including teardown of the aircraft, malfunction of the unit, or the airplane was involved in an accident.
2. Serviceable (SV/SVC) – A serviceable unit means that the part is used and in functioning condition. Typically many operators and maintenance facilities choose to buy a serviceable unit because they would be paying much less than buying an overhauled or new unit. A serviceable unit will go through a very simple bench test to determine if the unit works; if it doesn’t work, they will find the cause and only replace what is causing the problem.
3. Repaired (RP) – The repaired condition is a serviceable unit that requires a little more work. With repaired units minor piece parts are used to bring the unit into serviceable condition to meet the functional test requirements. Gaskets, bolts, and small expendables are the normal piece parts used in repairs. This condition will come with an airworthiness certification and teardown detailing what was done and what parts were used in the repair.
4. Overhauled (OH) – An overhauled unit is very different from a serviceable unit. When a FAA Authorized 145 repair station overhauls a unit it means the part was disassembled, cleaned, inspected, and repaired as necessary to finally get reassembled. It has been tested according to approved manual standards of that specific part, which includes technical data and current standards. The repair station to the best of their ability will try and make the part look like new again by replacing all internal components that are rusted, damaged, or necessary. They will also perform some cosmetic work on the part to make it look like new. This is the “best” of all conditions and requires the most work. With an OH unit you’ll be sure that your units will receive the 100% OH kit according to the CMM and any other components to bring it to such a condition.
5. New Surplus (NS) – A New Surplus part in aviation means that the part is brand new and has never been used, but for some reason the part has no documentation or certification from the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), though it does come with a company certificate of conformance (ATA106) and some sort of trace to it. This makes the part less expensive than the new unit because the manufacturing certificate is what holds the value. 

There is a common misunderstanding in the aviation industry that if a part has been sitting on a shelf for a certain variable amount of time in new condition it is automatically labeled new surplus, and this is incorrect. Some scenarios of new surplus parts would be from large lots and auction sales or liquidating assets from previous owners.

• New Condition (NE) – The part is brand new from the factory and has its appropriate OEM trace and certification.
• Factory New (FN) – Generally speaking, FN is commonly used directly from the Original Equipment Manufacturer. These parts should always come with a manufacturer’s material certification, and haven’t passed through many hands to get to the end user. A standard industry practice is that if it’s more than 2 years old, it’s no longer FN.

 

20 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Aircraft Parts

1. Can you sell aircraft parts online?

Yes, you can buy and sell aircraft parts online, including PartsBase Partstore. There are numerous platforms with an extensive inventory.

2. What companies make airplane parts?

Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, United Technology, and Bombardier, among others.

The top 10 aircraft parts manufacturers include Parker Hannifin Corp., which manufactures fluid systems, GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, Inc., which produces cabin windows and cockpits for military, regional and commercial aircraft, UTC Aerospace Systems, which manufactures new piloting systems, RMS Company and The Atlas Group.

3. Who are the suppliers of the airline industry?

Airbus and Boeing are the largest suppliers in the airline industry. While they have the bargaining power as the largest suppliers in the airline landscape, smaller companies like Safran, Leonardo, United Aircraft Corporation, and Raytheon Technologies, among others, have a significant market share.

4. Who is the largest aircraft manufacturer?

Airbus is the largest commercial airplane manufacturer currently. Prior to COVID-19, Boeing took the first spot as the largest aircraft manufacturer.

5. Who supplies parts for Boeing?

Spirit AeroSystems, Precision Castparts Corp., Triumph Group, Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, and Honeywell.

6. Where do Boeing parts come from?

Boeing gets their parts from Spirit AeroSystems, which supply fuselages and other aerostructures, Precision Castparts Corp., which also supply aerostructures, Triumph Group, Pratt & Whitney, which supply aircraft engines, Collins Aerospace, which supplies components and other parts, as well as Honeywell and General Electric Co.

7. Does Boeing make their own parts?

To lock in profits, Boeing makes their own parts in addition to sourcing parts from other suppliers.

8. How much does a Boeing 737 cost?

A Boeing 737 costs $99.7 million but given market conditions, a buyer will typically get lots of discounts.

9. Can you buy an old 747?

Yes, you can buy a Boeing 747 for not less than $3.46 million.

10. How much is a scrap 747?

A 747 will fetch up to $55,000 for its scrap parts alone.

11. What does a 747 cost?

A Boeing 747 costs $418.4 million per unit, although this can be lower or higher depending on market conditions.

12. How do you become an aircraft broker?

To become an aircraft broker, you will need to get certified. This accreditation comes through an industry organization such as the International Aircraft Dealers Association or the AIC JETS Corporation.

13. Why do airplane parts have French names?

France was the global center of science, technology, and culture, and the French language was one of the premier languages used in science at the time.

14. Which material is suitable for making aircraft parts?

Steel, aluminum, titanium, and their alloys are metals used in making aircraft parts.

15. Is aircraft aluminum stronger than steel?

Even with the risk of corrosion, steel is still significantly stronger than aluminum. Note that most commonly used tempers and alloys of aluminum dent, ding, or scratch more easily as compared to steel. Overall, steel is stronger and less likely to warp, deform or bend to either heat or force.

16. Why is steel not used in aircraft?

While significantly stronger, steel is still not used for airplane parts because steel loses its strength at high temperatures. As such, these cannot be used for skin surfaces that tend to become too hot on airplanes that fly faster than twice the speed of sound. Besides, steel is three times heavier than aluminum making it less suitable.

17. Which metal is mostly used in aircraft?

Aluminum and its alloys remain the most popular raw materials for manufacturing aircraft.

18. Where are plane parts made?

United States of America, France, Germany, Spain, and Britain.

19. Why can’t you buy Finnair’s recycled aircraft parts?

Finland has strict rules and regulations when it comes to handling aircraft parts and components. In fact, selling aircraft parts is prohibited by the local aviation industry; thus, you can’t buy Finnair recycled aircraft parts.

20. What happens to aircraft parts?

Many aircraft parts end up being sold off second-hand within the lively second-hand marketplace. Buyers are often airlines and private buyers in the market for affordable components to add to their fleets.

PartsBase is the Place to Buy Aircraft Parts

Consider shopping at PartsBase Partstore for aircraft parts. PartsBase continues to be the leading and most advanced parts locator platform. The latter is open to all buyers, thus making the B2B online parts locator a go-to if you are in the market for aircraft parts.

Suppose you can’t find what you need. Specifically, what if you are looking for a specialty part that’s difficult to find. Fortunately, you have the PartsBase community. You can engage this community to locate hard-to-find parts, scrap metal, avionics, and more. On the message board, you can view the conversations on parts wanted, what’s for sale, Aircraft on Ground (AOG), aircraft that have been listed, and post any jobs you might require an expert for.

From our searchable aircraft parts database & platform, you can access over 15 billion aerospace parts. This platform is a fully integrated comprehensive buying and selling solution for commercial, business, military, nuts-and-bolts, major assemblies, and general aviation. Contact us and buy smarter today!