Important Things When You are Purchasing Aircraft Parts

Posted on April 3, 2019 Michael Rodriguez Aviation

In the aviation aftermarket spares industry, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and part manufacturer approvals (PMAs) are in competition. Of course, there are maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses and parts distributors, but when it comes to making the parts, competition is between the former two. Originally, OEMs had a monopoly on parts, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved manufacturing PMAs and drove high prices down through competition. Although the FAA has made it clear that PMAs are just as safe as OEM parts, some are still skeptical.

Anyone with a demand for aircraft parts has a few things in mind: is it cost effective, is it safe, and will it improve or maintain efficiency? In the past, the idea was that OEMs produce superior part because they originate with the OEM and are identical to the product being replaced. However, PMA parts are also identical to the original part and are of equal quality. Before the manufacturers can even begin making aftermarket parts, the part has already been tested and has to meet FAA standards for airworthiness. The manufacturer also has to make the part in accordance with FAA approved procedures. These parts go through a series of stringent flight tests even before they get approval to do the strict FAA-mandated flight test. They have to prove that the part is equal to or better than the original part before it is approved by the FAA.

It’s important to remember that just any part is not necessarily safe— the ones that are guaranteed to be safe are FAA approved parts, whether they are made by OEMs or through PMAs. To guarantee that you are getting the safest part available globally, the FAA has Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (BASAs) with several countries. The agreements mirror the FAAs certification and approval process in the United States and indicates that it is safe to buy parts from them.