All About Aircraft spares and parts

What is in demand in aircraft spares market today?

A340 spares

Factors that influence the purchase decision when operators buy an aircraft include fuel saving advanced aerodynamics, extensive use of weight-saving carbon fibre composites, a modern common cockpit and fly-by-wire controls, reliable systems and robust structure. Perhaps most importantly whether there is a worldwide network of technical support, training and spares centres. Typical is demand for A340-600 spares, powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. It is the latest in widebody corporate vip aircraft.

L1011 Tristar spares

The Lockheed TriStar is primarily used as a tanker and transporter by the RAF and is still in active service with both military and commercial operators. Now phased out by airlines, there are large available stocks of TriStar spares. In 2008 Marshall Aerospace was awarded a £97m contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to sustain the Royal Air Force’s Tristar fleet. Under Tristar Integrated Operational Support (TRIOS), the UK MOD and Industry will provide integrated maintenance, engineering and supply support to the RAF’s fleet until 2015.

Airbus spares

The manufacturer themselves recognise Airbus A320 spares are enjoying a huge market demand. Six Chinese manufacturers are now involved in making parts for Airbus, which in addition to working with Chinese parts manufacturers is setting up a joint-venture A320-family production line in China.

The European manufacturer says that in February 2006 it signed a contract with China National Aero-Technology Import and Export and SAMF, the Chinese manufacturer, covering the manufacture of single-aisle aircraft cargo door frames in Shanghai.

In addition to the A320 parts, the demand is high for Airbus consumables generally,  A330-A340 spares packages including avionics, interiors and In Flight Entertainment (IFE).

Boeing spares

Companies market their lines of 737 and 767 rotables and consumables in stock direct to the airlines, eliminating supply risk and gaining access to tear-down inventory before it reaches the mass market. They can specialise in the direct supply of recertified and surplus material to Boeing, Bombardier CRJ and Airbus operators, a direct supplier, rather than listing and brokering parts on ILS or Partsbase, their time is dedicated to airline support. Full traceability parts and FAA 8130-3 certified parts and strict adherance to FAA AC00-56 quality assurance standards.

Bombardier CRJ spares

The Canadair Region Jet manufactured by Bombardier is receiving a fresh overhaul at present in the guise of CRJ NextGen. Bombardier CRJ parts have come a long way since Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, was founded in November 1908 by the three Short brothers, Horace, Eustace and Oswald, the world’s first aircraft manufacturers. More recently, the company has had major input in the Learjet 45 aircraft, the world’s first all-computer designed business jet, Bombardier’s own CRJ Series family, which has become the most successful regional aircraft in history.A little over a year ago Bombardier announced the launch of the CRJ1000 regional jet, the next major step in the evolution of the CRJ Series aircraft family. The CRJ1000 NextGen regional airliner is designed specifically to meet the needs of growing regional airlines for jets of up to 100 seats, with a focus on extremely low operating costs and improvements to cabin comfort. The aircraft is scheduled to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2009.The CRJ1000 features a range of advanced composite components, including the flap, vane and aileron, which will be produced at Bombardier’s advanced composites facility at Dunmurry using the Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) process.Bombardier has invested £8 million in the development of its RTM advanced composites capabilities.

ATR 42 / 72 spares

Currently mounting a comeback due to its high fuel efficiency, twin turbo-prop design and hence environmentally friendly credentials. OEMs operating on the ATR project can be a source of traceable parts.

Islander spares

The Britten Norman Islander is a British built light utility aircraft.