Aircraft part
Encyclopedia
An aircraft part is an article or component approved for installation on a certificated aircraft. Approval for these parts is derived from the jurisdictions of the countries that an aircraft is based. In the United States
, the Federal Aviation Administration
oversees the approval for these parts under Federal Aviation Regulation Part 21.
product.
[Canadian Aviation Regulations/ CAR 101.01]
(TCAS), etc.
aviation regulations. This means that such a part may not have an approved design, may be manufactured by an unapproved manufacturer, distributed by an unapproved distributor, possibly even taken from scrap aircraft while bypassing mandatory and costly shop inspection and recertification processes.
Indiactors for an unapproved or bogus part may reach from missing, incomplete or counterfeit certification, missing or manipulated identification plates, physical aspects like surface grain structure, shape, colour, or weight deviating from the removal part, to any indicators of poor workmanship as well as a suspiciously low purchase price.
Suspected unapproved parts shall be reported to the national aviation authority.
) (aircraft parts manufacturers).
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association represents organizations which repair aircraft and aircraft components (including aircraft parts).
Some aircraft parts are sold by distributors. Distributors of aircraft parts are represented by the Aviation Suppliers Association.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
oversees the approval for these parts under Federal Aviation Regulation Part 21.
Parts Manufacture Approval
A Parts Manufacturer Approval, or PMA, is required for any person producing replacement or modification parts for sale for installation on a type-certificatedType certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
product.
Life limited parts
Life limited parts are parts that, as a condition of their type certificate, may not exceed a specified time, or number of operating cycles, in service[Canadian Aviation Regulations/ CAR 101.01]
Flight critical parts
Flight critical parts are usually regulated by the FAA and the European Union. These include, navigation systems, communication systems, traffic collision avoidance systemTraffic Collision Avoidance System
A traffic collision avoidance system or traffic alert and collision avoidance system is an aircraft collision avoidance system designed to reduce the incidence of mid-air collisions between aircraft...
(TCAS), etc.
Repairable parts
Some high value aircraft parts can be repaired using various re-manufacturing processes such as machining, welding, plating, etc..Suspected unapproved parts
Suspected unapproved parts are those aeronautical parts that should be deemed unairworthy and are therefore not eligible for installation on an aircraft or another aeronautical product because their design, manufacture or distribution is in conflict withaviation regulations. This means that such a part may not have an approved design, may be manufactured by an unapproved manufacturer, distributed by an unapproved distributor, possibly even taken from scrap aircraft while bypassing mandatory and costly shop inspection and recertification processes.
Indiactors for an unapproved or bogus part may reach from missing, incomplete or counterfeit certification, missing or manipulated identification plates, physical aspects like surface grain structure, shape, colour, or weight deviating from the removal part, to any indicators of poor workmanship as well as a suspiciously low purchase price.
Suspected unapproved parts shall be reported to the national aviation authority.
Trade Associations Representing the Aircraft Parts Industry
Aircraft parts are produced by manufacturers. FAA approved aircraft and aircraft parts manufacturers are represented by the Aerospace Industries Association (commercial aircraft manufacturers), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (general aviation aircraft manufacturers) and Modification and Replacement Parts Association (MARPAMarpa
Marpa may refer to:* Marpa Lotsawa, Tibetan Buddhist teacher credited with the transmission of many Buddhist teachings to Tibet from India* Marpa, Peru, ruins of a pre-Columbian town located along the Cotahuasi Canyon in the Andes range of southern Peru...
) (aircraft parts manufacturers).
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association represents organizations which repair aircraft and aircraft components (including aircraft parts).
Some aircraft parts are sold by distributors. Distributors of aircraft parts are represented by the Aviation Suppliers Association.