Find the Best Used Aircraft Parts for Your Aviation Needs

Military aviation operators are flying some of the oldest aircraft fleets in the air today, and while this is impressive, it also creates certain problems. While a handful of aircraft are very new, many of the aircraft in the U.S. military fleets are getting extremely old. 

How old?

Well, the average C-12F Huron is almost 37 years old. 

F-15 Charlies and Deltas? Over 37 years each. For a fighter. 

A-10s? Over forty years old on average. 

And how about any of the C-135 (KC-135/RC-135/WC-135) platforms? Yeah, those are all almost sixty years old on average. 

Regardless of which airframe we’re talking about here, we need to recognize that all of them are getting old, and old aircraft break. Also, no new parts have been produced in decades for many of these aging airframes. That’s right: they are relying on parts that have been remanufactured, rebuilt, or repaired to keep them serviceable and in the air. 

But does this really work? And where do they even come from? Aircraft parts, engine parts, and so on come from a variety of places, including salvaged aircraft. Let’s take a look at the Used Serviceable Materials process, and how you can procure them. 

What Are Used Serviceable Materials (USM)?

First and foremost, we need to answer this question: what are used serviceable materials (USMs)?

In the aerospace market, USM refers to aircraft components and parts that have been previously used and then removed when the aircraft is decommissioned (usually). The overall USM market is experiencing considerable growth right now as demand for cost-effective solutions heats up, although this is generally referring to commercial sales and not military sales. For the most part, there is limited crossover between the two markets, although there is certainly some crossover for the C-12 Huron family of Beechcraft B200 King Airs. 

How to Identify the Right Aircraft Parts for Your Fleet

The sheer volume of different aircraft parts on a single airframe is staggering, let alone thinking about the dozens of different military aircraft in the fleets. How can you figure out not only the right parts for your aircraft but the right place to procure them?

The best way to do this is with the help of the experienced procurement specialists at Greenwood Aerospace. We are the quickest route from your parts request to parts delivered. Oh, and if you need parts in your supply chain but don’t need them on hand right now, talk to our team about warehousing your supply in-house at our 42,000-square-foot facility in Ponca City, Oklahoma. We are Mil-Spec packaging experts, so you can rest assured that when it comes time to request parts out of storage, they will be sent out exactly as they should be.   

Sourcing Used Aircraft Parts

Knowing the aircraft part numbers is just the first step; procuring certified aircraft parts is not like sourcing car parts or even GSE parts. 

Aircraft Salvage: A Cost-Effective Option

Finding legitimate aircraft parts has always been a chore, especially when your flight operation is on a budget. Sure, factory new OEM airplane parts are great, and they come at a steep price. The aviation industry is not one to save thousands, but thankfully for you, that is the business we are in.   

One of the most cost-effective solutions for airplane parts and other aircraft parts is through aircraft salvage. And it really isn’t as shady or sketchy as it sounds. See, many aircraft that are put out to pasture are due to the airframe timing out. Each airframe is allotted only so many flight hours or cycles before it is to be retired, so they are taken out of commission. The airframe is usually stripped of all usable parts, including flight controls and control surfaces (rudders, ailerons, etc). Instruments and avionics, along with engines, are commonly removed. 

Again, there is nothing to worry about with aircraft salvage airplane parts because they are removed from certified aircraft with all maintenance records. Aircraft salvage is a completely safe (if the aircraft was wrecked, all components are checked and non-functional items are scrapped). All rules and regulations regarding airplane parts apply. 

Tips for Finding Quality Used Aircraft Parts

The best tip we have for finding quality used aircraft parts is this: let us do the heavy lifting. We have spent decades in this business fine-tuning the acquisition and procurement process so you don’t have to. When time is money (and it always is), sourcing quality airplane parts can take years to really nail down. 

And there is a reason we keep thumping the word “quality.” There are plenty of places to source parts from, but even if they are legal and certified, their quality is not always the highest.  

This is why working with Greenwood Aerospace is your greatest ally. We have vetted our suppliers by working with them for years and know the quality of the sourced aircraft parts, including the salvage parts. Working with us to procure your parts adds immense value: you provide the parts you need to fill your supply chain, or we can even build a logistics chain for your flight operations. 

How Are USMs Beneficial for Military Operators?

USMs are not always a viable way to source airplane parts for military flight operations since many of the aircraft are unique to military units. However, there are a number of aircraft in the inventory like the C-12 Huron and the T-1 Jayhawk that are commercial off the shelf variants of a civilian aircraft, in these cases, the Beechcraft King Air 200 and the Beechcraft Beechjet 400/Hawker 400. 
There are hundreds of each of these aircraft in civil use the world over, and both of these have been in production for many decades, so the supply of USMs is plentiful and deep.  

There are a few conditions that impact the value of USMs and their relative value compared to factory new OEMs. 

The condition and certification of airplane parts heavily impact this equation. Prices of USMs do depend on their condition and whether they come with the necessary certification (FAA 8230-3, EASA Form 1, etc.). If the parts are well-documented and certified, they will be at the higher end but still substantially less than new. 

The overall health of the aviation market is also a major cost driver. Right now, the private market is heavily inflated, as seen in the general aviation market. In times of high retirement rates, the market will be a little more saturated with USMs since the aircraft are getting parked and stripped of USMs. This is a great opportunity for military operators to stock up on harder-to-find USMs and bolster their supply chain. Again, we can warehouse your stock of parts along with procuring them on request, so keep that in your hip pocket. 

The exact savings definitely vary, but it is generally in the ballpark of 30%-60%, depending on a lot of variables.

Final Thoughts

One of the best ways for your military flight operations to save money is through Used Serviceable Materials. Of course, this is a longer way of saying “used parts.” USMs are a great way to help you stay in the black with rising flight costs when you can easily cut your parts procurement costs in half. One of the best sources of USMs is through aircraft salvage, which helps boost the inventory of USMs for any given airframe as aircraft are retired. 

Greenwood Aerospace is your preferred partner for procuring and warehousing factory new OEM if you want. Just give us a call at (580) 762-2580, and one of our parts procurement professionals will help you find a way!