FL Technics Spare Parts: Why it is essential for airlines to cooperate with the independent suppliers who maintain their own spare parts stocks

According to the industry experts, airlines worldwide will spend approx. $49-51 billion on the aircraft maintenance this year. Due to their unpredictable nature, the AOG-related expenses will naturally play a significant part in the overall MRO costs. As every AOG hour burdens an airline’s budget even more, it is essential for carriers to have 24/7 accessibility to spare parts in any location – the necessity, which is achievable only through a partnership with an independent spare parts’ supplier.

In order to optimize the MRO-related costs, it is essential that aircraft operators carefully reconsider their spare parts supply strategy, since it is the departing point for the cost-effective AOG-situation handling.

The AOG-related expenses may be as high as $150 000 per accident, mainly depending on the spare part delivery terms, and whether the technical malfunction occurs in the base airport or not. The flight recommencement depends on the operator’s (or its MRO provider’s) ability to provide the grounded aircraft with a necessary component within the fastest possible period of time.

The spare parts’ accessibility issue is particularly pressing for those countries, which maintain difficult customs procedures. And it concerns not only the spares’ import, but also the export. Since an operating company may face AOG situation literally in any airport of the world and the airlines themselves cannot afford to keep their own stock at every airport of destination, it is important to maintain a hybrid spare parts’ supply system, consisting of the company’s own stock, as well as the partnership with a spare parts’ supplier who obtains a diversified component pool in different countries.

‘For example, the Russian air carriers may wait for as long as a week before a spare part for their Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 is cleared from all customs procedures. In such cases, it is wise to establish long-term cooperation with a third-party supplier such as FL Technics Spare Parts, which has its own, in-house capabilities to both provide and manage aircraft components within a region with specific customs regime like the EU or the CIS. Such spare parts suppliers are to be the first choice for an international airline, since they maintain their stocks in different countries thus providing carriers with a continuous component support throughout the entire flight route,’ commented the Head of Business Development at FL Technics Spare Parts Paulius Kavaliauskas.

With the head office, main technical facilities and its own stock based in Vilnius, as well as with stocks in Poland and Russia, FL Technics Spare Parts provides a wide range of spare parts solutions which cover sales, exchange and loans, consignment, PBH programs, component pool access, logistics, 24/7 AOG support, etc. The company offers technical support for aircraft spare parts, including aircraft and engine components as well as wheels & brakes, auxiliary power units (APUs), landing gear, in-flight entertainment systems (IFEs) and thrust reversers, structure elements and other parts.

About FL Technics:

FL Technics is a global provider of tailor-made solutions for aircraft maintenance and repair. Company specializes in base and line maintenance, full aircraft engineering, engine management, spare parts and components support, logistics and distribution, technical training and consulting services, landing gear overhaul.

FL Technics acts as one-stop-shop maintenance solutions’ provider for Commercial and Business aviation, serving customers from Europe, the CIS, Africa and Asia-Pacific. With offices in Lithuania, Russia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy and Malaysia, the company provides services in 2 base maintenance facilities in Lithuania and Ukraine, as well as a combined network of 32 Line Stations across Europe, the CIS, Africa and Asia-Pacific. FL Technics is an EASA Part-145, Part-M, Part-147, Part-21 certified company, as well as a Boeing GoldCare Program partner, with certificate approvals in Russia, Bermuda and other countries.

FL Technics provides integrated technical services for Airbus A300/A310/A320/A330/A340/A380, Boeing 737 CL/ 737 NG/ 747/ 757/ 767/ 777; Bombardier CL600-2B19; ATR 42/72; EMB 135/145; MD 80; FOKKER 50/70/100 and SAAB 2000/340 types of aircraft.

FL Technics is a member of the Avia Solutions Group family – WSE listed provider of the integrated aviation services. For more information about FL Technics, please visit our website at www.fltechnics.com.