Used serviceable material is a cost effective and practical option for aircraft maintenance and component replacement, provided stringent airworthiness processes are followed. Arunas Ganiprauskas, Head of the Procurement and Products Unit at FL Technics, a leading provider of MRO services, explains how it ensures only genuine, safe parts go back onto airplanes.
Benefits and challenges with used serviceable material
Used serviceable material plays a vital role in aviation maintenance. It can provide a cost-effective option for safely repairing aircraft and help to address supply chain challenges. Nevertheless, unlocking these benefits is not always straightforward, explains Arunas Ganiprauskas. “Used serviceable material can be a cost-effective alternative to new parts, but only when proper processes and controls are in place,” he comments. “The EASA, FAA and other civil aviation authorities have regulated frameworks for these materials, with documentation and traceability both required.”
Arunas also notes that other cost considerations must be weighed up. “Buyers should take into account shipping, duties, and potential shop visits when calculating the cost,” he adds. “Whether the part is overhauled, repaired, or “as removed” will also affect the price. In summary, there are a lot of careful considerations that need to be made in terms of cost, regulation, and airworthiness.”
Trust but verify
To navigate these challenges and ensure the airworthiness of parts, FL Technics follows a number of rigorous steps. The company’s approach follows a principle of trust but verify, says Arunas. “We source parts only from trusted suppliers with a strong reputation, and we immediately reject any parts that do not have strong paperwork,” he comments. “However, along with trusting our suppliers and the documentation, we also carefully verify for ourselves via checks and inspections. To enter our system, a part must come from a trusted supplier, and be certified and fully traceable,” explains Arunas.
Parts from trusted sources
The process begins with carefully sourcing used serviceable material from reliable suppliers. “The authorities have strict policies for preventing Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP) from entering the supply chain,” says Arunas. “FL Technics only uses approved suppliers that have valid release certificates. Furthermore, we monitor regulatory alerts regarding any potential bogus parts.”
Along with following official procedures, FL Technics employs its own rigorous standards. “We vet our sources carefully. Our internal assessment follows EASA regulations and is a strong safeguard for ensuring the quality of the supplier’s system,” comments Arunas.
Ensuring traceability
With a reliable supplier selected, the next step is to ensure the traceability of the part being ordered. “Our internal verification is multifaceted and includes mapping out the complete ownership chain for the part,” comments Arunas. “We deploy a range of specialized tools to ensure there are no gaps, inconsistencies, or potential risks in terms of compliance, and we also check for any ownership breaks or sanction exposure risks.”
These traceability assessments require the establishment of a complete trail of all the part’s identifying information, including part numbers, serial numbers, reason for removal, and hours and cycles where this is applicable. “We pay particular attention to Life-Limited Parts (LLPs),” adds Arunas. “We crosscheck all serial numbers and documentation against our own internal systems and industry databases. If we find mismatched numbers, unusual formatting, or unfamiliar issuing organizations, we quarantine the part for further investigation.”
Thorough traceability is especially important because of the persistent problem in the aircraft spares market of counterfeit parts or SUPs. “Any part we receive must come with an EASA Form 1 or an FAA Form 8130-3,” explains Arunas. “For Hard Time (HT) and LLPs, we also require complete traceability records that tell us the part’s operating history and life limits, along with its compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and Service Bulletins (SBs).”
“If any of the necessary documents are missing, we will not use the part,” says Arunas. “Similarly, an unclear maintenance history or gaps in the paperwork can be grounds for rejection.”
Inspection and works
“We verify that Part-145-approved repair stations have performed detailed inspections, including includes visual and dimensional inspections, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), functional or bench testing, and, if needed, repair and overhaul in accordance with the documentation. Any parts with exposure to extreme conditions or that have an incomplete history receive additional scrutiny. The part is rejected if gaps identified cannot be resolved.”
Only when required, the part is then repaired or overhauled in full compliance with approved documentation.
Unlocking the benefits of used serviceable material
FL Technics deploys a rigorous approach, ensuring that only parts that are certified, fully traceable, and from a trusted source enter its system. By doing so, it ensures used serviceable material can be a valuable part of the supply chain, providing a safe and cost-effective solution to help keep fleets flying.
