It’s the day before one of the busiest days of the year for your charter jet company, and everything seems perfect.

The weather forecast is ideal, and every jet is fully booked—a business owner’s dream scenario. However, just when you think everything is in place, the phone rings, and it’s your chief pilot with distressing news. The jet she is piloting has encountered a maintenance issue that will ground it for several days.

Suddenly, stress starts to build, and you’re faced with a challenging situation.

Not only do you need to figure out what to do as a business owner, but you also realize the extensive ripple effect this will have. Your employees and clients will be affected, and the logistical nightmare of reshuffling flights and passengers for the following day with one aircraft grounded is daunting. You know this will likely lead to potential delays and increased workload for the remaining operational planes.

The realization hits hard; your company’s efficiency takes a nosedive when your fleet isn’t operating at full capacity. Finances may suffer, and, more importantly, clients might lose faith in your ability to deliver reliable services.

In hindsight, you can’t help but wish you had taken care of that seemingly inconsequential maintenance issue earlier. Had it been addressed promptly, it could have prevented this cascading river of problems, saving your company from its current predicament.

The experience serves as a vital reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance to ensure smooth operations and uphold the trust of your clients and employees alike. 

That’s why Locatory.com exists. We know this scenario all too well, and our goal is to help prevent this from happening to you or your company. 

Understanding the Aviation Aftermarket Industry

The aviation industry relies heavily on the efficient operation and maintenance of aircraft to ensure safe and reliable transportation. Airlines and aircraft operators face many challenges in maintaining their fleets, including minimizing downtime, reducing maintenance costs, and optimizing overall performance. Aviation aftermarket services play a vital role in enhancing fleet performance by addressing these challenges. 

Aviation aftermarket services encompass a wide range of activities to support the operational lifecycle of aircraft, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, spare parts provisioning, component repairs, and technical support. These services are provided by specialized organizations, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), independent MRO providers, and suppliers. Locatory.com is proud to be a global leader in the industry since our launch in 2010. 

Locatory.com is a leading player in the aviation aftermarket industry. Our mission at Locatory.com is to partner with you by providing aircraft parts solutions and services that add value to your company and prevent nightmares like the one described above from happening to you. 

Four Key Benefits of Aviation Aftermarket Services

1. Enhanced Fleet Reliability: Aviation aftermarket services play a critical role in ensuring the reliability and availability of aircraft. Regular maintenance and scheduled inspections help identify and rectify potential issues before they lead to major failures, reducing unscheduled downtime and enhancing fleet reliability. 

2. Improved Operational Efficiency: Aviation aftermarket services can improve an aircraft’s operational efficiency by implementing optimized maintenance programs and utilizing advanced technologies. This includes proactive maintenance planning, real-time monitoring of critical components, and data-driven decision-making to minimize disruptions and maximize aircraft utilization.

3. Cost Optimization: Effective aftermarket services contribute to cost optimization by implementing efficient maintenance practices, extending the life of aircraft components, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. This leads to reduced maintenance expenses, lower fuel consumption, and enhanced return on investment for aircraft operators.

4. Regulatory Compliance: Although regulations and requirements will differ from country to country, the global aviation industry operates within a strict regulatory framework to ensure safety and adherence to industry standards. Aviation aftermarket services are crucial in maintaining compliance by performing inspections, repairs, and modifications according to regulatory requirements, thus ensuring the fleet’s airworthiness.

Four Ways Aftermarket Services Can Help Optimize Fleet Performance

1. Predictive Maintenance: Leveraging advanced technologies such as predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, aviation aftermarket services can predict potential failures and recommend preventive actions. This approach minimizes unscheduled downtime and reduces the likelihood of significant system failures.

2. Component Repair and Overhaul: Instead of outright component replacement, opting for repair and overhaul services can significantly reduce costs while maintaining the required quality standards. MRO providers specialize in repairing and refurbishing aircraft components, offering a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new parts.

3. Inventory Management: For fleet operators to minimize downtime and operational disruptions, effective spare parts provisioning is crucial. By implementing efficient inventory management systems and leveraging data analytics, aftermarket service providers can optimize inventory levels, reduce excess stock, and ensure the timely availability of critical components. Locatory.com has introduced different tools through the years, including its Supplier Management Tool and Amber A.I., an artificial intelligence-based system to help simplify inventory management.  

4. Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Aftermarket service providers should actively engage in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency and quality of their services. Initiatives include investing in research and development, adopting new technologies, and staying updated with industry best practices to provide customers with the most innovative and practical solutions.

Embracing the Aviation Aftermarket is Essential for Success

The significance of aviation aftermarket services cannot be overstated, as they play a crucial role in optimizing fleet performance. These services achieve this by enhancing aircraft reliability, improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. By adopting proactive maintenance practices, leveraging advanced technologies, and making data-driven decisions, aircraft operators can minimize downtime, increase fleet availability, and maximize profit.

Partnering with reputable aftermarket service providers like Locatory.com and implementing the strategies mentioned above empowers airlines and aircraft operators to unlock the full potential of their fleets. This approach guarantees safe, reliable, and efficient operations in the constantly evolving aviation industry. Embracing these services is essential for staying competitive and achieving sustainable success in the dynamic world of aviation.

Contact Locatory.com today to find out how we can help you.

Due to the failure to effectively address unscheduled maintenance events known as Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations, the aviation industry has been grappling with significant losses in potential revenue, estimated at a staggering $6 billion annually. With ongoing global supply chain disruptions in the post-pandemic environment and the unavailability of spare parts and components, the industry faces formidable challenges that place OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), airlines, and aftermarket service providers at a high risk of losing even more potential revenue.

The impact of AOG events on commercial aviation during the summer season, resulting in missed opportunities, is highly significant. Managing such situations adds unexpected pressure, further exacerbated by the prevailing difficulties in the supply chain. But how long will it take for the industry to overcome the supply crisis? And is it possible to minimize aircraft downtime during the peak demand period despite the current obstacles in spare parts and component supply?

How long will the supply chain crisis last?

While airlines eagerly anticipate new aircraft deliveries to increase capacity and fulfill existing flight bookings, manufacturers grapple with workforce shortages, material scarcities, and global shipping bottlenecks. The major European OEM company Airbus estimates that supply chain delays are projected to persist in the industry throughout 2023 and potentially extend into the early months of the following year.

In comparison, its competitor Boeing has a more worrisome projection. According to the US-based manufacturer, the supply chain will continue to pose challenges in new aircraft deliveries for an extended five-year period until 2028. To compensate for delays in new aircraft arrivals, some operators have reviewed their aircraft retirement plans. However, the issues related to parts and component supply during unscheduled maintenance events remain unsolved.

Optimizing AOG parts and component availability

The restoration of supply chains will likely span several years, resulting in prolonged lead times for aircraft spare parts and components in cost sensitive AOG situations. Therefore, it is beneficial to review and update key strategies dedicated to enhancing AOG parts availability.

According to Toma Matutyte, the CEO of Locatory.com, operators are strongly advised to constantly diversify their supplier pools by engaging multiple marketplaces, both domestically and internationally, while placing a greater emphasis on modern global platforms. Such an approach should mitigate the impact of potential disruptions or delays in parts arrival during high-season aircraft grounding.

“In the face of persistent global supply chain disruptions, the aviation industry must prioritize optimizing spare parts sourcing to minimize revenue losses and reduce the risks associated with AOG situations. Building strong supplier relationships, diversifying the existing supplier base, and leveraging data analytics are key proactive measures to be taken for the industry to navigate through the supply chain crisis and ensure uninterrupted operations,” explains Matutyte.