The Knowledge Hub

It’s so obvious that it may not even need stating: the past few years have not been easy for the aviation industry. The coronavirus pandemic was a historic crisis that was deeper and longer lasting than anything we’ve faced before.

In the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) world, time is of the essence. Few can afford lengthy waits for needed parts, tools or hardware and everyone wants to avoid grounded aircraft that can quickly incur massive costs.

The buying and selling of aircraft parts will go from person-to-person transactions to digital marketplaces where everything can be found within just a few clicks. It’s not a question of if this will happen, but when.

The coronavirus pandemic produced the worst two-year period in aviation industry history. But despite this historic challenge, there are quite a few reasons to feel optimistic about the future.

After two-plus years of historically rough headwinds, the aviation industry is recovering much faster than expected.

The global supply chain crisis and aviation’s long-running labour shortage have put immense pressure on the aftermarket. Will planned production increases from Airbus and Boeing make it even worse?

As floor panels are a component of an aircraft’s primary structure, they have more of a role than simply providing a flat surface to walk on. They are important for the overall safety of an aircraft during its normal operations, bearing high loads and resisting impact.

As important components of an aircraft’s primary structure, it’s essential to know about the lifespan of floor panels and their cost-effectiveness. A longer lifespan facilitates the aircraft operators to use the structure over a longer period which reduces the total cost of ownership. How long should floor panels last and what impacts their longevity?

An airline has an aircraft coming in for a heavy maintenance ‘D’ check, and in accordance with its maintenance schedule, it has reserved hangar space and lined up its maintenance staff. But during the check, the airline discovers that one of the floor panels needs to be replaced. And its MRO service provider informs it that it will take at least 3 months to procure that specific panel.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the landscape for aircraft parts, forcing both buyers and sellers to rethink their traditional approach to the market.