PART ONE (A Three-Part AviTrader MRO 360° Series) The Idea That Changed Engine Ownership How Charlie Willis Helped Pioneer the Aircraft Engine Leasing Business Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) was established in 1985 around an idea that was still largely untested in commercial aviation: an aircraft engine could be leased independently from the aircraft it
Dealing with the knock-on effects of next-gen aircraft delivery delays Those involved in the maintenance, repair or overhaul of ageing aircraft face a raft of different challenges when compared to those for current- and next-generation aircraft. The older an aircraft becomes and the closer it gets to retirement age, the more complex the decision-making process
Supply chain challenges have led to a raft of inventory problems, including holding too much inventory. However, is this the only cause of a hugely costly problem? For any MRO set-up, lacking parts for an unexpected repair is a nightmare and can lead to a costly AOG incident. While that cost could be financial, it
Not every business model perfectly lends itself to seamless digitalisation. Has the MRO sector been able to successfully make that transformation and embrace all its benefits? Though often mistakenly interchanged, the terms digitisation and digitalisation are not the same. Consequently, just so you can be 100% clear what we are referring to in this article,
By David Dundas Company History – Inventory Locator Service The origins of Inventory Locator Service LLC (ILS) date back to 1979 in Memphis, Tennessee, when John Williams, founder of The Memphis Group, established a business-to-business marketplace that allowed aviation parts buyers and sellers to search inventory, connect with suppliers, and negotiate orders more efficiently. At
Hidden away in the tail of an aircraft, it is quite remarkable just what an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) provides and what it can do in terms of an aircraft’s functionality. It is perhaps the use of the word ‘auxiliary’ that most likely undermines its perceived value and capabilities. From the moment the main engines
It wasn’t until the 1950s that the need for Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) parts appeared when repurposed and surplus wartime aircraft needed repairs, but the aircraft were no longer being manufactured, so there was an automatic shortage of OEM parts. With necessity being the mother of invention, it was decided that parts could be manufactured
As we strive for ever more effective operating methods, will AI-assisted troubleshooting give us the edge the MRO sector needs to become not just more proactive but also more effective? There is no substitute for experience, and nowhere is that more applicable than on the shop floor of an aircraft hangar where a commercial jetliner
The different challenges faced with life limited parts (LLPs) because unlike other engine parts, LLPs cannot be “repaired,” “refurbished,” or “overhauled” to extend their life once they reach their certified limit. With the cost of a jet engine for a commercial aircraft like the CFM LEAP or P&W GTF families running well into eight figures,
Have inventory strategies changed that much since supply chain problems entered the equation, and does demand forecasting help to mitigate certain supply challenges? Unexpected Aircraft on Ground (AOG) instances are every carrier’s nightmare, and costly in the extreme. Whether a carrier performs MRO operations in house or contracts them out to a specialist operator, when
