Maintaining Out-of-Production Aircraft

Here's what to do when the manufacturer of your airplane closes its doors.

Richard Scarbrough

Thursday, September 07, 2023 at 04:55 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Maintaining vintage aircraft after manufacturers cease operations is feasible through various approved methods to ensure their continued airworthiness.
The FAA's new Vintage Aircraft Replacement and Modification Article (VARMA) program simplifies the approval process for "low-risk," off-the-shelf replacement parts in pre-1980 aircraft.
Key tools for keeping older aircraft flying include Parts Manufacturer Approvals (PMA), Designated Engineering Representative (DER) repairs, Supplemental Type Certificates (STC), Technical Standard Orders (TSO), and leveraging community resources for parts and support.

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Someday, you may need a plan for the day you learn that your airplane manufacturer closes the doors for good.

While it is doubtful the Textron Aviations of the world will shutter, other platforms are not so lucky. The trouble is you still have to maintain “in accordance with.” The truth is that some older aircraft are super cool, and it seems an absolute shame to grind them up for scrap when they operate perfectly fine.