All You Need To Know About PMA Parts

There are cost-saving options for aircraft parts that match the form, fit, and function of the originals—here’s how to find them.

Richard Scarbrough

Thursday, August 04, 2022 at 06:49 AM ET

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The Superior Millennium cylinders on this Beechcraft Bonanza IO-550-B engine are PMA parts. [Photo: Richard Scarbrough]

Key Takeaways:

FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) allows for the production of fully FAA-approved replacement parts that are "form, fit, and function" equivalent to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) components.
PMA parts offer significant benefits including substantial cost savings (often over 50% compared to OEM), improved availability to mitigate supply chain issues, and sometimes enhanced reliability or solutions for obsolescence.
Approved through various rigorous methods like "identicality" or "test and computation," PMA parts are thoroughly vetted by the FAA, often facing more scrutiny than OEM parts, though users should still research and choose reputable brands.

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Shellie slides into her cubicle just in the nick of time. Only 15 minutes late, but still enough to raise the ire of the new maintenance manager, if caught. Besides, the unwritten rule is that late arrivals give the crew a gift of donuts; and aircraft mechanics love free donuts.

With one ear aimed at the hallway, anxiously awaiting pounding footsteps, she quickly logs into her Dell desktop computer and fires up her email. An urgent message appears from the director of maintenance (DOM), with her manager copied.