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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[Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Maintaining vintage aircraft can be challenging due to manufacturer closures and the difficulty of sourcing approved replacement parts.
The FAA's new Vintage Aircraft Replacement and Modification Article (VARMA) program simplifies the approval of low-risk, off-the-shelf parts for type-certificated aircraft built before 1980.
Various existing regulatory tools, such as Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), Designated Engineering Representatives (DER) repairs, and Supplemental Type Certificates (STC), are crucial for keeping older aircraft airworthy.
Community support, specialized organizations like the Vintage Aircraft Association, and online resources are vital for owners to find parts and assistance for out-of-production aircraft.

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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.