Wencor to
leverage ODA
The company’s latest FAA authorization will position it well to benefit
from the increasing market in PMA parts
By Ian Parker
L
ast September, Wencor time-to-market standpoint there’s an
obtained Organization advantage which helps us to create
Designation Authorization savings quicker for our customers, and
(ODA) from the FAA. This allows the to more quickly meet our commitment
company to perform certification to develop PMA products.”
procedures on behalf of the FAA for He says that for the first year the
its new parts manufacturer approval FAA will be very active in auditing
(PMA) replacement parts. Wencor every aspect of the ODA but as
designees and manufacturing and the company demonstrates that it’s
engineering employees will perform following approved procedures, there
additional delegated tasks for the will be less frequent audits. “We have
FAA, including signing supplements a partnership with the FAA,” says
approving PMAs. Adamson. “We welcome them at
In short, the FAA has given its any time and we want their feedback
blessing for Wencor to sign off the and we work closely with them. It’s a
design and test of its own PMA parts. co-operative relationship. Their top
Russ Adamson
This will make the company even priority is safety and ours is the same. President, Wencor
more competitive and responsive The FAA is very supportive of PMA.”
in the PMA market. Wencor is said The whole PMA process came interest in cost reduction.”
to be the first aftermarket focused about when there was no alternative He tells Aviation Maintenance
PMA company to get FAA ODA. The source of parts when some original that there are more resources being
company’s ODA lead administrator manufacturers went out of business. devoted to understanding PMA,
K Dick Vaughn says “This latest To keep aircraft flying you needed to identifying PMA opportunities and
delegation highlights the FAA’s be able to get safe parts so the PMA identifying suppliers. There are also
confidence in our fabrication and process evolved. There’s a supply of opportunities in general aviation but
inspection system as well as our safe PMA products in the market, the majority of opportunities still
designees, engineers and inspectors.” and not just from one source. remain in the commercial airlines.
Aviation Maintenance spoke to Adamson says “We think that the “We’ve always had a competitive
president Russ Adamson, VP PMA PMA market has a lot of opportunity relationship with the OEMs and it
sales Keith Coleman and director of to expand.” continues to be so as airlines are
engineering Dave Ashton about how Keith Coleman agrees. “There’s seeking additional cost reductions
it will boost their business. quite a bit of expansion opportunity – they are approaching the OEMs
Adamson says “The ODA will give especially in Asia. Latin America and as well as approaching PMA
us more of a streamlined approach Europe. North America is more mature suppliers. Often when airlines
where we’ll definitely get all of in the use of PMA, but we’re seeing approach us to develop PMAs they
the FAA input up front and we’ll a lot of interest and activity in other identify opportunities for product
make sure we’re doing everything regions, especially Asia. We think that improvements that the OEM has
within the regulations. Once the a lot of this is occurring because of the not accomplished so we design
certification plan is approved we’re financial situation. A lot of airlines are those into our PMA parts.” Keeping
authorized to develop the PMA going through some difficult times, abreast of what the airlines’ cost
through the ODA process. From a economically, so there’s a significant reduction and product improvement
14 Aviation Maintenance |
avmain-mag.com | December 2009/January 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68