PMA TODAY


A


t the pharmacy, you can have a prescription filled with a name brand medication or with a generic. There may be minor variations but for the most part, the formula of the


medication is the same. We take these medications now, almost without thought, as they have become so accepted, commonplace and widely available. Some of these products may even work better than the original.


As consumers of these items (literally speaking, since medications are physically consumed), we have educated ourselves about their benefits and concerns and make knowledgeable decisions about what product to put into our bodies.


In a similar way, educating oneself on the supplier options


available in the market place must be first and foremost in the minds of airlines today. Every penny counts in the volatile aviation arena and can mean the difference between profitability and loss. In addition, availability of parts is crucial to keep aircraft in the air where they make money. In the case of older aircraft, if the company that originally made it has decided they don’t have the time or wherewithal to support that aircraft in a timely manner, airlines must find alternative sources that can so they can keep their assets flying. Companies that settle for the status quo and don’t question the norm will suffer. But wise consumers look at all options. That is what brings us together during this first International PMA Summit in London.


The FAA says Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) is both a design


approval and a production approval. It is issued for the production of modification or replacement parts, which includes materials, parts, processes, and appliances. At Aviation Maintenance we have been reporting on the PMA industry for years.


In 2003, we reported on the changes coming in the European


community concerning PMA parts. That was eight years ago and changes have come. The most recent of these changes is the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA). According to Consultant David Doll, “The FAA has done a good job of putting BASAs in virtually every major airline market in the world.” He says


Adrian Broadbent Publisher/Owner T: +34 91 804 2577


E: abroadbent@aerospace-media.com


Joy Finnegan Editor in Chief


Aviation Maintenance Magazine & Conference Chair T: +1 850-460-2614


E: jfinnegan@avmain-mag.com


the wording of the BASA agreements has been very specific to authorize PMA usage. The BASA agreements are raising European comfort levels in regards to PMA usage.


In 2005 Aviation Maintenance reported on the exceptional safety


record of PMA parts and suggested that the industry had reached a high level of maturity. But even then, as now, we suggested that it is critical to ask questions of any supplier in order to keep the quality level high. We suggested buyers should ask, “Can the PMA company provide support if there is a problem? If there is a failure, can the PMA company investigate properly and test its parts to find the root of the problem? Does the company have a deep understanding of failure modes; does it track the parts it sells; does it keep traceability back to the raw materials?” These questions are still valid today.


Back in 2006 we reported that since 9/11 PMA parts usage in


the United States had “increased dramatically” due to their ability to “provide the irresistible cost advantage of 30 percent to 50 percent,” according to Kirti Timmanagoudar, a research analyst at Frost & Sullivan.


Two years later, Jason Dickstein, head of the Modification


and Replacement Parts Association (MARPA – our co-sponsor of this event) said that the PMA industry was facing an opportune moment in the history of PMAs. “The PMA industry is facing a level of acceptance that we could only dream about 10 years ago when the association was founded,” Dickstein said. MARPA continues is valiant effort to educate the potential users of PMA parts about their potential.


We continue to report on and track the use of PMA parts and


their benefits and challenges and we gather at this summit to continue the discussion. We are bringing the most knowledgeable industry leaders to table so that together we can learn from the best and our hope, is with that knowledge you will be able to make wise, educated choices that are best for your airline. Thank you for coming and we hope you enjoy the summit.


- Joy Finnegan PMA SUMMIT SHOWGUIDE 2011 3


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