While aircraft parts are expensive, they aren’t the only cost tugging at the budget of leaders across the industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently announced that airlines are also dealing with rises in fuel and labor costs as well.
As such, finding ways to save money without cutting quality or performance is now a critical initiative for professionals across the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) field, including those working in an airline capacity.
Are you used to the reliability and sleekness that Piper aircraft parts afford? If so, you may be scratching your head wondering how to lower their price point.
The good news? There are plenty of ways to drive down the costs of these parts and their associated repair. You just have to know where to look. Today, we’re sharing a few ways to save money on aircraft parts, specifically the Piper ones you’ve come to rely upon and trust.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
The Quality Behind Piper Aircraft Parts
There are many places you can afford to cut corners and cut coupons. You might opt for a generic brand toothpaste, or a bunch of bruised bananas at the grocery store, simply because they cost less than their counterparts.
While this tactic might work in the cosmetic or produce aisle, it won’t work on the tarmac.
Rather, aircraft carriers require top-of-the-line, high-performing materials to comprise their machines. Moreover, they also need trained and experienced laborers to install, integrate and maintain those components. That’s why Piper Aircraft Parts has distinguished itself as one of the most reputable brands in the industry.
In 1937, William T. Piper founded the Piper Aircraft Corporation. That same year, the Piper Cub made its debut. This lightweight aircraft featured an agile design and boasted some of the best low-speed handling capabilities of its time. Since then, the Piper name has become synonymous with innovation and progress within the aircraft industry.
In 2015, the Corporation unveiled its new “M-Class Line.” This was a series of three new aircraft: the M350, M500, and M600. In the years since, it’s remained a gold star standard in the aircraft parts arena. Piper also manufacturers some of the industry’s top hydraulic Power Pack solutions, available in both single engine and double engine designs.
Why Aircraft Costs are Rising
In a recent industry survey, MRO experts told interviewers that parts and labor prices were currently rising, expected to stay on an uptick into the foreseeable future. This means that operational expenses are also trending upward, putting a major strain on a niche that’s already pulled tight financially.
Some respondents cited that this escalation could be attributed to industry manufacturers attempting to claim intellectual property (IP). From engines to ground support equipment, there are myriad components to consider when designing and building an aircraft. Along the way, the higher the IP can be driven up, the larger the price tag manufacturers can demand.
At the same time that aircraft parts are becoming more expensive, so too is the labor required to work on them. Baby-boomer technicians, who used to be readily available, are now reaching retirement age. This leaves a major gap in skilled labor and makes it more difficult to find younger technicians interesting in learning the trade.
Thus, while Piper parts might have been more accessible only a decade ago, their in-demand status allows them to carry a higher dollar amount. Experts in a pinch who need a replacement part immediately might be tempted to go straight to the manufacturer and buy the equipment themselves.
Yet, with a little digging, you can often uncover opportunities to secure those parts for much less than you’d pay full-price. Let’s explore a few ways aircraft carrier organizations can find Piper materials and maintenance services at an affordable rate that makes everyone happy.
1. Start with a Parts Locating Company
Looking for to order a few Power Packs from Piper, but they’re backordered everywhere else you search? Do the prices you’re looking at make your head spin? Why not work with a company that takes care of the legwork (and the guesswork) for you?
A parts locating company works as its name implies. Once you know what kind of Piper equipment you need and how you plan to use it, a simple webpage search can yield you plenty of results, often for much less than you’d pay at the store.
This is an especially valuable service if you’re looking for rare or discontinued aircraft parts that might be required in some maintenance and repair situations.
It can also potentially save you millions of dollars in the long-run. How? You don’t have to pay any up-front capital expenses and holding costs often associated with building a parts inventory from scratch. You’ll visit the company on an as-needed basis and can expect quick delivery to ensure your operational needs are met and downtime is minimal.
Instead of worrying about fine-tuning your budget and saving every penny, handing over the reins to a parts locating company helps ensure that you’ll get the best deal around. This way, you don’t have to spend valuable time, energy and money on extensive cost comparison.
2. Find an Aircraft Parts Warehouse
In the retail sphere, shopping in a warehouse usually means sorting through cardboard boxes of unwanted or discarded items, usually available for pennies on the dollar.
While this can be a fun in-person exercise, it can also be time-consuming and before you know it, hours have passed and there’s definitely something in your cart you didn’t need.
Thankfully, aircraft experts don’t have to go through any of that. When you’re ready to see what’s available, you can visit an online aircraft parts warehouse to find even steeper discounts on already-low equipment prices. That means while you might find a Power Packs Plus solution for one price via a parts locating company, that same company may operate a virtual warehouse that has it for less.
The key here is to know your prices before walking in. It’s also helpful to know exactly how you intend to use the part before buying it. Remember the golden rule of salvage shopping: It isn’t a good deal if you don’t need it. Still, if you find what you need and want to check one more time to see if you can knock off some money, an online warehouse is worth a second look.
A Note on Buying Salvaged Aircraft Parts
Concerned that your salvaged Piper parts will over-deliver and under-perform? Worried that they won’t be as safe or reliable as their brand-new alternatives? Don’t be.
The airframe items available via these online warehouses must still pass rigorous testing procedures and compliance measures before being sold on the market. They will possess little to no total damage and if there is any present, it will be purely aesthetic and will not affect operations. In essence, they will be in optimal working condition.
Most major parts locating companies will have a warehouse division, either online or in-person. This allows them to better rotate their inventory and sell excessive items that lagged in sales on the full-time floor.
3. Consolidate Maintenance Shipping
Do you find that you’re always having to send separate shipments of aircraft equipment off to be repaired or maintained? Or, are you constantly ordering disparate pieces at the first signs of disrepair, then waiting by the door as a new piece arrives every so often?
If so, consider consolidating your shipments and deliveries to cut down on costs.
To do so will require taking a thorough audit of your current outgoing repair management tasks as well as any outstanding aircraft check projects. Then, see how you can join them in a strategic way that saves everyone time and money in the end.
While this may be a days-long undertaking, it’s worth it in the end. You’ll be able to more clearly see where you’re losing money on maintenance and shipping and how you can change a few plans around to conserve more overall.
4. Establish an Aircraft Maintenance Partner
Outsourcing your aircraft maintenance can allow you to breathe a little easier. Still, you might be tempted to only have a second set of eyes on your equipment when you spot a repair issue.
Across all industries, however, experts recommend keeping up-to-date on all routine and preventative maintenance care as well. Paying for this regular service now can set your fleet up for operational success down the road.
You may even be privy to repeat or long-term customer discounts. Depending on the level of service you require, most aircraft maintenance partners will manage your internal logistics as well.
Looking to save even more money? Talk to your aircraft maintenance partner about consolidating shop visits and inspections. Every second your aircraft is grounded, there is money being lost. To this end, it’s important to reduce downtime as much as possible.
Try to schedule maintenance visits and other planned tune-ups to occur at the same time so your aircraft can get back up in the air quicker. That might mean taking care of an oil change and a lubrication simultaneously, rather than scheduling those tasks at different times and landing the plane for each one.
5. Embrace New Technology
From 3-D printing to robotics and machine learning, there are many technological innovations that are changing the way aircraft leaders respond to and address technical issues. Forward-thinking aerospace leaders are those who embrace these new discoveries and look for ways to implement them back in the office.
As they do so, they can eventually allow machines to perform most of the simple maintenance tasks, freeing up a human laborer to focus on the more high-priority aircraft concerns. As such, maintenance costs are reduced.
This frees up your skilled technicians to focus on the troubleshooting issues that are the most important. As productivity improves, so too does the quality of work.
Take one industry example. An airline known as Air New Zealand is currently testing a robot that can climb walls and hold a camera. Originally designed to perform quality inspections on milk tanks, the robot is now being looked at as a viable and valuable solution for inspections and safety control experts in the airline field.
Though it takes some time to fine-tune these technologies, the cost savings benefits they offer could be substantial, especially as researchers and developers continue to perfect the technology.
Equipping and Maintaining Your Aircraft For Less
You want nothing but the best for your flyers, your crew and yourself. That’s why you installed Piper aircraft parts on your new plane or fleet of planes. Yet, you also need to be budget-conscious and conservative, especially during a time when industry prices are going up across the board.
Are you ready to find the aircraft parts you need at a price you can feel good about?
That’s where we come in.
We proudly offer a robust assortment of Power Packs designed to fit your aircraft. We also operate a salvage site that includes Piper in its inventory. That means you can finally stop calling around and opening up a dozen tabs on your browser. You’ll know the best price and service around are at your fingertips.
Still have a few lingering questions? Feel free to contact us today to learn more or to place an order.