Finding the right civil and military Airbus Helicopter parts to keep your aircraft in the air can be a challenge. But it’s absolutely essential to do regular maintenance and repairs to keep it safe and in the air.
Even though the company, previously Eurocopter Group, has four main manufacturing plants in France and Germany, and smaller subsidiaries and production plants in various parts of the world, including the US, helicopter owners often struggle to find the parts they need, when they need them.
The Importance of Part Service and Repair of Airbus Helicopters
It stands to reason that if an aircraft of any kind is not properly maintained it isn’t going to be safe. But it isn’t left to the discretion of individuals or companies to decide when maintenance is necessary. In its endeavor to ensure that all forms of air travel are as safe as possible, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has very specific regulations for everything from aircraft design and maintenance to pilot training.
The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) – also referred to as part of Title 14 of the FAA’s Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) – deal with just about everything from airworthiness standards of aircraft to their maintenance (and everything in between). Elements of maintenance, which of course includes part service and repair, relate to:
- Certification procedures for parts and various products
- Airworthiness directives for aircraft
- Preventive maintenance, maintenance, alteration and rebuilding of aircraft
The FAA regulations define airworthiness in terms of any aircraft’s conformation to type design and specifies that it must be in “a condition for safe operation.” And there are three main regulations that govern an aircraft’s airworthiness – Parts 21, 43 and 91 of CFR 14.
- Part 21 relates to the various certification procedures for parts, including Airbus Helicopter parts
- Part 43 relates to maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding and alterations to aircraft
- Part 91 that relates to general operating and flight rules
One of the most important sections of Part 21 incorporates the instructions for continued airworthiness that predictably rely on the manufacturer’s instructions. So when it comes to part service and repair, it is essential that the service providers you use comply with the regulations.
The FAA describes Part 43 as “the heart of aviation maintenance,” because it provides standards for all civilian aircraft registered in the US, including Airbus Helicopters.
Even though it looks, at face value, as if it is purely a general regulation, Part 91 does contain issues that are related to maintenance.
Of course, while obviously not governed by regulations, there is also the issue of unexpected breakdowns that need urgent repairs. While planned maintenance allows for pre-planning of Airbus Helicopter parts, when breakdowns and other problems happen unpredictably, this often results in expensive downtime unless parts can be sourced quickly and reliably.
Where to Find Airbus Helicopter Parts and Reliable Part Service and Repair
An international trading company, the Georgia-based, Prime Industries buys parts from all over the world and sells both overhauled and new parts to meet the differing needs of customers. The company specializes in rotary-wing parts for helicopters made by Airbus Helicopters and when buying used parts, inspects every item thoroughly to ensure it meets industry and customer expectations.
No matter where in the world you are, if you’re in the market for quality Airbus Helicopter parts, the experienced team at Prime Industries can help you. In addition to supplying parts and doing part service and repair, Prime also buys and part-outs helicopters so they can offer serviceable, repaired, overhauled and “as removed” helicopter parts at affordable prices. So if you’re battling to keep you helicopter in the air because you can’t find good quality parts, contact us today for advice and pricing.
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