How To Successfully Repair Your Aircraft Engine

aircraft engine repair

Anybody can quote you an average aircraft engine repair cost, but be careful; averages are only forecasted estimates.

That's the nature of average repairs. It's difficult to quote an exact repair cost, without inspecting your engine.

Your engine sucking in debris related damage is different from a routine planned removal. 

I'll leave it there and give credit for detailed technical explanations to aircraft mechanics and engineers.

When repairing your aircraft engine, technical expertise, quality, and capabilities are all important, but they're standard non-negotiable items. 

What most repair facilities don't talk about are the intangibles. The items that are harder to quantify, yet, have a profound impact on successful repair projects. 

Here they are.

Factor in your total cost of aircraft engine repair, not just the average repair cost. 

Most asset, procurement, and repair professionals focus their attention on price. Or, in this case, the estimated repair average. 

What isn't considered before making decisions is all the indirect repair costs. 

Some examples of the costs are: 

  • direct repair cost, 

  • engine freight costs

  • processing, 

  • labor, 

  • installation, 

  • holding costs, 

  • replacement costs,

  • cost to execute a warranty, 

  • and productivity losses.

The most frustrating type of reoccurring cost is the cost of poor communication

Bad communication delays decisions, lengthens lead times and makes the entire repair process difficult. 

As you plan your next aircraft engine repair project, factor in the total cost of repair, not just the estimated "guess."

Become familiar with standard turn-around-times, possible issues, and contingencies.

Gain repair knowledge with your type of engine. If you're not an engineer or mechanic, that's okay. You likely have incredible team members who fill this role. 

What I mean by knowledge is understanding your engine's repair supply chain.

An example is based on how you've worked with your trusted aircraft engine part partner in the past. 

A new MRO, who hasn't earned your trust claims they can repair your engine in less than ten days. 

When you hear ten days, it sounds unrealistic. The last five engines you repaired this year took twenty-seven days

Once you have a general knowledge of repair history, you can better predict the future. 

Always be careful when someone overpromises beyond reality.

Once you know what a standard repair entails, become knowledgeable with common repair issues. 

Every work scope will be different, but be familiar with the common themes. Once you have a list of possible issues to expect, begin to plan how to resolve these issues before they occur.

  • If your engine goes BER, do you have a trusted engine provider

  • Do you have an aircraft material partner who support your engine rotable needs?

  • How do you resolve engine blade or propeller damage? Do you have safety stock? Does your trusted material partner?

  • What's your ideal EGT margin?

Think through questions like these, so you're prepared with contingencies if issues arise. 

Work with someone that communicates well. 

Poor communication creates problems. It causes delays, frustration, confusion, and added costs, as I previously mentioned.

A great aircraft engine repair partner knows how to communicate well.

Communication is one of the best ways to evaluate a repair partner. It tells you a lot about the person and operation you're working with. 

How people act with small problems is a hint of how they'll respond to big problems. 

If your repair partner communicates poorly on routine repairs, they'll do the same on more significant, stressful, and urgent repairs. 

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when evaluating your engine repair partner: 

  1. Are they responsive? 

  2. Do they send repair updates, without me having to ask?

  3. Are they available when I need them?

  4. Are they easy to talk with? 

  5. Do they listen?

  6. Do they give me ideas, solutions, or tips to better support my operation?

  7. Are they friendly?

  8. Are they trustworthy? 

Ask yourself these questions, and the answers will give you an idea to whom you're working with. 

These ideas aren't technical, but they're costly if not taken into consideration before your next aircraft engine repair project. 

Merge these supply chain tactics, with your technical knowledge to maximize your aircraft engine repair results.

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