AvAir, an aeronautical parts acquisition company, announced its most recent acquisition of a complete inventory of parts for aerial structures and aircraft engines, which belonged to TAP Manutenção & Engenharia Brasil. The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operator was closed in 2021 by its owner, TAP Air Portugal.
The deal, completed in mid-2023 for an undisclosed amount, includes 100,000 types of parts, encompassing four million items, according to Brandon Wesson, president of the Chandler, Arizona-based company. Wesson reports that about 74% of the inventory is already in Chandler, with delivery of the remainder expected within the next two months.
“We contacted TAP Air Portugal when we learned they were ending maintenance operations in Brazil and asked about their plans for inventory, which they said would be put out to tender to other third-party suppliers. We got the winning offer”states Wesson, emphasizing that the acquisition was a direct purchase, without materials management, consignment or any other ongoing participation by the seller.
According to the Aviation Week, around 90% of the parts purchased are consumable items, with the remainder being routable parts. Among those routable are the main landing gear of the Airbus A320.
Wesson reveals that TAP M&E Brasil had more than 10,000 aircraft parts on its repair capacity list, as well as the inventory to support these repairs. These parts covered Boeing, Airbus, Fokker, Embraer and Gulfstream aircraft. Engine repairs included the CFM International CFM56-3, -5A and -7B, as well as the CF6-80, Rolls-Royce RB211 and Pratt & Whitney JT8D and JT3D.
When asked about the business case for acquiring the parts, Wesson highlights that it was an opportunity to reinforce AvAir’s inventory with new or repaired parts – which had not yet been installed on an aircraft since the repairs.
“Delivery times are getting longer and prices are rising. The more inventory you have that is ready to be installed on an aircraft, the greater the opportunity to provide parts to your customers who don’t want to wait 60 to 90 days – or can’t wait – for parts.”Explain. “And because our inventory is so diverse, we have all this additional material available to our customers.”
Wesson adds that traditionally AvAir’s focus has been Boeing and Airbus, but the purchase of TAP M&E Brasil will increase the company’s parts diversity, adding to its inventory for Fokker, Embraer and Gulfstream, in addition to Boeing and Airbus.