Aircraft Parts Buyer Guides
Buying aircraft parts is different from every other industry. Certification matters. Traceability matters. Timing matters when your aircraft is AOG (aircraft on ground) and every day is hangar rent plus lost utility.
American Aviation Parts publishes these guides for pilots, A&P mechanics, and aircraft owners who want to buy with confidence, understand what they are paying for, and know when to ask for a different certification, a different source, or a different part.
Start here
- FAA PMA Parts Explained — what Parts Manufacturer Approval really means and why PMA can cost 30–60% less than OEM with equivalent airworthiness.
- FAA-Approved Parts Guide — the four certification categories you will encounter (Type Design, PMA, TSO, Standard Parts) and when each is acceptable.
- Cross-Reference Part Numbers — the workflow for finding the equivalent part when an OEM number supersedes or you want a PMA alternate.
- Used vs New Aircraft Parts — how to read an 8130-3 tag, what “serviceable” really covers, and which parts you should never buy used.
- Annual Inspection Parts Checklist — the consumables, filters, seals, and gaskets you want in the hangar before the annual begins.
By airframe
Jump straight to model-specific reference pages: Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Cirrus, Mooney.
By system
Magnetos & ignition · Cylinders & top overhaul · Aviation spark plugs · Propellers · Avionics.
Need a part now?
Use the Aircraft Finder to browse inventory by make and model, or search the full catalog by part number. Not sure which number you need? Email our team with your aircraft serial, the component, and a photo of any legible data plate — we cross-reference every working day.
