If managing all your ERJ landing gear overhauls, repairs, and replacements is causing headaches due to high costs and long turnaround times, it might be time to consider a third-party provider. A third-party provider manages all aspects of the landing gear overhaul process while passing cost-saving benefits onto the customer.
In this article, we explain the benefits, costs, and anticipated turnaround time of working with a third-party provider.
Why Choose an ERJ Landing Gear Overhaul Management Provider?
Third-party providers manage the entire landing gear overhaul process and offer the following benefits:
- Lower costs
- Available piece parts inventory
- Landing gear exchange
- Reduced turnaround time
Rather than utilizing different overhaul vendors and third-party providers for each landing gear requirement, we have found it is better to work with one specific provider for all of your landing gear. With one provider, there is more consistency in turnaround times and more customer buying power, often resulting in lower and more predictable costs.
Third-Party ERJ Landing Gear Piece Parts Inventory
Some third-party providers have sizeable inventories of serviceable and overhauled landing gear piece parts, allowing them to supply overhaul vendors with the necessary replacement piece parts and offer additional cost savings to operators.
Third-Party ERJ Landing Gear Exchanges
Third parties with landing gear inventory can also offer exchanges, further reducing turnaround time. Keep in mind that exchanges can cost more and are subject to availability.
ERJ Landing Gear Overhaul Turnaround Time
When working directly with a repair shop, ERJ landing gear overhauls generally take 6-12 months. Typically, this is driven by long lead times for piece parts.
A third-party provider with an adequate piece parts inventory may reduce turnaround time to 2-3 months.
When to Overhaul ERJ Landing Gear
ERJ landing gear overhauls are scheduled every 12 years from installation or 20,000 CSO (cycles since overhaul), whichever comes first, and must not exceed 60,000 CSN (cycles since new).
Sometimes unplanned maintenance occurs, resulting in landing gear subassemblies falling out of schedule and having different TSOs (time since overhaul). Always review your operation’s maintenance tracking system to determine when your specific landing gear and subassemblies are due for an overhaul.
When to Contact the Overhaul Vendor
Most landing gear maintenance is scheduled in advance, so you will usually know when a landing gear overhaul is due. We recommend contacting the overhaul vendor one year before the scheduled visit to discuss part availability and costs.
ERJ Landing Gear Freight Costs
If you are responsible for paying to ship your landing gear to a repair shop in another country, you may incur customs, additional freight costs, and taxes.
Third-party providers will sometimes cover freight costs. Clarify with your provider regarding who is responsible for freight and related shipping costs.
Concluding Thoughts
Outsourcing your ERJ landing gear overhauls can be beneficial by providing cost savings, reduced turnaround times, and the peace of mind that the entire overhaul process is being handled on your behalf.