For decades, commercial airlines have relied on meticulously overhauled or repaired aircraft parts that meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety certification standards. These reused components known as Used Serviceable Material (USM) are as reliable as factory-new equipment but far less expensive. The Pentagon stands to benefit from the airlines’ approach to keeping their planes in good repair and can save taxpayers’ money in the process.
The USM process works like this: Used but still-operating parts are removed from retired commercial aircraft and engines, inspected and, if needed, overhauled/repaired in accordance with FAA requirements. They are then placed into other aircraft or engines that need updated equipment, or put in the supply chain for future use. The refurbished parts are certified according to FAA rules to be as good as new.
The USM process offers several potential advantages to the Defense Department. Chief among them is that the Pentagon can rapidly access parts rather than waiting up to 18 months to obtain new parts for its commercial derivative aircraft. In other words, USM would greatly reduce the fleet’s downtime, which is vital, especially during times of active conflict.
Commercial airlines already benefit from the USM system. For example, experts agree that USM plays a crucial role in allowing commercial airlines to maintain their remarkable readiness rates.
The Pentagon has known about the benefits of USM for years. The fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandated the Defense Department to increase its utilization of used parts. But the practice has not yet become standardized, systemic, or sustainable.
But the Defense Department has not yet embraced the benefits of utilizing USM to support its commercial derivative fleet. Program managers hesitate to use overhauled parts despite their proven reliability and cost-effectiveness because they are not familiar with FAA rules and the long and well established USM safety record. As a result, they tend to buy new parts without considering the longer lead times and higher costs because ordering new parts directly from the factory is considered “risk-free.”
“Ensuring our military supply chains are resilient and robust is critical to our national security,” Sen. Kelly said in a statement. Sen. Romney agreed: “By bolstering and protecting supply lines now, the United States would be better able to address a potential contested logistics environment in the future.” USM fits this category perfectly because it enhances the Pentagon’s ability to sustain prolonged operations by ensuring a steady supply of essential parts.
The Pentagon would greatly increase the availability, reliability, and readiness of its commercial derivative aircraft by embracing FAA-certified overhauled parts across their aircraft and engine fleets. The fleets would be as safe as if they used only new equipment. As a bonus, hundreds of millions of dollars in savings could be used elsewhere to protect America from increasing threats around the world.