AOG Parts Sourcing: How to Find a Spare Engine in 24 Hours

No airline planner schedules for AOG events. They happen at the worst possible time, in the worst possible location, and the clock starts the moment the aircraft goes unserviceable. For major components — engines, APUs, landing gear — the sourcing window that matters is the first six to twelve hours.

Step 1: Know what you need before you pick up the phone

Establish: engine type and dash number (e.g. CFM56-7B24/3, not just CFM56); required certification (EASA Form 1, FAA 8130-3, or dual-release); minimum trace requirement; TSN/CSN/TSO/CSO constraints; delivery airport ICAO code; QEC requirements for your aircraft sub-type.

Step 2: Cast the net wide, immediately

AOG sourcing is a race against time and a numbers game. Traditional sourcing relies on a personal contacts list. In parallel with direct contacts, search publicly accessible parts platforms. ACMIhub allows you to search by part number, filter by condition and certification, and see warehouse location and availability status — including listings flagged as AOG-available with immediate dispatch.

Step 3: Understand the transaction options

Exchange: The supplier provides a serviceable engine immediately from their pool. Fastest for AOG. A Core Charge is held as security for return of your unserviceable core.

Short-term lease: The supplier leases you a serviceable engine for 30-90 days while yours is in shop. More economical than buying if you do not need long-term coverage.

Outright sale (USM): Purchase a used serviceable engine outright. Best when you anticipate needing ongoing spare engine coverage.

Step 4: Verify before you commit

Request the release documentation and verify it is from an approved Part-145 organisation. Confirm TSN/CSN/TSO/CSO match what was quoted. Check for outstanding ADs. Verify LLP status — obtain the current LLP life record. A supplier who resists providing documentation quickly is a supplier you should move on from quickly.

Step 5: Logistics are half the battle

An engine in Kuala Lumpur does you no good if your aircraft is AOG in Oslo. Coordinate freight options in parallel with sourcing. AOG freight specialists can arrange overnight air freight for engine modules. Confirm customs documentation requirements and that your maintenance base has the tooling for the specific dash number and QEC configuration.

How digital platforms are changing AOG sourcing

The fundamental problem with traditional AOG parts sourcing is information asymmetry: the engine you need may exist at a trader three time zones away who is not in your contacts list. Digital parts marketplaces make inventory visible and searchable, globally, in real time. AOG-flagged listings surface automatically. The tools now exist to find a serviceable CFM56-7B24 with full trace, EASA Form 1, immediate availability and warehouse location — in under five minutes of searching, at any hour.

Browse engine and APU listings at acmihub.com/parts.