Ontic, a leading OEM and MRO provider for civil and military aircraft, announced a teardown procurement initiative on Wednesday, onethat will solve one of the industry's most persistent challenges: the availability of hard-to-source components for established platforms.
A Boeing 747-400 – formerly operated by Thai Airways – is the first airframe to be processed through Ontic's new program, securing a broad range of components for reinstatement into its MRO inventory. The investment, including the cost of making components serviceable, will provide operators with faster access to critical 747 parts and reduce the risk of costly AOG delays.
Every component brought into Ontic's teardown program undergoes rigorous technical and regulatory scrutiny before being returned to service. Full traceability is established from the point of removal, supported by certified documentation and verified operational history – including detailed Time Since New (TSN) and Cycles Since New (CSN) data.
Components are then processed through controlled inspection and overhaul programs, ensuring they meet the highest airworthiness and reliability standards. The result is fully compliant, flight-ready products that operators can depend on – backed by the same OEM-certified quality assurance that underpins all Ontic repairs and spares.
The 747-400 teardown encompassed a broad range of complex assemblies, including actuators, valves, gearbox ball screw assemblies, and brake lock mechanisms – highlighting the significant recoverable value available when teardown activity is managed through a structured, quality-led process.
"Parts availability for established platforms isn't something operators should have to lose sleep over," said Aaron Smith, Director, AOG & Exchange, Ontic. "Our job is to stay ahead of the problem – identifying assets, securing inventory, and doing the engineering work to bring components back to flight-ready standard before our customers need them. This new teardown program is an example of that approach in practice."
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