Modifying a Part to Fit Your Plane
Due to our Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), we cannot modify our parts to fit your aircraft. We are required to manufacture the parts according to the specifications approved by the FAA. Any modifications outside of the original specifications would violate our PMA and land us in hot water with the FAA.
On some airplanes like Luscombes, parts have to be hand fit and may need some reworking to get the part to fit exactly. Minor modifications like this must be done by the aircraft owner or an A&P mechanic.
Making Custom Parts for Your Plane
Univair does not make custom parts for customers. Manufacturing an aircraft part requires extensive collaboration with the FAA, can take a year or more, and cost tens of thousands of dollars. It is too time consuming and costly for both Univair and the customer to manufacture a part for a one-off production.
Factors influencing the cost:
- Part complexity: More intricate parts require extensive engineering, testing and documentation, driving up costs
- Testing requirements: Parts must be put through various tests to demonstrate safety and effectiveness to the FAA
- Documentation: Engineering drawings, specifications and quality control procedures are required for FAA review
- Production facility audits: The FAA assesses our manufacturing processes and facilities to ensure compliance with standards, and we must maintain these standards for continued PMA validity
- Time and resources: The entire approval process can take a year or more, using both internal resources and external consulting services
While the exact cost of obtaining a PMA is not readily available, it is generally considered a substantial investment, potentially in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per part, and can take a year or longer depending on the factors listed above.