Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for used aircraft engine parts when possible

While there's nothing magic about aircraft engine parts, they are expensive. If you deal with reputable mechanics and companies, then there's nothing wrong with getting rebuilt aircraft engine parts.

I recommend: Dawson Aircraft sells used parts like aircraft engine heaters, gauges and other used aircraft engine parts online. If you need an entire aircraft engine replacement, look at a company, like Western Skyways, that specializes only in used aircraft engines.

Accept that you may have to purchase new aircraft engine parts

Sometimes you won't be able to locate used aircraft engines or used aircraft engine parts, so occasionally you may have to buy new aircraft engine parts. Whether you want general aircraft engine parts, alternators or jet engine exciters, you'll find a bevy of resources that list prices and allow you to gather aircraft parts information on the web.

I recommend: Pilotfriend links directly to most aircraft engine producers and manufacturers, so if you need an aircraft engine replacement and need, for whatever reason, to buy a new engine, then you can find your manufacturer there. For new parts, request a quote from a company like Preferred Airparts.

Hire a certified mechanic to install the aircraft engine parts

Once you've found and ordered the aircraft and engine parts you need, don't trust the aircraft repairs or aircraft engine replacement to anyone but a certified aircraft mechanic. You can hire either an A&P (airframe and power plant mechanic) or an AI (authorized inspector), but ultimately you'll need to have an AI check and approve the work.

I recommend: If you don't have an AI or A&P on staff, then consider hiring one on a part-time or full-time basis. You can register and sort through resumes at Avjobs. If you'd rather hire an aircraft repair company to make the repairs or perform your airplane engine replacement, then you can find FAA-certified companies at Thirty Thousand Feet.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that an aircraft engine part sale may not be the best deal, and you should compare prices online. When shopping for parts don't forget to ask your mechanic for suggestions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with an industry specific aircraft engines and engine parts search engine

Take advantage of the many aircraft and engine parts specific search engines and request for quote sites. There you can usually type in the part name, and either search their inventory or be outsourced to the distributor that carries the part.

I recommend: Run an aircraft engine parts and accessories search through the StockMarket. Find suppliers, send requests for quotes and see what parts are available from AvSupport. Use the online search and procurement service of WBParts. Register to use the ABD Online search engine.

Look at major aircraft engines and engine parts manufacturers

Seek out aircraft engines and engine parts manufacturers for full new installation or engine replacement. When looking to add a whole engine, seek out the major manufacturers and their distributors for full service replacements or additions.

I recommend: Check out the large jet aircraft engines from General Electric. Consider the Lycoming Piston Engines, which have been manufactured since 1929. Look at the aircraft engines from ROTAX. Honda is another aircraft engine manufacturer.

Find aircraft engine parts through reputable distributors

Look for new, used or refurbished aircraft engine parts from a wide variety of dealers. Most will ask you to fill out a request for quote and can back to you in a matter of hours to days.

I recommend: Find aircraft engine parts through Preferred Airparts. Superior Air Parts sells FAA approved replacement parts for Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines. They also sell other aftermarket and replacement engine parts. Locate new and used aircraft engine parts from Don George Aircraft Engines & Parts. Turn in a parts request quote from Progressive Air Services. They offer new and rebuilt factory exchange engines, new cylinder assemblies, continental fuel injection kits and more.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask your aircraft engine parts dealer or distributor if the parts that you are considering purchasing are FAA approved replacement parts. This may not make a difference to you, but if it matters, ask for documentation as such for your records.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Gain education through a degree in maintenance of aircraft engines and engine parts

As in most cases, a lengthier formal education from a training program is the best option for gaining the most information. Those wishing for a career in aircraft engine maintenance are better prepared for work after graduating from an aviation maintenance program.

I recommend: Aviation Institute of Maintenance offers courses educating students on topics such as airplane engine replacement, aircraft engine parts accessories, and more. Embry Riddle also offers courses in aerosystem maintenance.

Learn the regulations of minimum requirements for working on aircraft and engine parts

Part of learning about careers in aviation maintenance is gaining an education in rules and regulations. While a degree from an institute is not a minimum requirement, there are FAA requirements for work in aircraft repair and service.

I recommend: Seek information from FAA to see the minimum requirements for working with aircraft engines and engine parts and gaining a mechanic certificate. Learn more about requirements from aviation maintenance schools and aircraft repair from a facts list offered from Aviation Schools Online. Information from the FAA link will help you in choosing one of the schools on the Aviation Schools Online link. AMT Society offers online education for aircraft and engine parts technicians to qualify to renew an FAA license.

Enroll in a seminar discussing aircraft engine parts

Many aircraft engine manufacturers offer seminars discussing and describing their products. These seminars are great for educating both distributor and maintenance careers. Some seminar presenters dedicate their information to specific aspects and parts such as aircraft engine heaters, engine exciters, and aircraft engine parts alternators.

I recommend: PAMA offers a three-day seminar on aircraft maintenance. View the seminar outline on the site. Leading Edge Airfoils lists seminars conducted to offer information specific to Rotax aircraft engines.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When thinking about aircraft engines and engine parts education and training, consider engine maintenance in the sky. Look into techniques to share with pilots experiencing engine trouble while flying.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Shaft engines

Shaft engines include rotary, radial, opposed, turboprop and turboshaft engines as well as others types of aircraft engines.

I recommend: The Aviation History Online Museum has diagrams of each of these types of engines.

Jet engines

Jet engines, also known as gas turbine engines, include the turbofan, the turbojet, and the afterburning turbojet. All of these types of engines have several components in common. Yet each has its own unique properties as well. Such engines even are found in other applications and industries that are not related to aeronautics.

I recommend: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration explains these types of engines and how they work on its website. The site also includes diagrams of the engines.

Propellant

Propellant refers to the type of fuel used to power an aircraft engine. Shaft engines use AVGAS, or aviation gasoline, while jet engines use jet fuel.

I recommend: The CSG Network details the different types of applications of jet fuel while Shell Aviation explains more about aviation gasoline, or AVGAS.

Piston

A piston is a cylinder-shaped piece of metal that moves inside the engine cylinder. It relates to compression and ignition in an engine. The piston's related parts, which are just as important as the piston itself, include the piston bore, piston engine and piston pin.

I recommend: F1Technical.net explains pistons, piston engines, piston bores and piston pins.

Magnetos

Magnetos, also called mags, are magnets used to create electricity to start an aircraft's engine. They combine several elements of an automobile starter.

I recommend: Briggs & Stratton explains how magnetos work. Scroll down the page to see the term. Brian's Velosolex has technical specifications and a diagram of how magneto ignition works.

Tachometer

A tachometer, an important part related to an aircraft engine, measures how fast an aircraft engine turns.

I recommend: FlightSimBooks.com explains how a tachometer works in brief. Find the definition by scrolling down the page to the term. Midwest Executive Aircraft goes into greater detail and has a photograph of a tachometer.