www.AviationPros.com 17
Although common, less-sophisticated PMA parts
may be available from many sources, some — like
foil-air bearings — may only be available from a
few. Finding a qualified PMA provider is not diffi-
cult. Sources include the FAA's web site, Inventory
Locator Service (ILS), trade shows and even through
the company's own advertising and marketing efforts.
Any concerns over the quality of these sophisticated
PMA parts quickly vanish when engineering personnel
learn more about some of these companies and who
runs them. For example R&D; Dynamics, a producer
and supplier of FAA approved foil air/gas bearings and
other PMA parts, founder, Dr. Giri Agrawal, pioneered
the design and development of high-speed rotating
machines supported on foil air/gas bearings for air
cycle machines in the '70s and '80s while working at
Honeywell and Hamilton Sundstrand.
"One of the benefits that companies like this have
is that their founders were a key driver in the devel-
opment of foil-air bearing technology," says Wolfe of
AeroKool Aviation in Hialeah, FL.
"When you are looking at PMA parts and your look-
ing at options at how you can be more competitive
with the OEMs, when you see that type of pedigree
and credentials, you understand that this company
is different from other PMA companies," adds Wolfe.
However, Texas Pneumatic Systems' Simmons is
quick to add that the reputation of the PMA provider
only gets the company's foot in the door.
Although he was also impressed with some of the
backgrounds for these PMA suppliers, he says that
what ultimately keeps the customer engaged over time
boils down to quality and price.
"Reputation gets us moving, but reputation won't
keep us a customer," explains Simmons. "The proof is
still in the pudding; when we use the product, do we
get the life out of it that we get out of the OEM part?
Do we have more or less warranty returns?"
In addition to providing a high quality part, working
with smaller PMA suppliers instead of large OEMs can
have other advantages as well. Because of their focused
expertise, many of these companies can offer OEM-
level technical support and are agile and small enough
to respond quickly to any situations that arise. This
includes expediting delivery of parts when necessary.
"With a PMA parts manufacturer, there is a willing-
ness to make adjustments in the supply chain, the
delivery schedule or if there is a hiccup of any kind,
they are able to jump right on to it and get the fix com-
pleted with the main guys making the decisions," says
Grimshaw of Triumph Accessory Services, Wellington.
"You don't have huge conglomerate and multi-
layered management where things are slow to get
done, with an agile PMA manufacturer it can get done
overnight," he adds.
For more information contact R&D; Dynamics at
www.rddynamics.com; Triumph Accessory Services,
Wellington at www.triumphgroup.com/compa-
nies/triumph-accessory-services-wellington; Texas
Pneumatic Systems at www.txps.com; and AeroKool
at aerokool.com.
AviationPros.com/company/10134757
JEFF ELLIOTT
is a Torrance,
CA-based
technical
writer. He has
researched
and written
about industrial
technologies
and issues for
the past 20
years.
"Reputation gets us moving,
but reputation won't keep us a
customer. The proof is still in the
pudding; when we use the product,
do we get the life out of it that we
get out of the OEM part?"
— Rich Simmons, Texas Pneumatic Systems