TBX Survey: 66% of Aviation Maintenance Professionals Expect Parts Supply to Worsen in 2026
Why It MattersPersistent parts and data-access friction, compounded by an aging GA fleet, signals growing pressure on maintenance shops to diversify sourcing across OEM, PMA and salvage channels.
A 2026 General Aviation Parts Survey conducted by TBX, led by CEO Jon McLaughlin, found that 66% of surveyed aviation maintenance professionals expect the parts-supply environment to worsen. The survey, which gathered feedback from mechanics, shop owners and directors of maintenance, found 72% of respondents dissatisfied with parts pricing and 59% dissatisfied with lead times, with access to illustrated parts catalogs, part numbers and technical data identified as the change most likely to improve maintenance operations.
The research found that time, not price alone, is a central pressure, with professionals spending significant time researching part numbers, locating inventory, identifying alternatives and communicating options to owners. McLaughlin said maintenance shops spend too much time searching for parts, waiting on backorders and sourcing alternatives, and that improving parts availability, technical data access and options across OEM, PMA and serviceable parts will be critical as the GA fleet ages. The average certified GA piston aircraft is now 53 years old, and the survey found smaller shops rely on a broader mix of OEM, PMA, salvage and owner-produced parts while larger and turbine-focused shops remain more dependent on OEM sources. The survey summary is titled "The Great Parts Squeeze."
