What a Third-Party Aircraft Parts Sourcing Partner Does
A third-party parts sourcing partner finds, vets and buys aircraft parts on your behalf, so your maintenance team doesn't have to run the search. For operators without a full-time buyer, it works as an outsourced parts department. Here's what the role covers, how it differs from a broker, and what to check before you hand one your shortage list.
Agent vs broker
Both find parts. The difference is who owns the part in between and how the price is built.
| Sourcing agent | Broker (principal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Owns the part | No. You buy from the supplier through the agent | Yes. Buys, then resells to you |
| Price you pay | Supplier's price plus a stated fee | One resale price, margin not shown |
| Options shown | Several, side by side | Usually the one the broker holds or buys |
| Best fit | Routine and AOG parts, exchanges, repairs | Outright purchases, consignment, large components |
What the sourcing partner handles
- Search. RFQs to distributors, repair stations, OEM channels and surplus sources, by part number and acceptable alternates.
- Comparison. Each option normalized by condition (NE, NS, OH, SV, RP, AR), certification, trace, lead time and price.
- Documentation check. 8130-3, EASA Form 1 or dual release as your quality program requires, plus trace, non-incident statements and back-to-birth records for life-limited parts.
- Purchase and logistics. Supplier PO, payment, shipping, tracking and receiving paperwork.
- Cores and exchanges. Core due dates, return shipping and exchange closeout, so you don't pay a core charge by default.
When outsourcing parts procurement makes sense
- Part 135 and Part 91 flight departments without a dedicated buyer.
- MROs and Part 145 shops during surge workload.
- AOG events, when the search has to run around the clock.
- Hard-to-find, obsolete or low-volume part numbers that take more calls than your team has time for.
What to check before you choose one
- Fee in writing. A set fee shown on every quote, not a margin built into the price.
- Source vetting. Preference for accredited distributors (AC 00-56, ASA-100, AS9120) and certificated repair stations.
- Your requirements, every time. Certification and trace requirements applied to every option, not just noted on the first order.
- AOG response. A stated time to first options, and a real person after hours.
- A record you can audit. Quotes, POs, certs and shipping documents filed against each order.
How we work
Jet Aeroparts is a veteran-owned aviation parts sourcing partner working as your purchasing agent. You pay the supplier's price plus a set fee on cost, shown on every quote. Each line gets up to five vetted options side by side, AOG requests get first options within two hours, day or night, and every order is tracked to close in our customer portal, cores included.
General information, not regulatory advice. Your quality manual and current FAA or EASA guidance determine what your operation must accept.