What does demand for aircraft parts reveal about the industry?
Searches for ball bearings and cotter pins compatible with Global 5500 aircraft show a focus on mechanical reliability and motion control components.
Judgements about the performance of business aviation often cite external, macroeconomic factors and their impacts on the industry, but what about if you look within the fleet itself?
At a micro, component level, demand for aircraft parts and the abundance (or scarcity) of those parts provide a look into the performance of the global fleet that can be hard to ascertain when looking from the outside in.
Referencing data for October 2025, Locatory.com, an aviation marketplace for aircraft parts, chemicals, consumables, assets, equipment and services, provided CJI with the top most-searched and hardest-to-find aircraft parts for business aircraft globally.
A rise in searches for O-rings and gaskets (AS3084-06, M83248/1-904, AS3209-122, MS9020-04, and MS9021-213) show a continuing focus on hydraulic and fuel system integrity. The specific parts referenced are commonly used across popular business aircraft such as the Bombardier Challenger, Cessna Citation and Gulfstream lines.
O-rings and gaskets are typically replaced during scheduled maintenance checks – often at 400-800 flight hours or as part of A-checks – to prevent hydraulic leaks and pressure loss.
Frequent lookups for various ball bearings and cotter pins compatible with Bombardier’s Global 5500 show a focus on mechanical reliability and motion control components. Bearings and cotter pins play vital roles in landing gear assemblies, control linkages and actuator systems.
These components are often inspected or replaced during major overhauls or 3,000-plus flight-hour checks to avoid vibration-related failures.
Electrical and power system components are among the most challenging to source at present, according to Locatory.com.
These parts are essential to power generation, distribution and cockpit lighting systems, and their unavailability reflects supply strain across avionics and electrical subsystems. Legacy production lines, certification limitations and reduced OEM stocking are primary contributors to their scarcity, said the parts market.
There is also increased attention on alternators and lamps. These parts are essential for avionics power redundancy in business jets, especially those operating extended duty or night missions.
Alternators and regulators are often serviced or replaced during C-checks or after 2,000-3,000 flight hours, depending on manufacturer guidance.
Routine maintenance and consumable parts replacement remain steady, especially for piston-engine and turboprop aircraft. Items including spark plugs, brake linings and rivets (REM38E spark plug, 066-10500 brake lining and 105-00200 rivet) are especially popular for aircraft like Cessna 172s, 182s and 206s, Hawker Beechcraft 1000s and Learjet 145s.
Spark plugs and filters are replaced on recurring flight-hour intervals (every 100-200 hours) for piston-engine and turboprop aircraft like King Airs or Pilatus PC-12. Additionally, brake linings and rivets correspond to landing gear and airframe inspections following set landing cycles.
The spread of searches across engine, hydraulic, electrical and structural categories indicates that fleet operators are performing comprehensive maintenance programmes, not just reactive fixes. This aligns with the growing emphasis on predictive maintenance and condition-based monitoring in business aviation, particularly among operators of Falcon, Learjet, and Hawker models.
Locatory.com analysts believe the overall supply pattern indicates ageing fleet and cross-system shortages. The combined mix of electrical, mechanical, sealing and structural components demonstrates widespread supply pressure across aircraft systems.
Many listed parts support business jet and regional aircraft models now entering mid- to late-life operational phases. The trend highlights the need for proactive sourcing strategies, alternate supplier development and close monitoring of critical component lifecycles, Locatory.com stated.
