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Maintenance

Factory or Field? Think Beyond Price

Larry Anglisano
Verified

Edited By:

Omar Filipovic

It’s worth a visit to the shop you’re considering to get a feel for how it operates. Organization, facility and staffing are just as important as the parts it uses.

Here at the magazine we routinely get questions about what makes more sense when it comes to engine overhauls. Specifically, should you commit to a field overhaul or stick with the factory? As it’s always been, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, and there isn’t a hard standard when it comes to field overhauls. But there are some important things to consider, especially in an engine market disrupted by supply problems and in some cases, slipping quality.

OFFICIAL TERMS

Different terms can make for sizable price differences in your overhaul. In the engine world, you’ll see the words overhaul, rebuilt and remanufactured. The word remanufactured isn’t even an FAA-recognized maintenance term. But the word overhaul is, and it’s specifically defined in the regulations. 

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.