Anybody who works in the aerospace industry knows that when you are missing a necessary piece of equipment, even one as small as a nut or a bolt, you need to get it replaced as soon as possible. Otherwise, the aircraft can’t be allowed to fly. Finding the right aircraft fastener supplier will mean you will always have someone to turn to when you run out of the equipment you need. But in cases where you can’t find it, follow these steps to find them instead:
1. Check the Supplier
If the website doesn’t list the part you need, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t sell it to you. Hardware retailers have trustworthy suppliers of their own and can often source hard to find components if you contact them about it. An article published on Linkedin recommends calling the company and asking for their sales department. Other retailers may have a request form on their website that you can fill out easily without even having to call anyone.
2. Made to Order
If you use all of your other resources and still turn up short, check if the aircraft fastener supplier can also offer custom made parts as well. You may even make this your first option to save the time and trouble of running around trying to find the single component you need.
3. Auction Sites
While specialty stores are more preferable, you can still find some aircraft pieces on bid sites such as eBay. They are especially useful for finding antique or rare parts. This should be done with caution, however, as the quality of the items sold isn’t a guarantee.
No matter what component you need and how rare it is, there are always methods you can use to source one or even have a replacement specially made if you look around and ask the right people.