Blog 

A blog reader recently emailed me asking about As-Removed (AR) parts and their possible connection to cannibalized parts. His country's Defense Department operates a fleet of 'legacy' aircraft whose parts are becoming increasingly harder to come by, and he wanted some feedback on AR for internal policy, and if AR represented properly cannibalized parts that can be immediately placed in service?

Whereas AR is nowhere defined, and given airline and military, highly specific procedures, for taking parts from one aircraft and using it on another (cannibalizing), this was indeed a question posed on logical reasoning. But alas, those portions of the unregulated after market world collide with the regimented airline/military environment. Result? No connection. Despite this, the query begs a discussion of the two, independent topics. Regardless, the latter portion of this blog suggests one scenario that may satisfy the head scratching.

AS-REMOVED (AR):
Although AR is nowhere authoritatively defined, we can describe the industry's de-facto understanding of what it means. Simply put, it is a part that was removed from a Next Higher Assembly (NHA). That NHA could be an aircraft, engine, or an assembly. It is implied that the part is in Repairable condition, that is, that it can be made Airworthy by a maintenance action such as being Inspected, Repaired, or Overhauled. When considering parts represented as AR, be cautious of the following:

• You have the reasonable expectation to receive documentation stating its trace to its NHA. Typically acceptable documentation would originate from the airline or repair station which removed the part from it's NHA. Some customers will discreetly check to see if the NHA was involved in an incident or accident.
• Unfortunately, there is much evidence to suggest that certain persons in the aftermarket prefer to use the term "AR" instead of "As-Is". Of course the term AR is more palatable than As-Is, accounting for this questionable practice. In doubt? Ask your source this question: What is the NHA the part was removed from, and can you provide the documentation to support that? Pinch and hold accountable these rascals will ya? Note that it is not contrary to regulations to sell parts in As-Is condition. I just have a problem with persons who would deliberately try to conceal a known condition (As-Is), by trying to launder the fact with a softer sounding condition code, (AR). Don't get me started!
• It is not contrary to regulations for a distributor to part out an assembly. For example, suppose that the distributor has a Controller in stock with solid trace. It's status is BER for a fried circuit card. Your customer only needs the Controller's cover/case. The distributor can happily remove the cover/case, and sell it in AR condition, stating that it was removed from Controller P/N xxxx, S/N xxxx, with trace to xxxx .

CANNIBALIZED PARTS:
Suppose you are an airline at airport ABC. One of your aircraft at the gate exhibits a failure, and your Line Maintenance Technicians diagnose it down to a component. A stock check reveals there are no parts in stock at ABC. But wait! Across the airport is your airline's hangar with a similar aircraft in the chocks for a 3 day maintenance check. A quick phone call and your Technicians are on the way to take the part off the hangared aircraft for installation on the aircraft at the gate. This occurrence is actually quite routine for airlines and military flight line operations. In all cases it is supported by written procedures addressing the following:

• Accessing the maintenance status of the aircraft to be cannibalized; are there any open write-ups against the system you want to take the part from? If not, this forms the basis to make the reasonable determination that the part is in serviceable condition.
• Making a maintenance entry in the logbook of the cannibalized aircraft that a part has been removed. Alternatively, making an entry in the maintenance tracking system of the airline.
• Ordering the part for the cannibalized aircraft.
• Use of forms to attach to the part whilst it is in transit from one aircraft to the other. This is usually the airline's serviceable tag.

It is understood that upon installation of the part, it will have to undergo the applicable systems check to confirm the part's airworthiness. Also note that operators may call the practice of cannibalizing parts by varying names such as "Borrowed Parts Procedures".

PARTED OUT COMPONENTS:
Is it possible to get a serviceable part directly from the process of having been parted out? The answer is a carefully qualified yes. For example, assume an airline wants to retire one of its legacy aircraft. It may elect to "cannibalize" parts in just the same manor previously described, with the exception that it will either sell the parts or place them in their internal stock system. Typically the condition of these parts are characterized as "Inspected".

• There must be a written procedure to address how this process will be performed. The procedure for an airline is normally contained in their General Maintenance Manual, or General Procedures Manual.
• Accessing the maintenance status of the aircraft to be cannibalized; are there any open write-ups against the system you want to take the part from? If not, this forms the basis to make the reasonable determination that the part is in serviceable condition. Sound familiar?
• Procedures to preserve the part: Placing caps on connectors, hydraulic, fuel, pneumatic, or water lines and tubes, etc. Draining fluids, relieving pressures, safety parts, etc.

If a customer expected a serviceable part from a cannibalized action, as my blog friend thought, then this scenario would have been the case, but the part he would receive would be in "Inspected" condition, not "AR".

By the way, is there really an airport with the code ABC?

Los Llanos, Spain

4/18/07

Roy Resto - VP Technical Operations, FAA-DAR
Phone: 414 875-2191   Fax: 414 875-0200
royboy@mbtrepair.com

site map