When critical aircraft parts aren’t available locally, AOG logistics providers must quickly activate global sourcing networks that span manufacturers, distributors, airlines, and specialized parts traders worldwide. This process resembles a high-stakes treasure hunt where time is money and every hour of delay costs thousands of dollars in aircraft downtime.

The search typically begins with the aircraft manufacturer, as they maintain comprehensive databases of parts distribution and can often identify the nearest available inventory. For a Boeing aircraft stranded in Munich, Boeing’s parts support team might determine that the needed component is available at their distribution center in Frankfurt, with a major airline in London, or at a maintenance facility in Dubai. This global visibility allows AOG coordinators to quickly identify multiple sourcing options and choose the fastest delivery route.

Authorized distributors and parts traders maintain their own inventory networks and often specialize in certain aircraft types or component categories. These companies have developed sophisticated inventory management systems that track parts availability across multiple locations in real-time. A distributor in Amsterdam might have exactly the right part in stock, or they might know that another distributor in Singapore has it available for immediate shipment.

Airlines themselves represent a crucial source of AOG parts through surplus inventory programs and mutual support agreements. Many large airlines maintain excess inventory specifically to support AOG situations, both for their own fleets and as a revenue source by helping other operators. These airline-to-airline transactions can happen very quickly when relationships and processes are already established.

Pool arrangements among airlines operating the same aircraft types create shared inventory systems where multiple carriers contribute parts to a common stock that any member can access during emergencies. This is particularly common for smaller regional airlines that cannot economically maintain comprehensive parts inventories for their limited fleets.

Multiple transportation legs: Global sourcing often requires complex transportation arrangements. A part might be trucked from a manufacturer in Seattle to Los Angeles airport, flown to Frankfurt, then trucked to the final destination in Munich. Each leg requires coordination, documentation, and tracking to ensure the part reaches its destination as quickly as possible.