Airlines Develop Landing Gear Component Pool
The International Airlines Technical Pool aims to address severe maintenance delays with a new shared asset program.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Auto Parts
Live Poll
Do you expect ongoing supply chain shortages to increase costs for your household over the next year?
The International Airlines Technical Pool has launched the development of a landing gear component pool to address ongoing global supply chain strains. This initiative seeks to mitigate maintenance delays by matching airlines with available spare parts from providers.
Why it matters
Airlines are increasingly turning to shared-asset models as aging fleets and material shortages drive up repair times. These systemic supply chain pressures are expected to persist throughout 2027 and potentially for several years.
Current landing gear repair turnaround times have surged to 150 days from a previous benchmark of 50 days. Meanwhile, engine shop maintenance remains stalled at 180 to 200 days or longer.
The players
International Airlines Technical Pool
This global organization facilitates collaboration between airlines and associate members to identify parts providers and develop commercial asset-sharing models.
International Air Transport Association
This trade association represents the global airline industry and coordinates on aviation standards and policy with member organizations.
The details
At its 134th conference in Guangzhou, the International Airlines Technical Pool announced the program alongside the suspension of its engine pooling initiative due to limited engine availability. The organization also intends to launch an auxiliary power unit pool next year to further address maintenance constraints.
Timeline
June 2026: IATP signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Air Transport Association.
October 2026: The 134th IATP conference was held in Guangzhou, China.
2027: The landing gear component pool is scheduled to launch.
Roadmap
The push for shared-asset pools follows a pattern of cooperation established by the June 2026 memorandum of understanding with the International Air Transport Association. This move highlights a broader shift toward collaborative infrastructure as airlines struggle to manage aging fleets and long repair backlogs.
Airlines participating in the new pool may see reduced wait times for critical components, potentially lowering the frequency of long-term flight schedule disruptions. Passengers should monitor airline updates regarding maintenance-related delays as these supply chain bottlenecks continue to impact global operations.
The takeaway
The move toward component pooling reflects a critical pivot for airlines facing sustained, multi-year supply chain constraints. Industry stakeholders are moving away from traditional independent maintenance models toward collaborative inventory strategies to maintain operational efficiency.
Further reading
For more on industry maintenance trends, visit Auto Parts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Aviation Week.
Live Poll
Do you expect ongoing supply chain shortages to increase costs for your household over the next year?
