This year marks Superior Air Parts’s 50th anniversary in the aviation industry. The Texas-based PMA company, founded in 1967 by Burt “Inky” Dedmon, has introduced various products over the years such as the XP series engine, Millennium cylinders and Vantage engine, among others. At AirVenture this year, Superior Air Parts will host a series of 18 educational forums from July 24 to 30 at Booth 257 as part of its milestone annivesary.
Keith Chatten, Superior Air Parts CEO, spoke to AIN about the FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) certification process. PMA parts originally were created due to the lack of OEM replacement parts, and in some cases due to high parts prices. However, achieving type certification for a PMA part is equal to that of an OEM part because the requirements are the same. Superior Air Parts must demonstrate the design and durability of its PMA part while making sure that they meet all the regulatory and quality standards of an OEM part. In fact, Chatten said that some PMA testing can be more extensive and rigorous than initial type certification for OEM parts; sometimes it can take years for a PMA part to be certified by the FAA.
Considering this, Superior Air Parts has reached several PMA milestones during the last 50 years. In 1991 Superior Air Parts released the original Millennium cylinder, which is designed with aluminum alloy heads, increased wall thickness and an AMS 6382 steel barrel. The second-generation Millennium cylinder followed in 2001, as did the first family of XP-engines. Today the XP-320, XP-360 and XP-400 engines range from 150 to 215 horsepower while the XP-320 and XP-400 can operate on 100LL avgas or unleaded automotive gasoline. In 2004 Superior Air Parts introduced the Vantage engine, its 180-hp type certified engine.
Today, the company is moving forward with its second annual series of educational forums that will be held at AirVenture. Companies such as Aeroshell, RAM Aircraft and CamGuard will give presentations on topics such as maximizing engine longevity, lubricant management for engine longevity and reliability and understanding piston engine oils. Speakers include RAM Aircraft production manager Steve Boggess, CamGuard manager Randy Bibb and Superior Air Parts v-p of product support Bill Ross.
“The forums are designed to be educational in nature,” Scott Hayes, v-p of sales and marketing for Superior Air Parts, told AIN. “They aren’t designed for us to sell our products. It’s really to help answer questions that people have. We noticed on the forums and chat rooms we see on the Internet that there’s a tremendous amount of information swirling around. Not all of it is correct or credible. The forums give us a chance to speak directly to the audience.”
Looking forward, Superior Air Parts will spend time educating the public about PMA parts while creating more of those same parts. Attendees who participate in the company’s AirVenture forum series will receive Ross’s recently published book, "Engine Management 101." It covers topics such as how to choose the right mechanic, improving engine operations, cylinder compression testing and PMA parts. As commercial and private aircraft operators in Europe, Australia, the Middle East and South and Central America grow more interested in PMA parts, Superior Air Parts plans todevelop more products for the aviation market.
