Regional jets — like those from Embraer and Bombardier — are the workhorses of short-haul commercial aviation. Their unique operational profiles, frequent flight cycles, and specific design characteristics create distinct maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) requirements.
To complicate matters, production has been stopped on many of the most popular regional jets in the U.S. posing challenges for MRO providers to source parts with new aircraft no longer manufactured.
For operators, understanding why these aircraft need specialized MRO parts — and how to source them efficiently — can mean the difference between smooth operations and costly downtime.
Unique Maintenance Needs of Regional Jets
Regional jets are engineered for high-frequency, short-haul routes, often making multiple takeoffs and landings each day. This operational tempo leads to:
- Increased Wear on Key Components: Frequent cycles accelerate wear on landing gear, brakes, tires and other high-stress parts. For example, regional aircraft tires typically require replacement or retreading after just 700 to 800 landings, far more frequently than those on long-haul aircraft.
- Complex Systems: Compared to turboprops, regional jets have more complex avionics, hydraulic and propulsion systems, which translate to more frequent and specialized maintenance requirements.
- Higher Maintenance Costs: The combination of complexity and operational intensity means regional jets generally incur higher MRO costs than their turboprop counterparts.
Most Popular Regional Jets in the U.S. Today
The Embraer E175 stands as the undisputed leader in today's U.S. regional jet market, representing the largest active fleet and continuing to dominate new aircraft orders from major carriers including American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.
This dominance stems from its optimal 76- to 88-seat configuration that maximizes capacity while staying within scope clause restrictions, combined with superior range and passenger comfort compared to competitors.
The Bombardier CRJ900 serves as the primary alternative in this segment, benefiting from high parts commonality with the CRJ700 and maintaining a solid presence across regional carriers.
While the older CRJ200 and ERJ145 fleets are gradually being retired, they still represent significant MRO opportunities in the near term.
Bombardier CRJ Series:
- CRJ200: Aging fleet with declining parts availability; many operators retiring.
- CRJ700/900: High commonality (parts sharing) creates economies of scale.
Embraer E-Jet Series:
- E170/175: Dominant in the U.S. regional market with strong parts support.
E175: Accounts for the majority of new regional jet orders in the U.S.
- The Challenge: Sourcing Parts for Regional Jets
Operators of regional jets face several hurdles in securing the right parts:
- Supply Chain Disruptions: Global events and manufacturing delays have led to persistent shortages of critical components, from avionics to landing gear. Even a single unavailable part can ground an aircraft for days or weeks.
- Aging Fleets: Many regional jets in service today are older models, making it harder to find discontinued or low-volume parts.
- Quality and Traceability: Strict regulatory standards demand that every part is fully traceable and meets rigorous quality benchmarks. Using unapproved or poorly documented components is not an option.
- Lead Times: Shipping delays, customs issues and production backlogs can extend lead times, increasing aircraft-on-ground (AOG) risk and operational costs.
MRO market considerations include:
- High-Demand Parts: Engines, landing gear, avionics, cabin components.
- Bombardier CRJ Series: Generally good parts availability through aftermarket suppliers. Major components include landing gear (Messier-Bugatti-Dowty) and APU (Hondin RE220).
- Embraer E-Jet Series: Extensive supplier network with major components including landing gear (Liebherr) and APU (Honeywell 36-150).
Why Specialized MRO Parts Matter
Using the correct, specialized parts for regional jets is essential for:
- Safety and Compliance: Only approved, traceable parts can ensure continued airworthiness and regulatory compliance.
- Performance and Reliability: Model-specific components — designed for the unique stresses of regional jet operations — help maintain performance, reduce unscheduled maintenance and extend service life.
- Cost Control: Efficient sourcing and inventory management minimize aircraft on the ground (AOG) time, reduce maintenance costs and keep fleets flying.
Remember, compared to MRO markets for mainline single-aisle and wide-body jets, the MRO market for regional aircraft is small, putting pressure on MRO providers to secure the proper parts.
How Source One Spares Delivers Tailored Solutions
Source One Spares specializes in supporting regional jet operators with:
- Extensive Inventory: A wide selection of new and refurbished aircraft parts for regional jets, including hard-to-find and legacy components.
- 24/7 Technical Support: Around-the-clock access to experts who provide guidance on part interchangeability, service bulletin (S.B.) and airworthiness directive (A.D.) compliance and aircraft effectivity data.
- Just-in-Time Delivery: Fast, reliable shipping — often within 24 hours — to minimize downtime and keep operations running smoothly.
- Personalized Service: Each shipment is managed by a dedicated representative, ensuring accountability and proactive communication from order to delivery .
- Quality Assurance: All components are fully traceable, tagged by leading repair facilities, and backed by industry certifications (FAA, ISO 9001:2015, AS9120B).
Case Study: Keeping a Regional Fleet Airborne
Here is an example of how Source One Spares can keep regional jets flying.
In this scenario, a regional airline operating a mixed fleet of Embraer E-Jets and Bombardier CRJs faces an unexpected AOG event: a landing gear actuator fails on one aircraft, and the airline’s in-house stock is depleted.
With a tight flight schedule and limited spares, every hour of downtime threatens lost revenue and disrupted service.
How Source One Spares Can Help:
- The airline’s maintenance team contacts Source One Spares’ 24/7 technical support.
- Within hours, Source One Spares identifies the exact actuator required, confirms its traceability and compliance, and arranges immediate shipment from its inventory.
- The part arrives the next day, is installed, and the aircraft returns to service with minimal disruption.
- The airline’s operations team receives ongoing support for future parts planning, reducing the risk of similar AOG events.
Result: The airline maintains schedule integrity, avoids costly delays, and builds a stronger partnership with a responsive MRO parts supplier.
The Right Partner for Regional Jet MRO
Regional jets demand specialized MRO solutions — both in expertise and in parts supply. With the right partner, operators can navigate supply-chain challenges, control costs and maximize fleet reliability.
Explore Source One Spares’ extensive inventory of aircraft parts for regional jets and discover how our solutions for aviation MRO for small aircraft can streamline your operations. Contact our team today for personalized support and rapid parts delivery —24/7, 365 days a year.