As global conflicts continue to unfold, parts distribution constraints persist across the global and North American markets.
Informed by reports from Locatory.com, this article outlines which parts were hardest to find in March 2026.
Hardest-to-find parts by type and location
|
Category
|
Global Hardest-to-Find
|
North America Hardest-to-Find
|
|
Engine components
|
13%
|
8%
|
|
Electrical/Power
|
11%
|
14%
|
|
Avionics/Sensors
|
12%
|
12%
|
|
Cabin/Safety
|
24%
|
26%
|
|
Standard hardware
|
40%
|
40%
|
Why was standard hardware the category with the largest constraints?
In North America and globally, standard hardware is still the category of parts with the most distribution constraints.
Locatory.com reports note that this is largely driven by high-frequency usage and multi-platform applicability.
Standard hardware components that were hardest to find in March 2026 include:
- 42NKE048 – Self-locking Nut
- NAS6606-18 – Bolt
- AS5804T100808 / AS5804T101004 – Tee fittings
- AS5807T060606 – Fitting Assembly
- J1215P16 – Gasket
March data also shows low supply of parts like:
- AS3208-04 / AS3208-06 / AS3209-011 – Packings / O-rings
- 0R-50026 / 115A4594-2 – Seals
- EDR90-1543-101 – Velcro fasteners
- 312A5996P18 – Tube/Nipple
By appearing in datasets for both the most searched parts and hardest-to-find parts, standard hardware components are identified as the primary systemic bottleneck.
How were March 2026 constraints like for cabin and safety components?
Experts from Locatory.com share, “Cabin/Safety components represent the second-largest constraint category, reflecting increased structural and interior maintenance demand.”
This reflects a notable increase from February 2026 searches, making cabin and safety components the second-largest constraint category in March.
Locatory.com reports identify the main causes of these shortages as:
- Increased interior refurbishment cycles
- Higher wear during short-haul operations
- Ongoing dependency on OEM cabin components
In both datasets for North American and global searches for cabin and safety components, these parts were hardest to find:
- 0A296-0215HS – Seat Cushion Cover (B737)
- 285W0096-10P / -11P – Frontshell / Backshell (B737)
- 432W7200-75C – Base Cover (Boeing)
- 1A296-0339 – Track Assembly (B737)
- 411A1781-2B – Window Shade (B737)
- RL27FYU3YS10096 – Cabin Attendant Seat (A320)
The reports show additional global shortages for the following components:
- NP175201-6 – Windshield (A330/A340)
- 7A1539-056 – Evacuation Slide (A330)
Which engine components were hardest to find in March 2026?
According to reports from Locatory.com, “Engine components, while critical, represent a smaller share of total constraints, indicating that shortages are shifting from high-value LLPs to high-volume consumables and structural parts.”
The reports show that many constraints in the distribution of engine components are concentrated on CFM56 rotating hardware, both in North America and across the globe.
Locatory.com identifies the hardest-to-find engine components for March 2026 as:
- 1558M31G07 – HPC Stage 1–2 Spool (B737NG / A320ceo)
- 2410M49P01 – HPT Rotor Disk (B737 / A320)
- P336P07 – HPC Stage 6 Blade (B737NG)
- 9542M61P03 – Bearing (B737NG / A320ceo)
How hard were electrical components to find in March 2026?
While electrical components show constraint around the world, they display higher constraints in North America.
Locatory.com also notes a broader diversity in constrained parts in North America. Electrical components that were hardest to find specifically in North America include:
- 1096907-1 – ELT Battery Pack
- 70609-1 – Valve Assembly
- 806956-01 – Composite Cylinder
- A2010476 – Switch
- 218908-1 – Gear set
The following electrical components show restraints in both datasets:
- HBF100 – Frequency Converter
- EEC2010-02BX – Engine Control Unit
How hard were avionics and sensors to find in March 2026?
While data for components like avionics and sensors shows a few components with more shortages globally than in North America, constraints in these areas are mainly aligned in terms of parts and share.
The main parts showing constraints in both markets are:
- C12858AA06 – Flight Management Computer
- 262580076-1101 – Main Channel Board
Additional global constraints are occurring for components like:
- RD-FE7805-64 / 344027-22 – Display units (LCD / SVDU)
- 617-6480-008 – Crash Survivable Memory Unit
- Z054H002B090 – Cabin Assignment Module
