According to reports from Locatory.com, “The Marketplace entered September with search activity already at its highest level of 2026 and shortages rising faster than searches.”

They explain, “44 of the same 50 part numbers appeared on both the global and North America Hardest-to-Find lists in August, indicating that many of the most difficult sourcing requirements were not isolated to one market.”

 “Instead, the data points to broader aftermarket pressure affecting the same component families across regions,” add the reports.

Which engine components were hardest to find in August 2026?

Accounting for 37% of the global data set and 39% of the North American data set, engine components show the most constraints for August 2026 out of all categories.

While demand for the most-searched engine components during this month was spread across various platforms, the hardest-to-find parts in this category concentrated around the GE90 and Boeing 777 ecosystem.

Centering on engine-control and accessory subsystems, the most difficult-to-find engine components of August 2026 show as:

• FADEC:
  • Full Authority Digital Engine Control units (105E70898G1, 105E70898G2, 105E70898G3)  
• HMU:
  • Hydromechanical Unit control assemblies (1693M75P08)
  • Additional HMU family (1851M65P04, 1851M65P05, 1851M65P06)  
• IDG and fuel-oil accessory system:
  • IDG check valve assembly (1548-05-12)
  • Fuel-oil cooler/heat-exchanger components (1838M88P03, 1838M88P11)
  • IDG/VSCF air-oil cooler interface components (1838M91P06, 1838M91P07, 1838M91P08)  
  • Sensor: Temperature/pressure sensor (0154GF9)  

Locatory.com reports highlight, “The FADEC family, HMU and temperature/pressure sensor have now appeared on Locatory.com Hardest to Find data for four consecutive months, from May through August.”

They explain, “That persistence makes the pattern more significant than a one-month sourcing spike and points to sustained pressure around the same GE90 control-system requirements.”

The reports continue, “The regional consistency strengthens the signal. Most of these GE90-related part numbers appear in both the Global and North America Hardest to Find datasets, suggesting that the sourcing difficulty is not confined to one market.”

“Instead, buyers across regions appear to be competing for the same pool of GE90 control and accessory material. The broader fleet context is also relevant, although it should not be treated as a direct cause of the shortage,” add Locatory.com experts.

They note, “Continued delays to the Boeing 777X program mean that existing 777-300ER and 777F fleets remain central to long-haul operations for longer, sustaining the requirement to support the installed GE90 base.”

What sourcing constraints did standard hardware and seals show in August 2026?

Standard hardware and seals make up 26% of constrained searches in North America for this time period and 16% across the globe.

The hardest-to-find replacement parts in this category largely align across both lists, including standard hardware and small consumables like:

• Ring backup (8-218V709-90)
• Bearing assembly (D48896)
• Screws (60-4156-1, 2291-13)
• PTFE seal (J8066)
• Fastener clip (14033-03)
• Locked-in stud (MS51989-105-29)

The Lock Ring (348150516) also shows major constraints for August 2026, but it only appears in the global list.

How hard to find were electrical, power, APU and avionics components in August 2026?

This category accounts for 21% of parts sourcing constraints in the global data set and 17% of those in North America.

Locatory.com notes that these challenges focused on a variety of power, monitoring and sensing equipment, such as:

• Voltage converter (41010-000)
• Monitor unit (RD-FJ7828-01) for the Boeing 787
• Main power supply (10074910-114)

The fuel-height temperature sensor (20301-0134) is also significant in this constraint category but only in the North America data set.

What were constraints like for airframe and landing gear components in August 2026?

Parts for airframe and landing gear make up 19% of global shortages and 9% of North American shortages for August 2026.

Focusing on structural and support components, the most constrained airframe and landing gear parts in this month’s report include:

• Underwing-longeron filler (675W0003-7)
• Bushing assembly (AJ18C105DU)
• Metering pin (1C2067-1)

In only the global list, the roller tray assembly (250100-43) also shows shortages.

Locatory.com reports state, “Two recurring items, cover latch (0FV9900A11G02) and face panel (0YZ1510A01G03), are particularly notable.”

They add, “Locatory.com data has tracked both as recurring hard-to-find signals since May. Both appeared on the global Hardest-to Find-lists.”

Which cabin and safety components show shortages in August 2026?

In a slight deviation from the July 2026 Parts Report, cabin and safety components emerge as the smallest constraint category for August, accounting for 9% of the list in North America and 7% of the global list.

This month’s reports identify three items as the most constrained, with the lens/light assembly (6230-01-017-1226) appearing in both lists.

The headrest assembly (131-00-400-17) for the Boeing 787 shows up in only the North American data set, with the liner (845T3108-16) on only the global list.

What spare-parts shortages reveal about aftermarket pressures for the rest of 2026

Experts from Locatory.com say, “The coming season will meet an aftermarket that already has limited flexibility.”

They highlight challenges that IATA identifies as key disruptions for airline maintenance planning, such as:

• Spare-parts shortages
• Constrained maintenance capacity
• Extended repair turnaround times

Locatory.com reports note, “The engine market remains particularly exposed, while recent evidence shows that material rather than shop capacity can itself become the limiting factor.”

“AerFin identified HPT blade availability as the principal bottleneck extending CFM56 overhaul cycles at the end of August,” they add.

Locatory.com experts explain, “That makes the August Locatory.com data more significant as a leading indicator rather than simply a record of summer demand.”

They elaborate, “If planned maintenance volumes now increase while the same constrained material is required across multiple shops and regions, buyers may increasingly be competing for the same serviceable inventory, exchange units and repair capacity.”