How to Procure Lycoming Engines for Government Use

It is frequently overlooked in the federal government that piston-engined aircraft are still widely employed by the government and are often used. The Civil Air Patrol maintains a fleet of well over 500 aircraft, all of which are piston-powered. It is, in fact, the world’s largest fleet of single-engine piston-powered aircraft. 

Generally speaking, a piston engine has a time between overhaul of around 2,000 hours, and the average fleet aircraft flies about 200 hours per year, although that is a rough generalization. A fleet aircraft probably needs a new or rebuilt engine every 5-10 years, depending on the utilization rates. 

Lycoming engines are the standard air-cooled piston engine for most fixed-wing aircraft in the government’s fleet. Here’s how GSA Advantage is your best place for federal agencies to find the engines that power the world’s general aviation fleet. 

Robert Frola (GFDL <http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html> or GFDL <http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html>), via Wikimedia Commons

Understanding Piston Aircraft Engines for Government Applications

Lycoming engines grace the noses of single-engine piston aircraft, and it is the most prolific aircraft engine manufacturer in the world. They fly on almost every continent, and there are thousands upon thousands of Lycoming engines in operation at any given moment.  

Like we stated earlier, most of the federal government’s fleets are turbine-engine powered now, but not all. There are several agencies that still widely use piston aircraft engines, including:

Most of the fleet sizes are unclear, and the fleet size is not disclosed, but we can assume it is at least 600 since the Civil Air Patrol has around 560. 

Procuring Lycoming Engines for Government Use

When a single-engine fixed-wing aircraft comes due for an overhaul, you have three choices:

  1. Rebuild the existing engine. The lead time for this is counted at a minimum of months. 
  2. Buy a certified rebuilt engine. Many shops do this, but Lycoming also offers factory-rebuilt engines that are certified to zero-time status. This gives pilots and aircraft owners a clean engine logbook and increases the value of their aircraft.
  3. Buy a brand new engine. 

A Lycoming certified rebuilt aircraft engine is rebuilt to the exact same specifications as a brand-new engine. It should be said that both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft use piston engines, although all of the rotary wing assets in the federal government are turbine-powered. 

Partnering with Textron Aviation for Government Procurement

Textron aviation is one of the largest producers of aircraft in the world, and the federal government operates hundreds (if not over one thousand) Textron aircraft. 

The best solution for a new engine (by new, we do not necessarily mean brand new, but a factory rebuild is also “new” for this purpose) is to source them directly from Lycoming. 

Greenwood Aerospace is a procurement partner with Lycoming engines and can source many different engines, both new and factory rebuilt:

  • IO-360-L2A
  • IO-360-B4A
  • IO-360-M1A
  • O-235-L2C
  • O-320-D2J
  • IO-540-AB1A5
  • IO-390-C3B6
  • O-320-D3G
  • IO-540-AE1A5
  • O-540-F1B5
  • TIO-540-AK1A
  • LO-360-A1H6
  • TIO-540-AJ1A
  • O-360-A1H6
  • O-360-J2A
  • IO-540-AC1A5

These are some of the most common Lycoming engines used in the world's most popular and common fixed-wing aircraft. 

Meeting Government Contracting Requirements

Since air-cooled engines have a finite cycle between overhauls, plans have to be made in advance to ensure that there are, in fact, engines available to power aircraft. 

Catastrophic failures do occur and leave an aircraft in a non-flying status unexpectedly, but generally speaking, there is a timeframe to plan for replacement. Before getting to this point, maintenance controllers and managers need to confirm a few factors first:

  • Government agencies must ensure that procured Lycoming engines meet government contracting requirements and standards.
  • This includes compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and standards.
  • Lycoming Engines is a registered and compliant government contractor, making it easier for agencies to procure their engines. Also, certified Lycoming engines are routinely distributed through third-party procurement specialists like Greenwood Aerospace,
  • Greenwood Aerospace has a Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE) Code and is registered on SAM.gov.

Greenwood Aerospace: Your Premier Partner for Lycoming Piston Engine Procurement

Greenwood Aerospace is U.S. Department of State ITAR-registered, allowing us to partner with large defense contractors on various military initiatives for exporting ITAR-controlled items.

  • UEI: KVSUYYSJS174
  • DUNS: 604006874
  • Cage Code: 2Y735
  • ITAR DDTC Export Compliant
  • AS9120B QMS Certified
  • NAICS: 488190, 336413, 332722, 336411, 336413, 481212, 532411

If you have any questions about what all we offer or stock, give us a call at (580) 762-2580 or email us at contact@governmentprocurement.com.