Building to FAA PMA Specifications: How to Source Replacement Rod Ends and Bearings with Confidence
What FAA PMA is, and what it is not If you work in aerospace sustainment, you have seen PMA referenced in RFQs, supplier qualification checklists, and approvals packages. The FAA defines Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) as a combined design and production approval for modification and replacement articles, allowing a manufacturer to produce and sell those […]
Load and Misalignment Basics for Rod Ends and Spherical Bearings
Most bearing issues do not start with a “bad part.” They start with a spec that did not match the real load path, motion, or misalignment inside the assembly. This matters most in motion control systems where the joint is doing real work: control surfaces, landing gear and struts, steering linkages, actuators, turbines and jet […]
Rod Ends and Spherical Bearings for Mission-Critical Systems
In aerospace and defense, linkage components do not get treated as commodity hardware. They are specified for control, reliability, and long-term performance in systems where side load, vibration, contamination, cycle fatigue, and misalignment can quickly expose the wrong design choice. That is why selecting the right aerospace rod ends and spherical bearings starts with a […]