From Risk to Readiness: Navigating Tariffs with Smarter Maintenance Strategies

Tariffs have become a consistent factor in global trade discussions, increasingly influencing the aviation industry beyond theoretical forecasts. These trade policy changes now play a significant role in the day-to-day planning of fleet operators and MRO providers.  

For example, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations are already experiencing measurable impact, including longer lead times, fluctuating part costs, and increased supply chain complexity. And across both types of organizations, procurement strategies, vendor selection, and inventory management are increasingly being shaped by a need to mitigate tariff-related risks. As Aviation Week recently noted, the ongoing uncertainty in trade regulations has become one of the more prominent considerations in the aerospace sector's risk landscape.

In response, aviation leaders are taking a more proactive approach—rethinking sourcing timelines, expanding their supplier base, and turning to smarter maintenance software that gives them real-time visibility and the flexibility to adapt quickly when needed. Aviation maintenance software, in particular, is playing a growing role in helping organizations improve adaptability and sustain performance in the face of dynamic trade environments.

This growing uncertainty was also the subject of a recent National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) News Hour webinar featuring trade and aviation law experts who examined the far-reaching implications of the new tariffs announced in April. The session highlighted how these policies could alter procurement timelines, accelerate cross-border transactions, and create significant ripple effects across aircraft sales and maintenance operations. As one panelist noted, “We’re going from years of stability to knowing that, if there is change, there’s going to be more change”—an outlook shared by many in business aviation now racing to adapt. 

This uncertainty was echoed in a recent conversation between Bethany Little, Chief Executive Officer of Veryon, and Pete Bunce, former President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Little asked Bunce for his take on how looming tariffs could affect the industry during a fireside chat at Veryon Ascend.

Bethany Little: 
"So, as part of my experience with GAMA recently, we got to do a Capitol Hill day and had the privilege of speaking with members of Congress. The main topic was, of course, what is potentially looming with tariffs. What's your take on the tariff situation? And should OEMs or aircraft owners be prepared for increased costs?" 

Pete Bunce: 
"It all depends on whether the current tariff environment is being used as leverage for better trade deals. We've seen some movement. For example, a backing down on proposed 30% tariffs on Chinese goods. But for aviation, where we don't source as heavily from China, it's more about Canada and Mexico. Thanks to the USMCA, we've preserved some flexibility in parts production and spares. Still, it's complicated." 

Bunce also pointed to an important 1979 international agreement that prohibits tariffs on aviation parts, a global standard meant to preserve the cross-border efficiency essential to aviation. Despite that, he noted, tariff decisions still rest largely with the Executive Branch, adding: 

"The more we can push the administration to recognize that aviation is a net-export sector with a positive trade balance, the better. But tariffs are still at the discretion of the President. While Congress may seek to assert more authority, there's little political appetite right now to override executive decisions. That means we're in a 'wait and see' period." 

According to Bunce, the consequences could be far-reaching: 

"If we start seeing tariffs on, say, a Pratt engine headed to Europe versus the same engine coming into the U.S., we could create an uneven playing field that disadvantages U.S. manufacturers. It's all very complex, and if negotiations fail to bring balance, the industry could suffer." 

How Veryon software helps you navigate the new tariff reality

But tariffs don't just affect part costs; they disrupt maintenance timelines, procurement cycles, and bottom-line performance. And our integrated suite of aviation software solutions is designed to transform tariff uncertainty into a strategic advantage. 

Here is how our solutions can directly address the challenges tariffs may bring to aviation maintenance:

Veryon Reliability: Predict failures before they cost you

The biggest risk to your operation isn't just rising part costs, it's being caught off guard by an unexpected failure. Emergency part orders are already expensive, and the stakes get even higher when you factor in unpredictable tariffs or supply chain disruptions, not to mention the near-certainty of an aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situation caused by the failure that triggered the urgent order. 

Veryon Reliability gives operations leaders and reliability engineers the insight they need to stay ahead. Analyzing historical failure data, usage trends, and supplier performance helps teams anticipate what will fail—and when—so they can take action before costs spike or availability tightens. 

Here's what that looks like in practice: 

• Predicted Unscheduled Removals (PUR) identifies parts nearing the end of their lifecycle or showing signs of failure, so you can source replacements early, before you're forced into a last-minute, high-cost import. Operators leveraging PUR have seen up to 20% fewer unscheduled removals, allowing them to fix on their schedule and avoid costly AOG scenarios.
• Risk and Reliability Dashboards help teams see, at a glance, which components are most vulnerable, when they're likely to need replacement, and how that aligns with current procurement cycles or trade conditions.
• Recurrent Repeats & Cause Analysis flags repeat issues tied to specific vendors or part types, allowing you to shift sourcing away from high-risk or tariff-heavy suppliers.
• Predictive Parts Model leverages advanced analytics to forecast component failures and identify short-life components, rogue parts, and seasonal trends early, so operators can shift from reactive fixes to proactive maintenance planning. 

The result? You can pre-position inventory, reduce reactive ordering, and keep maintenance plans on track, even when the global landscape isn't. 

With Veryon Reliability, you're not just solving the problem in front of you, you're getting ahead of the next one. And in an industry where lead times are tightening and trade policies can change overnight, that foresight makes all the difference. 

Ready to stop reacting and start predicting?

See how Veryon Reliability can help you reduce unscheduled removals, avoid costly AOG events, and make smarter, data-driven maintenance decisions. Schedule your personalized demo today—and take the first step toward proactive, predictive operations. 

Veryon Tracking+: Coordinated procurement at a scale

Managing inventory at a single maintenance base is a challenge on its own. Scale that across multiple sites, regions, or even countries, and the complexity grows quickly. Now add in unpredictable tariffs, shifting supplier conditions, and inconsistent lead times, and you've got a recipe for delays, cost overruns, and operational risk. 

Veryon Tracking+ was built to solve this exact challenge. It centralizes your inventory and procurement operations across your entire network, giving procurement leads and operational managers the tools to stay ahead of sourcing issues before they become expensive problems. 

With Veryon Tracking+, your teams can: 

• Consolidate orders before tariffs hit, optimizing timing, pricing, and supplier selection
• Shift inventory between bases, reducing the need for last-minute international orders and avoiding costly import duties
• Coordinate sourcing across departments and locations, so you're not duplicating orders or scrambling for the same part in different places 

This level of centralized visibility is what allows large-scale operators to move as one cohesive unit instead of a collection of disconnected teams. With features like Integrated Procurement Workflows, Advanced Vendor & Reorder Logic, and Cross-Location Inventory Planning, you're not just streamlining procurement—you're building resilience into your entire supply chain. 

Veryon Tracking+ also surfaces key insights that help you:

• Identify high-risk inventory that may be vulnerable to tariff changes
• Shift spend toward more reliable, lower-risk suppliers
• Reduce cross-border sourcing delays by redistributing parts already in your network 

Whether you’re overseeing a handful of regional locations or a global maintenance network, Veryon Tracking+ gives you clear, centralized control over your inventory, supplier activity, and sourcing plans. Instead of reacting to shortages or delays, you can plan ahead with confidence and stay ahead of the curve. Schedule your personalized demo today. 

Veryon Tracking: Visibility into inventory risk

Where a part comes from, and when you need it, can be the difference between a smooth turnaround and a costly delay. With tariffs adding pressure to already-tight supply chains, visibility into your inventory isn't just helpful. It's essential. 

Veryon Tracking gives maintenance planners and inventory managers the clarity they need to make smart, timely procurement decisions. It delivers real-time, part-level data on sourcing history, usage patterns, and transaction activity, so you're never caught off guard. 

With Veryon Tracking, you can: 

• Spot tariff-exposed parts early, before they turn into expensive sourcing headaches
• Analyze consumption trends and vendor history to identify risks and adjust your strategy
• Build smarter reorder plans, so you're not relying on urgent, high-tariff international shipments
• Shift toward domestic or tariff-neutral suppliers with confidence, backed by data 

It's all about giving your team more control over what's in stock, where it came from, and how quickly it's moving. Features like Transaction-Level Reporting and Configurable Component Fields help you drill into the details, while Min/Max Threshold Alerts and lead-time-based reorder logic help you stay ahead, not scrambling at the last minute. 

And when trade policies shift overnight (as they often do), you'll already know your exposure. Veryon Tracking helps you stay one step ahead, turning raw data into clear, actionable insight. See for yourself how Veryon Tracking can improve the efficiency of your operations. Schedule your personalized demo today. 

Veryon Diagnostics: Eliminate costly diagnostic errors

Tariffs don't just punish poor planning, they amplify the cost of every mistake. Misdiagnosing an issue doesn't just mean wasted time, it means unnecessary parts, international shipping delays, and inflated costs due to import duties. When one wrong call can ripple across your entire operation, accuracy matters more than ever. 

Veryon Diagnostics helps eliminate those risks at the source. It's designed to guide technicians through precise, step-by-step troubleshooting so they get to the right answer the first time. That means fewer sourcing errors, faster repairs, and better control over maintenance costs.

With Veryon Diagnostics, your teams can: 

• Diagnose the root cause of issues accurately to prevent incorrect or duplicate part orders
• Avoid trial-and-error repairs that result in tariff-heavy international shipments
• Keep aircraft out of the hangar and back in the air faster, protecting revenue and schedules
• Preserve your parts budget by avoiding unnecessary orders and returns 

The platform includes tools like the Guided Troubleshooting, which walks technicians through step-by-step resolution workflows, and Defect Pattern Recognition, which flags chronic issues linked to known part types or conditions. It also features Closed-Loop Repair Logic to confirm fixes and prevent repeat part usage. 

Veryon Diagnostics helps maintenance teams avoid the compounding costs of errors, especially when international logistics and tariff exposure are in play. When your diagnostics are accurate, your sourcing is smarter, your downtime is shorter, and your operation runs smoother. See for yourself how Veryon Diagnostics can get your aircraft more uptime. Schedule your personalized demo today. 

What happens if you do nothing?

The aviation industry is entering a new chapter—one where economic policy and maintenance planning are more connected than ever. If you’re still relying on disconnected systems, reactive ordering, and scattered data, the risks are only going to grow. 

Here’s what that looks like in practice: 

• Higher costs from last-minute orders hit with unexpected tariffs
• Longer lead times due to supply chain bottlenecks
• Budget overruns caused by duplicate orders or poor coordination 

For operators and MROs who don’t adapt, the impact won’t just be financial. It will show up in service delays, compliance challenges, and missed business opportunities.

A smarter path forward

Managing tariff risk is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a core part of running a resilient, high-performing operation. It requires better forecasting, smarter sourcing decisions, and systems that help you stay one step ahead. 

That’s exactly what Veryon’s aviation maintenance platform is built for. 

With Veryon, you can: 

• Predict part failures before they cause costly downtime
• Uncover sourcing risks early—before they disrupt budgets or schedules
• Avoid unnecessary expenses and delays that eat into your margins 

The operators and MROs that thrive in the years ahead won’t just be the ones with the biggest fleets. They’ll be the ones who planned smarter, moved faster, and built operations ready for whatever the global market throws at them. 

As Pete Bunce said, “Aviation is an interconnected global industry. We have to tread carefully, plan ahead, and use every tool at our disposal to maintain balance.” 

Let's talk about how Veryon can help you build tariff resilience across your operation. Schedule a demo today.