As a global provider of spare parts for commercial aviation, Sentry Aerospares operates in an environment where urgency is the norm. Between demanding international customers, volatile markets, supply chain challenges and critical payment deadlines, commercial risk is a constant consideration. For almost a decade, the UK-based company has partnered with Coface to transform these challenges into opportunities for growth rather than barriers to expansion.
Grounded aircraft, urgent interventions and no margin for error: inside the world of AOG operations
Headquartered in London and New York, Sentry Aerospares supplies hard-to-find aircraft components, including parts that can be extremely difficult to source elsewhere. Its customer base includes airlines, cargo operators and aircraft leasing companies across the globe. Although Sentry Aerospares was officially established in 2022 through the merger of Aerospares 2000 and Sentry Aerospace, its roots in the industry date back to 1975. The company serves leading aviation organisations such as Air France Industries, Iberia, Austrian Airlines, Air Europa and All Nippon Airways.
Operating from strategically positioned logistics facilities near London and New York airports, Sentry Aerospares supports more than 500 customers across 100 countries. One of its key strengths is its dedicated Aircraft On Ground (AOG) team, available around the clock to respond to urgent situations. In aviation, an AOG event can generate substantial financial losses and requires immediate action to return an aircraft to service as quickly as possible.
Our job is to keep airplanes flying, even when the going gets tough. A grounded airplane means a significant loss of revenue for airlines,
says Martin Coleman, Chief Financial Officer at Sentry Aerospares.
Grounded aircraft, difficult-to-source components and demanding customers around the world are all part of the company's daily reality. Maintaining operational responsiveness while carefully controlling commercial risk is therefore essential to keeping business moving.
From credit insurance to debt collection: managing complexity with confidence
Supply chain disruptions, international customers and time-sensitive transactions make commercial risk an unavoidable aspect of Sentry Aerospares' operations. In a business driven by urgency, every transaction carries a level of financial exposure. Maintaining access to global markets and growth opportunities therefore depends on understanding exactly who customers are and evaluating the risks associated with each transaction.
A Coface client since 2017, Sentry Aerospares has gradually strengthened its relationship with the trade credit insurer, reflecting the company's commitment to long-term partnerships. On a daily basis, Coface supports the business through several complementary services:
- Business information that helps detect potential risks early and assess the financial strength of trading partners.
- Trade credit insurance that protects against non-payment while supporting commercial expansion.
- Debt collection services for uninsured receivables when transactions fall outside Coface's risk appetite.
For nearly 10 years, we have managed our commercial risks with our partner Coface:
- their business intelligence solutions alert us to risks in advance,
- their trade credit insurance solutions protect us from unpaid debts whilst supporting our growth
- and their third-party debt collection services enable us to address our unsecured exposures.
Martin Coleman, Chief Financial Officer at Sentry Aerospares.
'Today we are equipped to turn uncertainty into informed decisions'
In some cases, Coface may advise limiting exposure in markets considered particularly risky. Rather than seeing these recommendations as restrictions, Sentry Aerospares views them as valuable guidance and part of a relationship built on trust and transparency.
After almost a decade of collaboration, Sentry Aerospares has learned how to convert uncertainty into growth opportunities while continuing to expand internationally. Today, effective commercial risk management is not viewed as a constraint. Instead, it provides the confidence needed to pursue new opportunities. Thanks to Coface's expertise and market insights, the company has been able to enter regions and engage with customers that it might previously have considered too uncertain.
This partnership helps us explore new markets, including the most complex ones, with greater confidence and boldness: today we are equipped to turn uncertainty into informed decisions.
That’s it, Keeping your World Open!
concludes Martin Coleman, Chief Financial Officer at Sentry Aerospares.
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