Sourcing landing gear assemblies from China

UK duty on aircraft landing gear assemblies

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 22 October 2026, heading 8807 covers aircraft parts, including undercarriages and their parts. Both landing gear lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded for these lines. The table distinguishes main and nose assemblies within the same tariff codes.

The tariff attaches a DCMS Export Licence measure to both undercarriage lines. Government guidance says there are no licensing requirements for importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached measure applies to your shipment, particularly for historic assemblies.

Confirm the assembly's intended use and the applicable commodity code before declaring it. For other products within this heading, see the drone and aircraft parts guide.

Specify the airframe and assembly configuration

Name the aircraft model, assembly part number and drawing revision. Specify main or nose gear, the mounting interfaces, axle arrangement, retraction mechanism and whether struts, actuators, steering components, wheels and brakes are included. State whether the assembly is new or overhauled, and agree material, heat-treatment, coating and functional-test records against the buyer's drawing.

For certified civil aircraft, confirm the applicable production or maintenance approval and release-document requirements with the Civil Aviation Authority and intended installer, and retain the agreed documents with the assembly. Ask the intended installer to check the paperwork before ordering. For an airworthiness-scheme customs declaration, HMRC says the declaration should reference the authorised release certificate's identification number.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small batch of light-aircraft landing gear assemblies under 8807 20 00 90, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,800, so it is £3,160. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the assembly part number, serial number and configuration to the purchase order and release paperwork; check that included components match the agreed scope.

Fit: measure mounting centres, pin and axle dimensions, mating faces and clearances against the agreed drawing; check threads and bearing fits without forcing components together.

Function: review the agreed strut, hydraulic leakage, retraction and locking test records; have the buyer's aviation specialist assess results against the specified acceptance criteria.

Condition: inspect for corrosion, cracks, damaged coatings, scored piston surfaces and exposed hydraulic connections. Check protective packaging and isolate assemblies with missing release documents. See the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A matching aircraft name can hide a different mounting arrangement or assembly revision. Missing actuators, wheels or brakes can also leave a supposedly complete assembly unusable. Loose joints, damaged sealing surfaces and poor protection during transport are practical failure points to check against the agreed specification.

Release paperwork can describe a different part or serial number from the assembly delivered. For certified aircraft, ask the Civil Aviation Authority and intended installer to confirm what release documents are needed before fitting. Resolve identity, condition and documentation discrepancies before accepting the goods for installation.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.