In a July 28 letter to all CFM56 customers, CFM had informed that Paris-based Safran had filed suspected unapproved parts notifications with EASA after a maintenance shop questioned the authenticity of documents provided by AOG Technics for a new CFM56 part — one of the industry’s recent major scandals.
On Thursday, leaders from across the aerospace industry in the United States and Europe announced the creation of a coalition to help prevent unauthorized parts from entering the aviation supply chain and to strengthen the supply chain’s overall integrity.
The response comes as demand for aircraft components and engine parts is soaring, particularly for those used on older Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 jets, as the planemakers struggle to lift production of the latest models to pre-pandemic levels.
The spread of undocumented or potentially faked parts into the engine supply chain is rare and treated with utmost urgency in an industry where every component requires verified provenance to ensure aircraft safety — it’s impossible to know whether uncertified parts will be as durable under stress.
Last year, Manufacturers and regulators sounded the alarm, triggering a global scramble to trace parts supplied by AOG Technics and identify affected aircraft.
Founding members of the Aviation Supply Chain Integrity Coalition include senior representatives from Airbus, American Airlines, Boeing, Delta Air Lines, GE Aerospace, Safran, StandardAero and United Airlines. Former NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt and former U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary John D. Porcari will serve as coalition co-chairs.
The coalition’s efforts build on CFM International* and its parent companies’, GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, prompt and decisive actions last year when AOG Technics sold engine parts with forged documents.
While an extensive review found that less than one percent of CFM engines were affected and most parts involved were non-serialized items like bolts, washers, and bushings, the coalition will take a broader look at preventing future similar actions.
“We were able to stop a rogue actor and quarantine the parts last year thanks to swift action from the aviation industry, but more is needed to stop anyone who tries to take a shortcut in the future,” said co-chair Robert Sumwalt.
“Through this coalition, we will work to find lasting solutions that the industry can adopt to improve the overall integrity of the aviation supply chain,” said co-chair John D. Porcari.
The coalition began its work this month, launching a 90-day review to determine opportunities to strengthen existing supply chain operations. This work will form the basis of a comprehensive report with recommendations to ensure compliance with safety standards and prevent the introduction of unapproved aviation parts into the supply chain.
The coalition’s approach spans the industry, drawing on expertise from manufacturers and airlines to maintenance, repair and overhaul stations, among others. The report is expected later this year.
GE Aerospace Chief Transformation Officer Phil Wickler, one of the coalition’s members, said :
“One bad actor is one too many in an industry so focused on quality and safety. We look forward to collaborating with leaders across the aviation industry to find meaningful solutions we can implement quickly to prevent this from happening again.”
Bogus or unapproved parts have plagued the aviation industry for decades , with authorities blaming greed on the part of suppliers and poor oversight by regulators.
Sources indicate that the suspected unapproved engine parts have wound up at Ireland’s Ryanair, TAP Air Portugal, Virgin Australia and several U.S. carriers including American, United, Delta and Southwest so far.
According to the U.K.’s Companies House website, AOG Technics was incorporated in 2015 and is majority owned by 35-year-old Jose Zamora Yrala, whose nationality is listed as British on some forms and Venezuelan on others. In December, the UK’s top fraud authorities raided the home of the AOG director at the center of the scandal and arrested him.
