Safran CEO calls for tougher regulation after fake aircraft parts scandal

Safran CEO Olivier Andries demanded regulators in Europe and the US crack down harder on rogue aircraft parts dealers, as he reacted to the scandal of falsified component records that have led to fake parts ending up on Safran-built engines. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration should introduce more regulation to rein in middle men in the supply chain, Andries said in an interview in Meaux, outside Paris. Regulators might also consider bringing in digitalization and blockchain technology to increase traceability and eliminate paper-based documentation, Andries said. “The fact that this company was able to establish itself, to prosper and to sell parts with falsified certification documents raises questions,” Andries said referring to AOG Technics Ltd. which has been accused of selling jet engine parts with forged certification documents. Bloomberg News first reported on the suspect parts on Aug. 31 which has triggered a race to identify and remove suspect parts on aircraft at multiple airlines spanning from the US to Australia. EASA has previously said that suppliers are not regulated and therefore has no power to investigate AOG Technics. <br/>