The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States is currently investigating whether documents certifying the use of titanium materials in some recently produced Boeing jets have been falsified. FAA is also looking into the authenticity of documents regarding the use of titanium materials in jets manufactured by another industry giant, Airbus.
According to a report by The New York Times on Friday, FAA is also investigating whether the certification documents for titanium materials used in some Airbus jets are accurate.
As reported by Reuters, aircraft manufacturers are facing strong demand for new planes following a surge in travel post-COVID-19 pandemic. However, supply chain issues and parts shortages are limiting their ability to meet the demands of airlines.
Titanium is a crucial component in the aerospace supply chain, used in the manufacturing of landing gear, blades, and turbine discs for aircraft.
The trigger for FAA’s investigation was a parts supplier discovering a small hole on aircraft materials, which was caused by corrosion, as reported by The New York Times.
FAA stated that Boeing voluntarily disclosed information involving a distributor potentially falsifying or providing inaccurate records during material procurement.
The agency also mentioned, “Boeing issued a notice outlining how suppliers should remain vigilant against potential counterfeit records.”
Boeing stated that this issue only affected a small amount of titanium alloy goods received by a few suppliers across the broader industry, impacting a few aircraft components. The aircraft manufacturer further mentioned that all related parts will be removed from the aircraft before delivery, ensuring that it does not compromise safety.
Airbus acknowledged the situation and mentioned in a statement to CNN, “Extensive testing has been conducted on parts from the same supplier, demonstrating that the airworthiness of the A220 remains intact.”
Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Canada has imposed sanctions on Russian titanium producers, with some exceptions. It is currently unclear whether these falsified documents are related to the sanctions.
Spirit AeroSystems, a company that supplies fuselage to Boeing and wings to Airbus, stated that the titanium alloys entered the supply chain through “counterfeit” documents, and all relevant parts have been removed from its production.
The company mentioned, “Over 1,000 tests have been completed to confirm the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the affected materials to ensure continued airworthiness.”