Boeing (NYSE:BA), Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) and Aeroxchange on Monday said they completed the industry’s first parts shipment accompanied by a fully digital airworthiness certificate, replacing the paper-based process with a secure, encrypted electronic document.
The shipment — a serviced battery from Boeing’s (NYSE:BA) repair facility in Davie, Florida, to Southwest’s (NYSE:LUV) Dallas hub — marked the debut of the digital FAA Form 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificate, a foundational document that verifies the airworthiness of aircraft parts and components.
“This industry-first shipment reflects Boeing’s dedication to pursuing game-changing solutions through teamwork and partnership,” William Ampofo, senior vice president of parts and distribution and supply chain for Boeing Global Services, said in prepared remarks. “Together with Southwest Airlines and Aeroxchange, we are transforming how the industry ensures part authenticity and supply chain security.”
The announcement comes two years after the discovery of counterfeit aircraft parts supplied by U.K.-based AOG Technics, which exposed alarming weaknesses in global aviation supply chains and underscored the need for stronger traceability systems.
Strengthening supply chain security
The digital 8130-3 certificate, transmitted via Aeroxchange’s eARC platform, uses advanced X.509 encryption protocols, public/private key authentication and blockchain-ready formats to create an immutable, verifiable record of part authenticity. The system aims to eliminate the risk of unapproved or counterfeit parts entering the aerospace supply chain — a persistent concern across the global aviation industry.
Industry collaboration and next steps
Boeing (BA) plans to expand use of the digital certificate across all nine of its global product repair services centers, pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization for electronic recordkeeping and signature systems.
The initiative aligns with recommendations from the Aviation Supply Chain Integrity Coalition (ASCIC) — a cross-industry group that includes Boeing, Southwest and Aeroxchange — which has advocated for digital solutions to improve traceability and safety in aircraft maintenance and parts distribution.
Aviation regulators found that AOG had distributed engine components for CFM56 and CF6 engines — used in Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 jets — with falsified safety certificates, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to issue urgent alerts.
The FAA confirmed in September 2023 that the documents tied to certain bushings were “falsified,” recommending airlines quarantine and remove suspect parts. Major carriers including American Airlines (AAL), United Airlines (UAL), Southwest (LUV), TAP Air Portugal and Virgin Australia later confirmed they had installed unapproved parts, forcing aircraft out of service.
The scandal led CFM International, a joint venture of GE (GE) and Safran (OTCPK:SAFRF) (OTCPK:SAFRY), to win a court order compelling AOG to release sales records, part of an ongoing effort to trace and eliminate fraudulent components from the aerospace aftermarket.