UK company suspected of distributing unapproved part
Piot DAR is correct - know your supplier - and of course if someone is offering you parts at a price below the standard rate be very suspicious
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A legitimate copy of Windows 11 costs around $150. Previous versions of Windows easily double that. No issue for us to afford, but in the third world? That's 2-3 weeks salary for most people. MS and other big vendors publically denounce piracy but privately tolerate it. Even serial keys and activation codes can be bypassed and nothing is done. Why? Because it's the only way those products get used in the third world. And their usage (legal and otherwise) drives the tech industry forward so all benefit.
Clearly, this can't be applied to the world of aviation due to the safety requirement of critical components but some manufacturers are guilty of artificially restricting supply so they can charge an arm and a leg for parts when they could create an environment of economies of scale that benefits them and the market. Your average ACMI provider in the third world is going to be looking for an easy and cost-effective way out because they simply don't have a Western budget and where there's a demand, there's always supply...
Clearly, this can't be applied to the world of aviation due to the safety requirement of critical components but some manufacturers are guilty of artificially restricting supply so they can charge an arm and a leg for parts when they could create an environment of economies of scale that benefits them and the market. Your average ACMI provider in the third world is going to be looking for an easy and cost-effective way out because they simply don't have a Western budget and where there's a demand, there's always supply...
It's pretty much an open secret of the industry that - when you buy a new aircraft - the engine company doesn't make any real money on the deal, they're basically selling the engines at cost.
The money is made late on selling the required spare parts, spare engines, and servicing.
Even the airframers do this (to a somewhat lesser extent). For a long time, Boeing all but gave their after-sales support away to the original aircraft purchaser. This made Boeing quite popular and was a major competitive advantage in sales campaigns against MacDac, Airbus, etc.
Sadly, that all changed after the MacDac merger - and it was decided that after sales support had to be a major profit center. This upset long time customers no end, and airlines that had long been exclusively Boeing customers suddenly started buy Airbus.
Talk about your penny wise, pound foolish
The money is made late on selling the required spare parts, spare engines, and servicing.
Even the airframers do this (to a somewhat lesser extent). For a long time, Boeing all but gave their after-sales support away to the original aircraft purchaser. This made Boeing quite popular and was a major competitive advantage in sales campaigns against MacDac, Airbus, etc.
Sadly, that all changed after the MacDac merger - and it was decided that after sales support had to be a major profit center. This upset long time customers no end, and airlines that had long been exclusively Boeing customers suddenly started buy Airbus.
Talk about your penny wise, pound foolish
Last edited by tdracer; 25th Dec 2023 at 02:53.
PILOT DAR has it right. Airline aviation is a mad world of different OEM, aged aircraft, variations between customers and suppliers who may not be trustworthy. Receiving Inspection is your first defense. Given necessary training in Airworthiness requirements and proper tools like high powered magnifiers, hardness testers, etc. they are a defense. The QA manager must have the guts to withstand corporate pressures due to the aircraft being AOG.
Repair stations have an extra load as they must buy a lot of fasteners and raw stock shut as aluminum sheets. Then they work on customers aircraft of various vintages and original operators.
Traceability is a must. You must be able to answer what is the source of the materials, fasteners and sealants used in a repair. Components are another can of worms. Parts are removed from boneyard hulks. Good part/bad part??? Poor QC inspectors and managers.
Repair stations have an extra load as they must buy a lot of fasteners and raw stock shut as aluminum sheets. Then they work on customers aircraft of various vintages and original operators.
Traceability is a must. You must be able to answer what is the source of the materials, fasteners and sealants used in a repair. Components are another can of worms. Parts are removed from boneyard hulks. Good part/bad part??? Poor QC inspectors and managers.
Last edited by tonytales; 25th Dec 2023 at 02:39. Reason: Minor typo
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Purchasing is the first line of defense.
It is Purchasing's duty to thoroughly vet new entrants like AOG. It is Purchasing's duty to continuously scrutinize existing vendors like Fore Machine.
Inspection sleeps easier at night when Purchasing is awake during the day.
It is Purchasing's duty to thoroughly vet new entrants like AOG. It is Purchasing's duty to continuously scrutinize existing vendors like Fore Machine.
Inspection sleeps easier at night when Purchasing is awake during the day.
