Aircraft Bogus Parts - Threat to Aviation safety.
‑ Some Airlines follows special tactics to save time and money like hiring multitasking employees instead of single ability employee.
‑ Each year airlines has to face new challenges due to costly spare parts; delays and maintenance activity of the aircraft.
‑ In aviation, safety is considered as most important target, but since last 10 years bogus parts become one of the headache to both operator and aviation watchdogs.
‑ Bogus Parts means any part / equipment that does not manufactured according to aviation regulatory guidance or they do not meet the aviation standard.Such parts can jeopardize safety of the aircraft and its occupants.
‑ Both bogus parts and bogus pilots are threat to the aircraft safety.
‑ Two years ago one Charter aircraft Beech craft King C-90 was crashed in Ghatkopar (Mumbai,India ).After DGCA (aviation regulator of India) inspection, it was found that the aircraft had fitted with some bogus parts including steering assembly from another aircraft(not from the same model). The aircraft crashed on a highly populated area ,which again broke the rule of test flight.All person on board the aircraft died on the spot(two pilots, one technician and one Engineer). Company had spent over 8 crore on its modification. They lost both money and crew .
‑ Bogus parts came into picture after world's most safest plane, Air force(which carries US president) once had to execute an emergency landing, later it was found that the some of its components were failed (which were actually bogus parts)during flight.
‑ After that, FAA (aviation regulator of USA) performs raid on the vendors who were selling bogus aircraft parts and almost dozens of vendors got arrested.
‑ But the question still remains unanswered, how to identify the Bogus Parts?.
As per our experience we are giving some guidelines that an aircraft mechanic should follow to avoid Bogus Parts.
1. VISUAL INSPECTION: Conducting Visual Inspection is very much important whenever we go to market for daily needs, we always do little Visual Inspection to make sure that item/food is not defective. Similar principle is applicable to bogus parts identification. But before that make sure, you are well aware of the original part/equipment of the aircraft.
2. Always buy from DGCA/FAA/EASA approved vendors for that you can refer to sites like 'stockmarket.aero' . If you are buying directly from airlines/ MRO then it is one of the best way to avoid bogus parts.
3. Check all the supporting documents. If you found any discrepancy(problem) then make enquiry with vendor. Meanwhile you should keep those parts in 'Quarantine Area' (under store). It will prevent mixing of the approved Parts and defective Parts.
4. If you are getting aircraft Spares at cheap price then you should conduct a background check. Because most of the time unapproved vendors sells Bogus Parts in abnormal cheap prices.
5. If you confirm any Bogus Parts then you should immediately inform regulation authorities (DGCA/FAA/EASA). There maybe a big scandal of Bogus Parts.
"Always remember safety in aviation has the prime consideration. Tomorrow you may sit in an airplane which may contain Bogus Parts and even halls it may danger your and your loved ones in a danger situation".
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