Fighting Stolen Aircraft Parts

NEWSROOM


Fighting Stolen Aircraft Parts By Jim Douglas

		February 23, 2011 - This week, aviation criminals gain a new enemy and law enforcement agencies can benefit from an aviation partnership. Why? Because the first publically available, stolen parts database has been launched by the leading not-for-profit/industry partnership of the Washington D.C., based Aviation Suppliers Association with support by Inventory Locator Service, a Boeing subsidiary. "The bottom line it was the right thing to do," remarks Michele Dickstein, President of the Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA). "Building and launching the first collective database containing over 8,100 stolen aviation parts and making it available to the public, is another important step in making the multibillion dollar aviation industry a safer environment for everyone it touches." The challenge: how can an important new tool for fighting aviation crime, gain visibility quickly and continue to be a solution for potentially thousands of aviation professionals each day?

"Our company's mission is to provide customers with the most accurate, useful and up-to-date information available for aviation parts in the market," adds Eric Anderson, President of Inventory Locator Service (ILS). "By incorporating the ASA Stolen Parts Database information into ILSmart, we can give our approximately 60,000 daily users more value-added search results, alerting them to any known stolen parts matching their search criteria, which will effectively benefit the entire aviation community." What types of parts have been stolen and why is it critical to have this database available? "Global, federal, and local agencies have reported everything from the smallest components and critical engine parts, to entire aircraft being recovered in sting operations," states Roy Resto, Vice President Technical Operations/FAA-DAR, Messier-Bugatti-Tracer. "Examples of smaller parts recovered by special agents from U.S. DOT-OIG & ATR include unique components along with a cockpit/cargo key which would work on all aircraft owned by a major airline and that was exchanged for cash along with machine guns. "In Europe, federal agents have broken up a gang of 60+ that were selling stolen parts from one of the country's biggest jet engine makers, and several cases from last year have led to convictions involving expensive, stolen aircraft parts listed on eBay for a fraction of their manufactured value. In the end, having a database that exists of such parts, is a critical accomplishment that enables the problem to be amplified, so that resources can be brought to bear, and future activity is minimized." Next step, how easy is it to report a stolen aviation part? "ASA has simplified the process so that aviation companies of all sizes can participate, which is a big benefit in our view." comments Paul F. Piedra, President of International Equipment Supply Group Inc.

"In our situation we had a part stolen before it had the proper export paper work assigned. So, we filed a police report (e.g., a requirement to enter the database), contacted ASA headquarters to request a link to access the data base, and uploaded the details. It was a straight forward solution to a very serious challenge that faces our industry today. To that end, we would encourage our constituents as well as the aviation community as a whole to participate and benefit from the data."

		Inventory Locator Service, A Boeing Subsidiary (ILS) has provided information via its global electronic marketplace since 1979 to enable subscribers in the aerospace, defense and marine industries to buy and sell parts, equipment and services. With more than 5 billion parts listed, 60,000 customer accesses each day and 22,000 subscribers, ILS is the most active business-to-business electronic marketplace serving these industries. Today, ILS is striving to be a leader in supply chain solutions by offering inventory & MRO process management solutions and powerful aftermarket trending tools. ILS gives customers more ways to achieve profitability and productivity. Other News Stories Gulfstream To Display Three Aircraft At Avalon 2011 TSA Administrator Applauds Adoption of Global Aviation Security Measures Airline Passengers And Flight Crews Gain Ground In OSHA Protection Confederate Air Force Voted Favorite Don?t Mess With Texas Ad Eurocopter To Focus On Its Helicopter Capabilities At IDEX 2011 Bombardier Boosts Training Capacity With A New Simulator In Dallas EasyJet Tests Nano Technology For Fuel Efficiency Boeing Donates 'Legends of Flight' Proceeds To Washington State LASER Pinnacle Airlines? Pilots Unite In Affirming New Labor Contract Airline Passenger Convicted of Assault Onboard Continental Flight 59 Global Aircraft, Engines and Parts Market To Reach $122 Billion By 2015 FAA Proposes $585,725 Civil Penalty Against Corporate Air St. Vincent And The Grenadines? To Open International Airport Early 2013 NRL Researchers Study Ways To Reduce Jet Aircraft Noise Delta Assessed Largest Fine In History For A Non Safety Related Case Superior Helicopters Awarded Forest Fire And Emergency Services Contract Jean Boulet Former Record Breaker And Test Pilot Dies At Age 90 Largest Pilots? Union Violated Its Own Employees Says NLRB GE Expands Avianca TACA Relationship With 16 Airbus Aircraft Leases Continental Airlines Agent Pleads Guilty In Fake Ticket Voucher Scheme Kirtland Airman Caught Downloading Child Porn On Limwire TSA Certifies High Speed Checked Bag Explosives Detection Solution Florida Governor Snubs Floridian?s Rejects Fed Funding On High Speed Rail FAA Forecast Predicts Air Travel To Double In Two Decades Survey Ranks Malta International Airport Among Top UK Performing Airports UPS Expands Boeing Airplane Health Management To D-11