What SUP? Did you know the FAA, EASA and the UK CAA all have resources in place to report Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP)?

Did you know the FAA, EASA, and UK CAA all have systems to report Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP)? SUPs impact us all, costing money, time, and, in extreme cases, lives. Here’s why it matters: SUPs were exactly how the AOG Technics parts scandal first came to light.

The first line of defense against SUPs includes the reporting tools each Civil Aviation Authority provides to flag suspicious parts. In this case, a technician at TAP Air Portugal noticed that parts meant to be new appeared used. The anomaly was escalated to SAFRAN, then to EASA, which sprang into action. Ultimately, these flagged parts were found to be counterfeit, and the resulting inspections grounded aircraft. Although no physical injuries occurred, forged documents have since been uncovered, and legal consequences are underway.

How many more parts like this could be out there? We may not know the exact number, but one thing is clear: by raising the standards for parts entering the supply chain and using modern tools, we can identify more SUP parts, protecting both lives and costs.

Historically, SUPs were a more widespread problem—in the U.S. alone, over 500 criminal indictments for SUP-related cases were issued between 1993 and 2000. In the case of AOG Technics, paperwork was still being processed in paper form. However, the ASCIC Report’s findings highlight that paper documentation is now a risk factor. Digital tools offer a more secure alternative, making it harder for counterfeit parts to enter the supply chain undetected.

By combining the efforts of oversight organizations, implementing advanced digital techniques, and creating universal databases, we can protect our industry’s integrity. The reputation of aviation is once again at stake, and it’s time for a strong, unified response.

So, here’s what SUP:

Let’s replace paper with data, get that data into the hands of technicians, buyers, and sellers, and build safeguards that ensure the right parts—along with their required certifications—move through the system. This is how we can strive for zero defects, both in product and documentation.