Review by Sofema Online - Taking a look at how long the FAA Suspect Parts Program has been in place.

Introduction

The FAA Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP) Program Office opened in November 1995 with a mandate to promote a pro-active approach to the task of identifying unapproved parts and removing them from the aviation system.

Sofema Online www.sofemaonline.com considers issued related to FAA & EASA Suspect Unapproved Parts (SUP)

Introduction

Both EASA and the FAA take very seriously the potential exposure regarding Suspect Parts and will typically take positive action to address once informed by Industry of the reason for the Suspect Part.

Parts manufactured without an appropriate and legal authorized release are described as "unapproved"; they may, in fact, be inferior counterfeits, or be original parts but have in fact been used beyond their time limits, or have not been correctly repaired or have been previously approved but not properly returned to service, be stolen, come with fraudulent labels, production overruns that were not sold with the agency's permission, and those that are untraceable.

Sofema Online looks at the issues surround Suspect Unapproved Parts (SUP’s)

Whether you are dealing with EASA or FAA parts the challenge remains the same – namely to ensure that the parts are airworthy and from a reputable source.

EASA Article 4(4) of Regulation (EU) 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council tasks EASA with the establishment of a mandatory reporting system. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1018 specifies that one of the occurrences which are subject to reporting is ‘the use of products, components or materials, from unknown, suspect origin, or unserviceable critical components’ – SUP.