Boeing, in collaboration with Southwest Airlines and Aeroxchange, has successfully completed the aerospace industry’s first shipment accompanied by a digital 8130-3 certificate, an electronic version of the document authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that certifies the airworthiness of parts and components.
This achievement represents a milestone in parts authentication and reinforces supply chain security by preventing unapproved parts from entering the aeronautical aftermarket.
Revolution of the Digital 8130 Certificate
The FAA’s Form 8130-3 is the official document that guarantees the airworthiness of parts and articles used in aircraft. With this innovation, the traditional paper format has been replaced by an encrypted and secure file, capable of authenticating the authorized signer’s identity and ensuring the document’s integrity.
Boeing led the pilot project that enabled the generation and approval of this new digital system, considered a decisive step towards modernizing regulatory processes and strengthening traceability in aviation.
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First Shipment: A Battery
The first electronically certified component was a battery repaired at the Boeing service center in Davie, Florida, and shipped to Southwest Airlines facilities in Dallas, Texas. The transmission was carried out via the Aeroxchange eARC™ platform, which allows for real-time verification of the authenticity and airworthiness of each part.
Landon Nitschke, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations at Southwest Airlines, highlighted the impact of this innovation: “Southwest is proud to be part of the electronic document transfer process and to have received the first battery delivery using this system. The safety benefit offered by electronic forms aligns with our value of a safety-focused culture and will be of great use to the entire aviation industry.”
Encryption Technology and Traceability
The eARC™ platform uses X.509 security protocols, public/private key encryption, and blockchain-compatible formats, creating an immutable and verifiable record of part authenticity throughout its entire lifecycle.
Al Koszarek, President and CEO of Aeroxchange, emphasized the scope of this step: “Aeroxchange is honored to have collaborated with Boeing and Southwest Airlines to transmit this first eARC document, which provides a highly secure and verifiable digital record of the 8130-3 Authorized Certificate. This event marks a milestone in the industry’s journey to prevent unapproved parts from entering the aviation supply chain.”
Global Expansion of the Digital System
Boeing plans to extend the use of the digital 8130 certificate to its nine product repair service centers, as each facility receives FAA approval to implement electronic record systems, digital signatures, and electronic manuals.
William Ampofo, Senior Vice President of Parts, Distribution, and Supply Chain at Boeing Global Services, stated: “This pioneering shipment reflects Boeing’s commitment to transformative solutions based on collaboration. Together with Southwest Airlines and Aeroxchange, we are changing the way the industry guarantees part authenticity and supply chain security.”
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