AS9120 CERTIFICATION MUST BE FOLLOWED BY ENDLESS DEDICATION TO QUALITY (DEMO)
Fighter aircrafts like the F-15 are subjected to extreme G-forces in the air. Sharp turns can pull as much as 7 Gs, which both pilot and aircraft should be able to withstand. Aircraft parts like wing pins must be designed to handle these stresses with ease, or the risk of losing an aircraft to high G-forces than in actual combat would be greater.
![Phoenix defense contractor sentenced in F-15 fraud case]()
It goes without saying that many of the Air Force’s aircrafts have established a long-standing reputation for ruggedness, with the F-15 as no exception. In fact, in 1983, an Israeli Air Force F-15D lost its right wing after a mid-air collision with an A-4N Skyhawk during a mock air battle. While the Skyhawk pilot ejected, the Eagle pilot—Zivi Nedivi—maintained control long enough to land safely.
If a similar scenario should happen in the future with inferior aircraft parts, the pilot’s life, as well as the aircraft itself, would be put at greater risk. For this reason, a section of the AS9120 standard for aircraft part distributors talks about component inspection to avoid supplying substandard or counterfeit parts. The checklist can consist of four classes: logical assessment, visual inspection, destructive testing, and functionality testing.
Only companies with AS9100 or AS9120 certification are qualified to supply parts for Defense of Defense aircrafts. However, a certification has to be followed through with dedication to quality for a company to keep the privilege of supplying parts for U.S. defense aircrafts. First of all, the certification needs to be renewed every three years, which will be granted only after stringent inspections and evaluations. Second, a violation of the standards can lead to stiff penalties, including jail time, and of course, losing the opportunity to supply the government with needed aircraft parts and supplies.
Certified contractors must remember that they can be held liable for any loss of life and property due to faulty parts. It’s only fitting that the AS9120 certification audits are made thoroughly. Achieving certified status is just the start of a commitment to quality. Maintaining that status means constant work and review of systems, with the help of certification bodies like ISA.
(Source: Phoenix defense contractor sentenced in F-15 fraud case, The Arizona Republic, January 2, 2015)
It goes without saying that many of the Air Force’s aircrafts have established a long-standing reputation for ruggedness, with the F-15 as no exception. In fact, in 1983, an Israeli Air Force F-15D lost its right wing after a mid-air collision with an A-4N Skyhawk during a mock air battle. While the Skyhawk pilot ejected, the Eagle pilot—Zivi Nedivi—maintained control long enough to land safely.
If a similar scenario should happen in the future with inferior aircraft parts, the pilot’s life, as well as the aircraft itself, would be put at greater risk. For this reason, a section of the AS9120 standard for aircraft part distributors talks about component inspection to avoid supplying substandard or counterfeit parts. The checklist can consist of four classes: logical assessment, visual inspection, destructive testing, and functionality testing.
Only companies with AS9100 or AS9120 certification are qualified to supply parts for Defense of Defense aircrafts. However, a certification has to be followed through with dedication to quality for a company to keep the privilege of supplying parts for U.S. defense aircrafts. First of all, the certification needs to be renewed every three years, which will be granted only after stringent inspections and evaluations. Second, a violation of the standards can lead to stiff penalties, including jail time, and of course, losing the opportunity to supply the government with needed aircraft parts and supplies.
Certified contractors must remember that they can be held liable for any loss of life and property due to faulty parts. It’s only fitting that the AS9120 certification audits are made thoroughly. Achieving certified status is just the start of a commitment to quality. Maintaining that status means constant work and review of systems, with the help of certification bodies like ISA.
(Source: Phoenix defense contractor sentenced in F-15 fraud case, The Arizona Republic, January 2, 2015)