Results for: Titanium

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating reports that Boeing and Airbus used falsified reports to verify the authenticity of titanium used in some recently produced jets. The fake documents are currently being investigated by Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing and Airbus’ fuselages supplier. The investigation aims to determine the extent of the issue and the safety implications of the affected aircraft. The discovery of small holes in the material from corrosion sparked the investigation, and it is part of a larger trend of supply chain issues and component shortages that are limiting aircraft manufacturers’ ability to meet demand amid a post-COVID travel surge.

Despite being the first Western nation to sanction Russian titanium, the Canadian government has granted Airbus permission to use the metal in its manufacturing processes. The exemption aims to facilitate the importation of EU-produced jets that were built with Russian titanium. While the EU has sanctioned Moscow following the Ukraine conflict, it has not blacklisted VSMPO-AVISMA, the world’s largest processed titanium producer. Airbus and Boeing both announced plans to discontinue using Russian titanium in 2022, but major suppliers for Boeing continue to purchase from VSMPO-AVISMA. Only Canada and Ukraine have sanctioned the company, while the US has imposed export controls.

Canada has granted Airbus a waiver to use Russian titanium in its manufacturing after becoming the first Western government to ban supplies of the strategic metal. This move allows Airbus flexibility in its Canadian plants and addresses concerns about potential disruptions to its operations caused by the ban on the import of European-built long-range jets that rely heavily on titanium. Russian state-backed VSMPO-AVISMA has been the industry’s largest titanium supplier. The Canadian government’s stance is expected to elevate the debate over further sanctions against Russia’s economy.