Aircraft Probe Raises Fears

CBS News Exclusive: Investigators Allege Fraudulence, Disregard Of Passengers' Safety

(CBS)  An Army investigation alleges a top supplier has sold sub-standard materials to virtually every aircraft manufacturer in the world. CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian has the exclusive report.

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Every day, several thousand military and commercial aircraft take off around the world, carrying precious cargo of soldiers and civilians.

Now, CBS News has learned one of the major suppliers of material used in many of those planes may be putting those passengers at risk.

In a memo obtained by CBS News, Army criminal investigators use stark language in making their case against California-based Airtech International, writing: "seldom have I come across a company with such brazen disregard for safety of soldiers and civilians as well as for the sanctity of laws …"

Airtech dominates the market for the raw materials used to build what are called "composites." Composites are the layers of high-tech plastics increasingly used to replace critical metal parts in the wings engines and the fuselage in many planes, including the C-17, F-18 fighter jets and 747s.

The memo alleges "kickbacks," "fraudulent acts" and the systematic selling of "non-conforming" products - basically products that don't meet required specifications and can leave behind contaminants that can weaken the finished parts.

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Read The Army Investigation Memo

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It reads, "Airtech has supplied some form of nonconforming product to every aircraft manufacturer in the world."

Nick Schwellenbach is an investigator with the Project on Government Oversight.

"It's a threat to the flying public, because Airtech is supplying bogus materials to companies," he said. "And it's possible these bogus materials could lead to composite parts falling apart."

Airtech declined an on-camera interview in regard to that alleged "brazen disregard" to safety and instead issued a statement.

In it, the company said, "We are aware of no current ongoing investigation," and that it had "fully cooperated" with the government.

Airtech said it considered "the matter closed," citing this November 2006 letter from the FAA, which did its own investigation and found no violation of federal regulations.

But according to a document dated earlier this month, an "active investigation" is still being conducted by the Army. While the House Transportation Committee wants to know why there's been so little action, with so much at stake.

[ramos937]

It is not 05/2/2008. The Army''s memo is as of 9/2007 - about 18 months later. Why the huge gap in time? And the issue has not yet been finalized? Too slow.

[parmis88]

I work for a company in Stockton,Ca that use Airtech products and from what I see from the inside Aircraft parts are almost always compromised in quality. This company I work for builds parts for Boeing, Northrop Grumman( Mliltary),Marshall Aerospace, Learjet and many more. Its not just Airtech that needs to be investigated, all aircraft manufacturers need to be investigated.Unfortunately, When Auditers come to the company I work for, they have to give 24 to 48 hrs notice. It is amazing to see the company clean up,and they tell the employees not to make certain products noticable when the Auditers are there, This includes the part I build, Even when potential customers are given a tour Management avoids my department. This news story has only touched the surface of what I believe to be a huge issue of deceit

[sistatee-2009]

If planes start coming apart, I hope the first to disintegrate is Al Gore''s Gulfstream IV, and it splatters his fat _ass all across a rain forest.

[offtheback]

If planes start coming apart, I hope the first to disintegrate is Al Gore''''s Gulfstream IV, and it splatters his fat _ass all across a rain forest.


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Posted by SistaTee

Brilliant and well thought out comment. Thank you for your input, bimbo.

[offtheback]

SistaTee

PS. Go suck on the tail pipe of your pimp''s SUV.

[bron-yr-aur]

Airtech must be Republican.

[jw218389]

What''s scary is that there is really no non-destructive way to test composites.

Remember the Airbus A300 that lost its tail taking off from NYC? The Airbus folks blamed the pilot, but many in the industry suspect, but cannot prove, faulty composites.

This will cause many "mysterious" crashes until they figure out how to test these on existing airframes.

[fstop100]

Shouldn''t people go to jail for this kind of stuff?

[down-ndirty]

What''''s scary is that there is really no non-destructive way to test composites. ... Posted by jw218389 at 10:07 PM : May 22, 2008


Not quite true. For most composites used in the aerospace industry, including plastics, carbon-silicon, and carbon-carbon, samples called coupons are made in the same batch as the end item. These coupons are various sizes and shapes and are processes in parallel with the end item and then tested extensively, including destructive testing.

On the other hand, a clever company intent on deceit and fraud can and will cover up anything they want to cover up. It''s all about the almighty dollar.

[fake-id-2009]

Why does someone discriminate black? ... Posted by mingle117 at 09:15 PM : May 22, 2008


Hey, mingle117, the article is about aircraft parts, not discrimination or interracial marriage. LOL!!!

Hey, in addition, most white women who have "been with" black men say, "Once you go black you can''t go back!!" So, why would a black woman prefer a white man?

[samrensho]

Shouldn''''t people go to jail for this kind of stuff?
Posted by fstop100

Not with the GOP in power. Every shady deal is fine with them.

[juwboy]

Fraudulence?

Who wrote that?

An affirmative action imbecile?

[nonayabiness]

Let me guess...The materials provided by this firm come from China and are assembled by ''contractors''. Companies only employ ''contractors'' to screw them out of benefits for performing the same jobs as ''employees.''

China and India are competing for our lifestyle. China sends our kids toys laced with lead. Boycott any "Made in China" goods, and, if you call customer service, and someone in India answers the phone with a made up name like ''Jake'' then discontinue that relationship and find another. But, beware, before you do business with anyone, call their customer service lines a few times. It will tell you all you need to know.

[truthyness]

What''s in Obamas Passport file that he doesn''''t want anyone to see anyway??

What''s the big deal??

Show us your PASSPORT FILE Obama!!!

[imotorist]

(truthiness) You You seem to be the infection plaging issues with meaningless jibberish. A raving lunatic.

[tootall10142]

Once again ,I volunteer to shoot that SOB my self just give the permission from the right people and that greedy paper hangin sob is history.i will however see to it that coffin is made of composites

[antoniof123]

Airtech must be Republican.

Posted by Bron-yr-aur at 10:02 PM : May 22, 2008

What else is new. Same old police yourselves standard the Repulbicans have been spouting for years. Lets just kill the entire population like the GOP want. What a bunch of losers.

[samrensho]

I hope air force one was built with a LOT of materials from Airtech.

[greeneyes222]

If Airtech were truly innocent they''d be screaming about the bad press and demanding their good name be cleared. Their carefully chosen response indicates there may well be something to this.

[gheemaster38]

Hey, mingle117, the article is about aircraft parts, not discrimination or interracial marriage. LOL!!!

Hey, in addition, most white women who have "been with" black men say, "Once you go black you can''''t go back!!" So, why would a black woman prefer a white man?

Posted by fake-id

There is another saying also, since the article has changed from defective parts to race.

"Once you go white, nothing else seems right"

Now stop talking around the racist slogans and get back to the article. Someone need to go to jail for putting millions at risk. Maybe this is why some fighter planes experience unexplained malfunctions

[tks1554]

I believe it...

Everything goes to the lowest bidder.

[jboxton]

We should take an F-18 and bomb that plant making those parts. That would send them a message.

[displeased]

Everything goes to the lowest bidder.
Posted by TKS1554

Or the highest kickback. It''s all about greed ultimately leading to unethical decisions.

Just another reason to substantiate my feeling toward flying anywhere. I would rather drive%u2026. GREED...just like in the Reagan years...corporate greed....

[wardoglrs]

In truth its your own goverment allowing it. Wake up

[demslie]

In truth its your own goverment allowing it. Wake up

Posted by WarDogLRS

In truth, its your own Democrats that Hate the Government, The Military and America. The story reads, "Army criminal investigators use stark language in making their case against California-based Airtech International". The problem is, the Army Investigators who did a good job investigating this case are blaming the contractor. The Democrats and CBS (Communist Broadcast System) are using this story as another political opportunity to Slam Bush or blame the Military. Its like whenever a terrorist kills a soldier, the Democrats get mad at Bush not the terrorist. Democrats don''t give a Damnn about aircraft safety or dead soldiers. They only care for political agenda.

[alphaa10-2009]

CBS reports, "... Airtech said it considered "the matter closed," citing this November 2006 letter from the FAA, which did its own investigation and found no violation of federal regulations."
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Closed? Since when has the FAA been on top of any situation? This far-from-omniscient agency reminds many of Admiral Nelson, turning his blind eye to his telescope and reporting he saw nothing.

Clearly, FAA cannot do even damage control effectively. Perhaps this is a failure of a
"composite " approach to staffing-- ie. shove FAA professionals aside with a rabble of unwashed Bush political appointees who know nothing, care about nothing, and do nothing.

My question-- how much did AirTech contribute to the GOP?

My wish-- may AirTech executives fly often on the aircraft they helped jeopardize.

[oldpilot954]

"What''''s scary is that there is really no non-destructive way to test composites." jw218389

Depending on the part, we can use audio, ultrasonic or x-ray inspections to find manufacturing flaws or deterioration. There are some new systems on the market that use a few other things but those are just coming out of the development stage. The traditional method was a simple "coin tap" where the technician listened for change of tone as the surface was tapped with a coin or small hammer. We have some electronic versions of that now but ultrasound is also popular. What these tests cannot tell us is whether the original materials were as strong as specified.

[komoncents]

Don''t count on any government bought and paid for agency to solve these kinds of problems as they are paid to look the other way. Until we find a way to stop the sale of our government to the highest bidder we will continue to occasionally uncover wrongdoing, somewhat like finding the tip of an iceberg. Outlawing campaign contributions of any kind might be a step in the right direction but of course our leaders aren''t about to bite the hand that feeds them. Mandantory death sentences for those convicted of wrongdoing or failing to act in the manner they are mandated with also has an appeal as a possible deterent. Alas human greed will always find a way.

[oldpilot954]

I agree that greed finds a way. I am surprised that, if the allegations are true, the company has been in business this long. I''ve known of Airtech for several years and their reputation seemed pretty clean. As noted in the memo, their products are materials the are used for performing the composite lay-up and are thrown away after use. In most instances the substitutions would make the handling more difficult. However, it could also effect the finished weight and the ability of the cured part to be bonded to another. I still wonder why it takes 2 years to either bring charges or stop buying from them.

[komoncents]

And those who believe this a Democratic or Republican problem or that the Dems or Reps are better or less corrupt than the others need to wake up. Dem/Rep is simply the illusion that there is someone on our side. They are all bought and paid for by the same masters -

[oldpilot954]

"Perhaps this is a failure of a
"composite " approach to staffing-- ie. shove FAA professionals aside with a rabble of unwashed Bush political appointees who know nothing, care about nothing, and do nothing." by alphaa10

What is the difference between the "rabble of unwashed Bush political appointees" and the rabble of democratic appointed ones they replaced? Having been in this business for a couple of decades, who is President that year really doesn''t matter. If you are lucky the FAA administrator does his/her job as a figure-head and lets professionals work. If not we lose a bunch more experienced personnel who get fed up find jobs in other industries. Most local FAA representatives are good people but it has been a while since I met a new-hire that knew about anything except the military aircraft he/she just finished working on. You see veterans get priority in government hiring. Therefore, people who have never worked in civil aviation are being given oversight of the industry. It has also been a while since I saw a maintenance violation that had to do with what the mechanic did -- instead it is almost always a paperwork issue.

[denn034]

Perhaps, the fact that California is a liberal, anti-war state is involved here.

[alphaa10-2009]

oldpilot1954 said, "... Therefore, people who have never worked in civil aviation are being given oversight of the industry. It has also been a while since I saw a maintenance violation that had to do with what the mechanic did -- instead it is almost always a paperwork issue."
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Some agency appointments emphasize managerial expertise rather than technical aspects of FAA administration, and competent managers should be appointed without regard to whether they are GOP or Democrat.

But not managerially incompetent ones, like the Michael Brown of Katrina fame, whose most famous comment (an emailed quip) is "Can I go home, now?" And whose chief qualification was having arranged some equestrian events and-- more significantly-- contributed to the election of George Bush.

Bush has stuffed federal agencies with some really stunted and awkward choices (matching his judicial appointments). Clearly, Bush regards the federal merit system as his personal fiefdom, and has only contempt for the public interest.

In scandal after scandal, the overriding theme has been the revolving door between government and industry, and the idea of professional merit gets little attention.