In a major step toward strengthening global aviation supply chain security, Boeing, together with Southwest Airlines and Aeroxchange Ltd., has successfully completed the aerospace industry’s first-ever parts shipment accompanied by a fully digital FAA 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificate. This innovation marks a milestone in preventing unapproved or counterfeit aircraft parts from entering the aviation aftermarket, signaling a new era in parts traceability and digital documentation.
The FAA Form 8130-3 is a critical document that certifies the airworthiness and authenticity of aircraft parts, components, and systems. Traditionally issued on paper, the new digital 8130 certificate introduces a secure, encrypted format that verifies the identity of authorized signatories while ensuring document integrity. Boeing led the industry pilot project to design, generate, and gain regulatory authorization for this electronic form.
The landmark transaction involved a ship battery serviced at Boeing’s Product Repair Services center in Davie, Florida. This battery became the first component shipped using the digital 8130 certificate, transmitted through Aeroxchange’s eARC™ (electronic Authorized Release Certificate) platform. Southwest Airlines received the component at its Dallas facility, confirming its airworthiness and authenticity through the digital process.
The electronic system uses advanced X.509 security protocols, public and private key encryption, and blockchain-ready technology to create a tamper-proof, verifiable digital record for each certified part. This ensures traceability across the entire lifecycle of a component — from production to repair and reuse — enhancing transparency and reducing the risk of fraudulent parts infiltrating the supply chain.
For the aviation industry, the digital 8130 certificate represents a breakthrough in efficiency and compliance. By eliminating physical paperwork, it streamlines documentation, reduces administrative overhead, and minimizes the potential for human error or document loss. Moreover, it aligns with the aviation sector’s growing focus on sustainability by reducing paper consumption.
Boeing plans to expand the rollout of the digital 8130 certification across all nine of its global product repair services centers. Each center will implement the system following FAA authorization for electronic recordkeeping, e-signatures, and digital maintenance manuals.
This initiative also fulfills a key recommendation from the Aviation Supply Chain Integrity Coalition (ASCIC) — a cross-industry group dedicated to safeguarding the global aviation network from unapproved and counterfeit parts. Boeing, Southwest Airlines, and Aeroxchange are all active members of the coalition, underscoring their joint commitment to advancing safety and transparency standards in aviation.
As Boeing continues to pioneer digital transformation in aerospace logistics, the successful implementation of the digital 8130 certificate sets a new benchmark for the industry. It reinforces Boeing’s long-standing dedication to safety, quality, and innovation — values that continue to define the company’s leadership in commercial aviation, defense, and space systems.