Former FAA-designated Representative Sentenced for Fraud

A former FAA-designated airworthiness representative was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of aircraft parts fraud. Edward Carl Fernandez received six months home confinement, three years of probation, 100 hours of community service, a $5,000 fine and forfeiture of $38,850 in response to his February 22 guilty plea.

According to the charges, Fernandez, in his capacity as an FAA-designated representative, failed to physically inspect aircraft parts before certifying them as airworthy. A review of documents seized by agents from the DOT’s Office of the Inspector General showed that he would routinely complete approval tags for parts upon email request from parts brokers, based on little more than photographs of the parts. He would then quickly sign and return the form, which was often pre-filled by the vendor, and collect $75 for each such certification.