# Blockchain-based Aircraft Parts Traceability

> GE Aerospace uses blockchain technology to create "back-to-birth" traceability records for aircraft engines and parts within the TRUEngine program. This tamper-proof documentation of the complete lifecycle of aircraft parts solves the problem of authenticity verification and unapproved parts in the aviation industry. Through this technology, up to 50 percent higher residual value for used spare parts is achieved and the resale process is accelerated.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Aviation · **Organisation:** GE Aviation · **Maturity level:** Production

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/ge-aviation-flugzeugteile-lueckenlos-zurueckverfolgen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Production
- **Evidence:** Evidence medium
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026

## Description

GE Aerospace described its blockchain initiative internally as Ancestry.com for engines: every engine part receives a digital provenance chain that seamlessly maps manufacturing, quality tests, initial installation, modifications, maintenance, and owners. ePlane AI and GE Aerospace published articles about this blockchain application in aviation maintenance.

Aviation parts are subject to extremely strict documentation requirements: every safety-critical part must be able to prove its complete history. The problem: this documentation is paper-based, spread over thousands of pages, and prone to errors and forgeries. GE Aerospace uses blockchain to store this data digitally and immutably: from factory exit, each part receives a unique ID; quality inspections, approval tests, and releases are blockchain-documented; with every installation or removal, owner and installation history are updated. Lufthansa Industry Solutions developed similar blockchain systems for the Lufthansa Group's MRO documentation and published several articles on increased transparency in aviation through blockchain. Regulatory relevance: FAA (USA) and EASA (EU) increasingly accept digital documentation as a substitute for paper-based release documents. ifo Institute (2023): study on blockchain technology in German companies shows aviation as one of the most advanced sectors.

## Benefits

- Reduced maintenance costs and higher efficiency in the supply chain through improved transparency and trust between partners.
- Up to 50 percent higher residual value for used spare parts through verifiable authenticity and complete documentation.
- Tamper-proof traceability prevents the use of counterfeit or unauthorised parts in critical applications.
- Accelerated resale processes and improved portability of assets between different owners.
- Simplified quality inspection and decision-making through access to complete digital part lifecycles.

## Challenges

- Significant investments in technology and training required, as well as coordination with all partners in the supply chain.
- High complexity in integrating with existing legacy systems and coordinating between various supply chain partners.
- Need for industry-wide standards and regulatory recognition for the system's full effectiveness.
- Training requirements for new digital systems and adaptation of existing workflows to blockchain-based documentation.

## Technology foundation

The system is based on the Ethereum blockchain combined with Microsoft frameworks and is supplemented by GE's proprietary parts manuals. This technology is particularly suitable as it creates immutable data records, thus ensuring tamper-proof records over the entire lifecycle of aircraft parts.

## Sources

- [Blockchain in der Luftfahrtwartung](https://www.eplaneai.com/de/blog/blockchain-aviation-maintenance)
- [Ancestry.com for Jet Engines: How Blockchain is Uncovering Aircraft Engine DNA](https://www.geaerospace.com/news/articles/technology/ancestrycom-jet-engines-how-blockchain-uncovering-aircraft-engine-dna)