Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
By Overflight
#1545815
Heard the piece on Farming Today earlier re engine thefts.

Can anyone explain what is happening to these Rotax (mainly) engines when they get to say eastern Europe or elsewhere? Are they going into other old aircraft out there, or are they being sold for non-aviation applications? They're efficient, light, easy to maintain units, but if not aircraft, what are they being used for? What's the market driving the value and driving the theft? If going into aircraft registered in those countries in continental Europe, are their aviation authorities able to audit/monitor/register airframe/engine combinations that might add to the traceability?
#1545821
XX wrote:Are Rotax engines being stolen on this scale throughout Europe as well? What's being done about it over there?

If the inference is that UK stolen engines are going abroad, surely it would be much easier for the scrotes to nick stuff which is already in mainland Europe. Maybe they are. If not, why not?


I think the Rotax Service Letter linked to above your post shows pretty clearly that this is indeed a Europe-wide problem.
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By Pete L
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1545904
Overflight wrote:Heard the piece on Farming Today earlier re engine thefts.

Can anyone explain what is happening to these Rotax (mainly) engines when they get to say eastern Europe or elsewhere? Are they going into other old aircraft out there, or are they being sold for non-aviation applications? They're efficient, light, easy to maintain units, but if not aircraft, what are they being used for? What's the market driving the value and driving the theft? If going into aircraft registered in those countries in continental Europe, are their aviation authorities able to audit/monitor/register airframe/engine combinations that might add to the traceability?


I reckon the SAS are stealing them to power deniable drones. At least that's what's going to be in my letter to the MP...
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By ChampChump
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1552591
Hmmm. There are many Poles going back and forward quite legitimately and some travelling legitimately with additional business... Yes, one could put two and two together to get any number.


ETA Confusing code for Poland with that for Germany makes the above irrelevant.

Mea culpa.
Last edited by ChampChump on Mon Aug 14, 2017 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By hatzflyer
#1552597
I can't smell fish from here ....not attached to theft anyway . Why would you advertise the serial no of a stolen engine on a major website like this thereby giving everyone that has ever had one stolen plenty of time to meet the seller at dover with a police escort ?
I do think that given the hrs it has been removed from an EASA aircraft on the hope that it can be sold here for use in a permit aircraft and it may well be knackered which of course you will only find out long after the vendor has disappeared.
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By seanxair
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1552682
He is a regular advertiser on AFORS and uses the same email address at least.

There has been much talk of GINFO being a source of information for thieves and that may or may not be the case. I don't think any of that info should be public really buy if it is why should engine information be published I wonder? Hardly relevant to anyone??