NDT technology is changing the way aviation industry functions on certain aspects. Unexpected downtime costs and maintenance delays cause a lot of trouble within the aviation industry. They spend almost around $8 billion each year and that is made worse by costs and delays. More and more advanced equipment have been introduced into the aviation industry which has posed more challenges to the industry and its technicians. These equipment must be tested with the help of advanced nondestructive methods so that the equipment do not incur any form of damage.
The process of aircraft engine production or manufacture is quite complicated. It is demanding as well. In fact, all the components are precision crafted to tight tolerances, using high-performance materials and additive manufacturing techniques. These equipment require rapid and accurate inspection results to maintain safe and reliable aircraft operations. The demand is that of new techniques of inspection. The digital drivers behind emerging inspection technologies are changing the NDT industry. These changes are also influencing the aviation organization with the needed assurance that aircraft will experience only necessary and minimal downtime.
The major advancements include:
- 3D Computer Technology (CT)
- Visual Inspection Borescopes
- Connected Mobile and user-interface
All of these appeal greatly to the next generation of industry experts. These transformation have ushered in a new era for NDT and maintenance practices in aviation.
The CT technology is being used for advanced manufacturing. For instance, a turbine blade manufacturer will be able to measure and evaluate the parts of his production in stages. A 3D manufacturer will also be able to check for defects in complex internal structures in real time. CT can now be used as a potent quality control measure and process optimization tool. It will provide accurate results.
In fact, the speed with which CT can be used has also increased now. Therefore, part manipulation, scan time, work-flow and software can now speed up per shift. There can be more scans on an hourly basis. This has drastically shortened the downtime for manufactures and operators.
Advanced Visual Inspection
While CT has enhanced the inspection process for complex aviation parts, other modes of inspection for remote technicians on the flight line have also entered the digital age. The latest boreoscopes are equipped with 3D measurement technologies and wireless connectivity along with collaboration software to capture and connect remote field inspectors to analysis through secure Internet connections.
Mobile and Connected Workforce
With the introduction of NDT technology in Malaysia there is a rise of a mobile and connected workforce within the aviation industry. With the help of advanced technology, the inspectors are collaborating and sharing timely data. Storing documents have become easy along with asking for second opinions regarding various security measures. Inspectors can now communicate with other inspectors anywhere in the world. In fact, advanced technology has brought the entire workforce together and has integrated them for better results.
Thus, advanced NDT methods have changed the way aviation industry functioned even years back. This is a great way to integrate the system along with the workforce who are also finding new things to work on.
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