AFI KLM E&M Showcases Tech Innovations at the Paris Air Show

AFI KLM E&M began implementing Invert Robotics’ mobile climbing robots in February within its line maintenance operations. The company is hoping to transition to completely autonomous aircraft inspections by using the climbing robots in conjunction with Donecle drones, which it has been using for maintenance operations since 2016.

According to a spokesperson for the company, the two technologies are very complementary while being beneficial for inspections on the ramp and improving safety concerns for technicians working at-height. AFI KLM E&M only has one mobile climbing robot at the moment, but a spokesperson says the company may invest in additional robots once it becomes confident with the technology.

In addition to robots for aircraft inspections, AFI KLM E&M is working on implementing a collaborative robot—or “cobot”—for engine part repairs. Created by its subsidiary CRMA, which has developed other robotic capabilities for the MRO provider, the cobot prototype helps to determine whether engine parts can be repaired by using laser sensors to scan engine parts and measure their thickness.

AFI KLM E&M is partnering with French aerostructures and connectivity specialist Latécoère to implement LiFi for the first time within Air France aircraft. Unlike conventional WiFi, which uses radio frequency, LiFi leverages light signals—which have a much higher frequency.

According to Serge Berenger, senior vice president of Latécoère’s innovation and R&T (research and technology) group, LiFi provides 100 times faster bandwidth than WiFi and eliminates electromagnetic hypersensitivity concerns. Additionally, because a passenger would need to be directly under a light beam to access a LiFi connection, Berenger says individuals’ data would remain protected.

The LiFi connection entails light beams installed in an aircraft ceiling that interact with a receiver on top of aircraft seats. Latécoère’s LiFi demonstrator at the Paris Air Show was configured to connect with Microsoft Surface tablets installed within aircraft seatbacks, but Berenger says it could be set up to interface with passengers’ personal devices in the future. Because the system is composed of glass and plastic rather than copper like traditional WiFi wiring, Berenger says installation and modification will be significantly easier.

The system is set to be installed in an Air France Airbus A321 aircraft this summer at the carrier’s modifications center in Toulouse. AFI KLM E&M is working with Latécoère’s team to certify and launch the trial July 6.

AFI KLM E&M has been using augmented and virtual reality (VR) for a variety of purposes, including visualization of cabin modifications for customers and engine maintenance training for technicians. According to the company, the technology provides an immersive training experience while letting students interact with instructors.

At the Paris Air Show, it announced an agreement with Airbus to co-develop and manage a virtual training solution for Airbus A320 maintenance that is applicable to all of the aircraft’s engine types. The 3D simulation will visualize the aircraft’s cockpit and enable trainees to learn how to perform engine-run-up tests. Because the training solution only requires 3D goggles and PC stations that can be deployed in outstations or at a customer’s base, AFI KLM E&M says it offers a flexible alternative to simulator-based training. The companies will begin using the solution in their training centers before the end of the year and then it will trickle down to their partner networks.

AFI KLM E&M subsidiary Barfield has become the exclusive commercial distributor of a product it says solves the issue of intermittent fault detection, which was on display at the Paris Air Show. Universal Synaptics’ Voyager Intermittent Fault Detector can test engine, APU, landing gear and other electrical wiring and components, which Barfield says can reduce maintenance costs and put aircraft back into service sooner.

According to Lew Wingate, Barfield’s vice president of ground support test equipment, the company is working with an airline customer to use the Voyager to diagnose intermittent faults on wire harnesses rather than needing to remove an aircraft’s engine.