The topmost use of UAVs in hangars currently is direct visual inspection of lightning-strike damage. EasyJet is currently experimenting with UAVs to inspect fuselages after known or suspected damage. Manual inspection after a lightning strike takes 4-6 hr., whereas the use of a drone could inspect in 30 min.
Scheduled Maintenance
easyJet
UAVs could potentially be used for scheduled maintenance. Between heavy maintenance, the drone could scan fuselages and plan repairs, or scan fuselages before lease checks to ensure parts are in proper condition. Blue Bear Systems developed an entire system to aid in fuselage inspection for engineers. Its Riser UAV and onboard sensors could manage databases, so engineers can quickly survey inspection results.
Delivery of Spare Parts
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Blue Bear Systems Research, which currently works with EasyJet on the inspection of UAVs, believes that unmanned aircraft can eventually be used to deliver spare parts. This would cut down on time in the hangar and allow for a more-efficient repair.
Automating Detection of Defects
easyJet
One innovation UAV companies are working on is the ability to automate detection of defects. SITA Onair is currently asking airlines for libraries of digital images of defects in order to catalog and compare with the results of UAV images. The UAV images are geolocated. They can be stored in the cloud for video recognition, enabling engineers to pinpoint potential damage for later visual inspection.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the potential to mitigate cost and greatly reduce time spent on maintenance. Here are four ways drones could improve aircraft maintenance.
