Industry Addendum: MRO and Components
Air New Zealand trials ST Engineering drones to inspect its aircraft
July 1st 2019
Industry leader, Air New Zealand and ST Engineering are testing drones for aircraft MRO inspections at the aerospace company’s facility adjacent to Changi Singapore Airport. Read More »
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The global MRO has produced a drone, DroScan, that travels around the surface of the aircraft taking images. Algorithms process the images to detect and classify defects that are passed to engineers for repairs.
Air New Zealand chief ground operations officer, Carrie Hurihanganui, said using the drone to inspect aircraft takes two hours instead of up to six, making for more cost efficient airline operations.
“We have trialled Droscan on a number of our aircraft undergoing maintenance in Singapore and believe drones will improve inspection quality. There may be opportunities to use it in New Zealand, for example ad hoc inspections after lightning strikes.”
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ST Engineering Aerospace sector deputy president, Jeffrey Lam, said: “incorporating innovative technologies into aviation MRO holds great potential to enhance aircraft servicing. We are happy to be working with Air New Zealand because it shares the same belief in exploring technologies that improve MRO.”
The Auckland-headquartered carrier and ST Engineering also are collaborating on the manufacture of 3D printed replacement aircraft interior parts and in predictive data analysis to optimize MRO efficiencies.
