Drones a step closer to being used in aircraft inspections

Near Earth Autonomy has successfully designed and tested an autonomous solution using small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) to conduct safer and more efficient preflight aircraft inspections. As reported by NASA, this innovation was part of NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program and developed in partnership with Boeing. Over the past six years, Near Earth Autonomy has conducted several test flights using its sUAS technology on Boeing aircraft operated by American Airlines and Emirates.

The Pittsburgh-based company explained that the use of sUAS drastically reduces the time required for detailed external inspections, cutting it from up to four hours to under 30 minutes. This approach saves time and reduces the risk of workplace injuries and diagnostic errors associated with manual inspections, which traditionally require workers to climb around the aircraft.

With funding from NASA and Boeing to enhance its commercial readiness, Near Earth Autonomy created its subsidiary Proxim to develop the sUAS inspection solution. The drones are programmed to autonomously fly around the aircraft, following a pre-set inspection path in compliance with FAA regulations.

The sUAS captures detailed photographs of the aircraft’s exterior, which can be analyzed remotely by experienced inspectors. This enables faster and more accurate repair decisions. Additionally, operators can compare new images with previous records to identify issues such as cracks, missing rivets, or leaks.

The technology also allows operators to flag areas that need re-inspection or issue alerts when a problem is detected. Near Earth Autonomy estimates that using sUAS for inspections could save an average of $10,000 per hour in lost revenue caused by unplanned ground time.

As NASA highlights, the development of this technology has the potential to transform the way preflight inspections are conducted, bringing significant improvements in safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness to the aviation industry.

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