Delta conducting inspections using drones following FAA approval

news
0
SHARE:
Delta

Delta TechOps is now conducting aircraft inspections using small, camera-based drones after the firm’s application was accepted by the FAA.

Delta was granted the acceptance earlier this year and has been implementing drone inspections into its maintenance processes for a few months now. Known as conditional visual inspections, they will initially be used following lightning strike events. The use of drone inspections has also been added to the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) for Delta’s entire mainline fleet.

Additionally, Delta is the first US commercial operator to receive FAA Certificate Management Office concurrence for its plans to use drones for maintenance inspections across the fleet.

“While TechOps has long had safety protocols in place to provide for the safe inspection of aircraft, the introduction of drone technology removes the risks associated with technicians and inspectors working from heights. Along with reducing the risk of injuries, the technology will also help technicians and inspectors make decisions on aircraft conditions up to 82% faster,” stated Delta’s press release.

The small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are semi-autonomous drones that navigate around an aircraft taking images without manual inputs from a pilot. Once images of the airframe are captured, TechOps technicians and inspectors evaluate the photos to determine airworthiness prior to returning the aircraft to service.

Core topics
Places
Organisations
SHARE: