To protect public safety and security, it is imperative to test aerospace parts efficiently and ensure their quality. So much so, the aerospace industry is regulated by governmental authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration. Responsibilities for identifying potential problems and finding solutions are shared by the aircraft manufacturers, the airlines and the maintenance centers.
The thin layers used in an aircraft fuselage require a high-frequency, highly focused imaging system to be used. "For aerospace metals, the material is thinner and the tolerances require high-precision measurements, high frequency transducers and wide bandwidth instruments," says Neil Hankinson, applications manager at NDT Solutions Ltd. (Chesterfield, England). "For aerospace composites, the material is usually higher quality than most composite industries, such as marine wind energy, making the inspection easier because of less problems with porosity."