Australian company Structural Monitoring System (SMS) is close to deals with Airbus and Boeing to use its comparative vacuum monitoring (CVM) structural integrity technology on commercial aircraft following success on military types.
CVM monitors structural integrity using an inert sensor glued to or embedded in the airframe, a vacuum source and a fluid-flow measuring device. The sensor can detect sub-millimetre cracks in metal surfaces, monitor bonded surfaces and joints, and measure crack initiation and propagation.
Perth-based SMS has won a contract worth A$215,000 ($157,000) to test CVM on three Australian Army Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters from January. The system is also installed on two Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9s in a programme involving Boeing, aimed to lead to US Federal Aviation Administration certification.
SMS managing director Robin Dean hopes to formalise other initiatives with Boeing covering applications including MD-80 landing gear in a programme with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, while Airbus is also working with SMS to use its technology from 2008. The European manufacturer has used CVM to test materials for its A380. "We are in talks about other developments," Dean says.
Commercial interest follows an acceptance certificate from ST Aerospace after the system completed 100h on Singapore air force Aermacchi S211 jet trainers. CVM previously completed 100h on Singapore's McDonnell Douglas A-4s.
EMMA KELLY / PERTH
Source: Flight International
