ASSEMBLY & DELIVERY
Visual Inspection During Final Assembly and Before Delivery
Accurate documentation of your aircraft’s external condition to support quality checks and delivery preparation.
Drone Visual Inspection supports aircraft manufacturers, completion centres and quality teams in the visual examination of external aircraft surfaces at agreed stages of final assembly and before customer handover.
Automated drone image acquisition provides a photographic reference for examining the inspected surfaces, documenting findings and facilitating communication between production, quality and delivery teams.
This service is intended for business jet and transport aircraft programmes, subject to system compatibility with the aircraft concerned and the feasibility of on-site operations.
Supporting External Surface Quality Control
Depending on the scope defined with your teams and the quality of the images acquired, the inspection may cover:
-
The visual condition of accessible external surfaces of the fuselage, wings, tail surfaces and nacelles.
-
The identification of scratches, impact marks, apparent deformation or other visible anomalies.
-
Paint, coating and finish imperfections visible in the images.
-
The presence, condition and legibility of external markings, including comparison with supplied references where this check is included in the scope.
-
Documentation of areas requiring further examination by the appropriate teams.
Findings are assessed within the limitations of visual inspection. Determining the precise nature, dimensions or acceptability of a defect may require measurements, additional checks and the application of the manufacturer’s criteria.
Inspection at Relevant Stages of Production
Inspection can be considered at various stages, depending on the aircraft configuration and site arrangements:
-
During final assembly, when the surfaces to be examined are accessible and the surrounding environment allows suitable image acquisition.
-
After painting or finishing, to document the external condition and highlight areas requiring verification.
-
Following touch-up or targeted work, to reassess the areas concerned.
-
Before delivery, to establish a dated photographic baseline of the inspected surfaces.
Successive image captures may also allow comparisons of the same area, provided the acquisition conditions and available data are sufficiently comparable.
Practical Benefits for Your Teams
Facilitate Inspection of Elevated Areas
Drone-based image acquisition may reduce the need for certain types of access equipment when photographing the surfaces covered, depending on the inspection setup.
Guide Follow-Up Checks
Documented findings help your teams identify areas requiring direct examination and plan the necessary actions.
Share a Common Visual Reference
Photographs and annotations provide a shared basis for discussing findings with the relevant parties.
Enhance Traceability
A dated photographic baseline preserves a record of the visible condition of inspected surfaces at a particular stage of production or delivery.
A Service Defined with Your Teams
Each assignment begins by defining the requirements: aircraft concerned, production stage, surfaces to be covered, areas of particular interest, available references and expected deliverables.
Feasibility is then assessed against site conditions, including access around the aircraft, obstacles, lighting, surface condition, nearby activities and site instructions. Confidentiality requirements and arrangements for handling the images are also established before the inspection.
Following image acquisition, DVI performs the agreed analysis and prepares the information for your teams. Any areas not covered and limitations affecting the use of the images are identified in the deliverables.
Deliverables Tailored to Your Requirements
Depending on the service selected, deliverables may include:
-
A selection or set of images documenting the areas inspected.
-
An illustrated report presenting the findings and their locations using the available reference points.
-
Identification of items requiring further verification.
-
Comparison with a previous image acquisition, where the data permits and this analysis is included in the scope.
-
A description of the actual inspection coverage and any limitations encountered.
The content, format and delivery arrangements are defined before the inspection.
A Clearly Defined Technical Scope
The service supports visual quality control of the external surfaces actually covered. It does not guarantee the detection of every anomaly and cannot, on its own, assess internal or non-visible defects.
It does not automatically replace inspections, tests, measurements or non-destructive testing prescribed by the manufacturer. Repeat imaging following touch-up work documents the visible condition of the area; it does not, by itself, constitute acceptance of the work performed.
Decisions regarding conformity, defect acceptance and aircraft delivery remain the responsibility of authorised personnel and organisations, in accordance with the applicable procedures.
Let’s Discuss Your Requirements
Would you like to incorporate drone-based visual inspection into your final assembly process or delivery preparations?
Contact DVI to define the surfaces to be examined, the inspection objectives and the arrangements for an inspection tailored to your organisation.