CORROSION DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION
Identify and document external indications that may suggest corrosion with automated drone inspection and DVI's technical expertise.
Corrosion is an important issue in monitoring the condition of aircraft structures. Some manifestations may appear on external surfaces as blistering, coating changes or localised irregularities.
Drone Visual Inspection (DVI) supports aircraft maintenance professionals in searching for and documenting these visible indications through automated drone photographic acquisition technology.
Our aim: to facilitate identification of areas showing visual anomalies, document their location and provide maintenance teams with useful information for their technical investigations.
WHY LOOK FOR VISIBLE INDICATIONS OF CORROSION?
Identify apparent anomalies to guide the necessary checks.
Aircraft structures are exposed to various environmental conditions during operation: humidity, temperature changes, atmospheric agents and, depending on operating conditions, saline or polluted environments.
Despite the protective systems applied to surfaces, some areas may show deterioration warranting further examination.
These manifestations do not always appear as brownish marks. They may also take the form of paint blistering, surface irregularities, whitish or greyish deposits and localised deterioration.
Automated drone inspection collects high-resolution photographs of accessible external surfaces, including certain elevated areas.
The images can then be analysed to identify and document visual findings that may require detailed investigation.
WHAT INDICATIONS CAN BE SOUGHT?
Depending on the materials, image quality and inspection conditions, analysis may address several visible manifestations.
01 — PAINT BLISTERING
Some painted surfaces may show localised lifting or blistering.
These anomalies may have various causes, including deterioration of the protective system or a process affecting the underlying material.
Photographic inspection can search for and document these manifestations where they are visible.
02 — SURFACE DETERIORATION AND IRREGULARITIES
Localised changes in external appearance may indicate areas requiring particular attention.
They may appear as irregularities, apparent coating deterioration or changes in visible texture.
Photographic analysis locates the affected areas to facilitate further examination.
03 — APPARENT OXIDATION INDICATIONS
Depending on the materials, some oxidation processes can produce visible marks or deposits.
These manifestations are not necessarily brownish: they may appear whitish, greyish or powdery.
DVI can document these findings without presuming their precise cause or the extent of any corrosion.
04 — LOCALISED PROTECTIVE COATING DEGRADATION
Chipping, detachment or deterioration of protective coatings may expose some surfaces to conditions that promote deterioration.
Inspection identifies areas showing visible protective coating anomalies and documents them in the agreed technical report.
05 — VISIBLE ANOMALIES AT JOINTS AND PANELS
Certain joints, fasteners or connection areas may show apparent indications requiring further inspection.
Photographic documentation records these findings where they are visible and accessible for image capture.
WHICH AIRCRAFT AREAS CAN BE INSPECTED?
Depending on the aircraft configuration and system capabilities, image capture may cover:
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Fuselage: accessible side, upper and lower surfaces.
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Wings: accessible external surfaces and junction areas.
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Horizontal tail surfaces: elevated surfaces and accessible sections.
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Vertical stabiliser: photographic observation of the vertical stabiliser.
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External panels and joints: searching for apparent anomalies in covered areas.
Drone inspection is particularly useful for elevated surfaces that normally require specific access equipment for observation.
HOW DOES THE SERVICE WORK?
01 — Defining the scope
DVI liaises with the client to identify the aircraft, areas concerned and anomaly categories to be sought.
02 — Preparing the inspection
We define the images required and check the technical and operational conditions for the work.
03 — Automated photographic acquisition
The drone system collects high-resolution images of accessible surfaces along the planned flight paths.
04 — Technical image analysis
DVI experts review usable photographs to look for visible indications suggestive of corrosion or coating deterioration.
05 — Identification and documentation
Selected findings are located and documented within the limits of the available images and agreed scope of analysis.
06 — Report delivery
DVI supplies the specified deliverables, which may include photographs, technical findings and an illustrated report to help identify areas requiring further examination.
BENEFITS FOR MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONALS
A STRUCTURED VISUAL SEARCH
Automated image capture supports a consistent photographic approach to observing the aircraft's external surfaces.
ACCESS TO ELEVATED AREAS
The drone facilitates documentation of certain surfaces that are difficult to access, particularly the upper fuselage, vertical stabiliser and tail surfaces.
LOCATING FINDINGS
Visible anomalies can be associated with identified aircraft areas to help technical teams locate and examine them.
PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
Photographs and reports retain a visual record of the areas concerned on the inspection date.
GUIDING FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS
Documented findings can help maintenance personnel identify areas warranting direct examination or additional checks.
REMOTE TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT
Where images are already available, DVI can analyse them without a site visit, subject to their quality and usability.
A SERVICE TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS
General Visual Inspection (GVI)
Searching for apparent corrosion indications as part of a General Visual Inspection of accessible external surfaces.
Targeted inspection
Analysing an area or anomaly category precisely defined with the client.
Remote Technical Assessment
Analysing previously acquired photographs to identify and document visible findings.
Photographic monitoring
Comparing images acquired at different times to document apparent surface changes where the data are sufficiently comparable.
AN INSPECTION COMPLEMENTING MAINTENANCE CHECKS
A photographic search for visible corrosion indications falls within a General Visual Inspection (GVI).
Using a drone cannot guarantee detection of all forms of corrosion, particularly where they develop beneath an intact coating, inside a structure or in an area inaccessible to photographic acquisition.
DVI findings alone do not confirm corrosion or establish its type, depth or actual extent.
Detailed inspections, non-destructive testing, measurements and compliance assessments continue to be performed by competent personnel and organisations in accordance with applicable maintenance data.
Our role is to provide a complementary visual assessment to facilitate the search for apparent anomalies and support technical investigations.
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR AIRCRAFT SURFACES EXAMINED ?
Benefit from automated photographic inspection and specialist expertise in the visual analysis of aircraft structures.
Whether you need a general inspection, a targeted search or analysis of existing photographs, DVI helps define a service suited to your aircraft and operational constraints.