Would You Trust a Drone to Inspect an Aircraft? EasyJet’s Going To

Britain’s EasyJet plans to use drones to inspect aircraft in order to save time.

One British low-cost carrier has found a new way to utilize drones in everyday operations. Wired reports EasyJet is planning to use the micro-aircraft to complete routine inspections of its fleet.

According to plans outlined by EasyJet, the airline hopes to utilize drones to inspect aircraft after irregular events, such as a lightning strike. Instead of utilizing an engineer to visually inspect every aircraft, the airline will fly a drone around a grounded aircraft. Once the scan is completed, an engineer would look at the laser-generated images. The engineer would then either recommend repairs or clear the aircraft for regular service. With the drones’ help, EasyJet hopes to cut down on the time needed for engineer inspections, which will keep more aircraft available for service.

Although the technology is not yet available, the budget airline is investing in advances to make drone inspectors possible, working with British drone manufacturer RISER and researchers at Bristol University. While EasyJet officials say that an automated fly-around is possible, the next step is using the drones to take high-resolution photos for engineers. If everything aligns correctly, the airline hopes to begin using the drones at all of its maintenance bases in the next year.

Drone inspections are not the only technology EasyJet hopes to capitalize on in the future. On the heels of another European MRO provider, the carrier is experimenting with 3D printing as a means to create replacement parts for aircraft cabins.

[Photo: EasyJet; Video: RISER]