Airliner's Hard Landing Prompts 3D Scanning to verify alignment
It happens. An airliner has a hard landing. It may be a result of the weather, an overweight aircraft, mechanical problems, or even pilot error. But it happens. Structural damage to the airliner sometimes results from the hard landing. As a safety precaution, the airliner must be checked and validated before the next flight.
Problem: AIRLINER WILL BE GROUNDED FOR DAYS IF THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF CHECKING FOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IS USED
What’s the impact? A grounded airliner can lose up to $100K per day in revenue when grounded. Cash flow is important to get the airliner back in service as soon as possible. The diagnostic to check for hard landing damage includes a symmetry and an alignment measurement. Traditionally, it’s performed using the plumb bob and datum method. Measurement is taken inside a hanger with the airliner mounted on evenly spaced jacks. It requires two technicians 12 to 14 hours at best to make the plumb bob measurement. The kit with the tools necessary for the plumb bob measurement is large. It’s not easily portable. There’s usually significant time and revenue lost waiting for the kit to arrive.
Solution: BRING IN A 3D SCANNER SERVICE TO SCAN THE AIRLINER
A 3D Scanning service is brought in for the measurements. Using a long range 3D Scanner, airliner scans typically will take 4 to 6 hours. Requires only one technician. Scan data is evaluated against a CAD model of the airliner. The 3D Scanner kit is portable. That means the long wait time for the delivery of the large plumb bob kit doesn’t happen. Total time saved for the scan process is typically 75%. The lost time for generating revenue with the airliner is significantly reduced.