Lufthansa Technik’s Karsten Kaiser and 3D.aero’s Michael Ernst recently were given the 16th annual Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Innovation Award for furthering the science and efficacy of nondestructive testing.
The award was presented last week at Airlines for America’s (A4A) 61st Annual NDT Forum in Seattle by A4A and SAE International, a mobility engineering company.
The award recognizes Lufthansa Technik’s addition of an automated process chain for the repair of engine components in 2016 and its recent development of an automated inspection procedure for engine components. The developments were linked together earlier this year into a single process chain.
The combination reduces the process time from nearly seven hours per component inspection to four hours.
“We congratulate this year’s winning team for their commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology and innovation to improve and automate inspection systems for engine components,” Paul McGraw, A4A’s vice president of safety and operations, said. “This work further strengthens the U.S. airline industry’s world-class safety record through all phases of flight to ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience for the 2.3 million customers who fly on U.S. airlines every day.”
3D.aero is a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG, which provides aircraft completions, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.