Conair Expands In-House NDT Capabilities

Posted: 2024-11-20

Source: Conair

Conair has expanded the inhouse ability to perform non-destructive testing (NDT) on their aerial firefighting aircraft maintained in Canada, a fleet of over 55 planes. This expansion mitigates the need to rely on third party providers, further enabling the company the ability to schedule and complete inspections between fire season contract periods, ensuring bird dog lead planes, airtankers and water scoopers are available to government agencies when needed.

Non-destructive testing is an essential component to safety and sustainability within aerial firefighting as aircraft fly in dynamic environments that challenge airframes, facing heat, repeated changes in altitude, and turbulent conditions, as well as dramatic changes in weight during flight due to water and retardant drops… "NDT is split into surface and sub surface techniques.

Conair is now fully equipped to support the fleet using both technique types, performing inspections utilizing Eddy Current, Ultrasonic, Liquid Penetrant, and Magnetic Particle testing" shares Alfred Modino, Conair’s Component Shop Level 3 NDT Technician.