Onboard sensors are proving their effectiveness in monitoring the structural health of commercial airplanes, researchers say.
The testing process that is providing evidence of their success — conducted by Sandia National Laboratories’ Transportation, Safeguards and Surety Program, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. — involves two separate programs in which Delta Air Lines and a non-U.S. airplane manufacturer (not publicly identified) have joined with Sandia researchers to install 100 sensors on nine commercial airplanes and to oversee the flight tests.
The goal of the testing process is to obtain certification for on-board usage, Sandia senior scientist Dennis Roach said, noting that the laboratory research phase of the program has been completed.
“Our activities are proving that the sensors work on particular applications and that it is safe and reliable to use these sensor systems for routine aircraft maintenance,” said Roach, who discussed the program in a tel…
