A test of character

The nondestructive test market is maturing, with advanced scanning techniques and analysis methods being used extensively.

Development equipment is evolving within the aerospace industry at quite a pace, but there is a very real need for it to do so. Air travel and aircraft production are set to increase in the coming years, helped by the forthcoming breed of efficient airplanes such as Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and Airbus' A350. As a result, the test phase is under increased scrutiny, and the right first-time approach needs to be adhered to now more than ever.

The rise of nondestructive test (NDT) work has seen varying approaches adopted within different parts of the industry, and more techniques are destined to join the ones that are currently available. This means a whole host of testing technologies and processes that will join the likes of the successful OmniScan phased array scanner range from Olympus. Rugged and portable devices, the technology allows one scan to be done in the time it takes to undertake three eddy-current scans, and it provides real-time images.