Page 6 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 8-28-15

6 August 28, 2015 Creech News BULLSEYE

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RPA Airmen save time, money with new NDI technology

By Senior Airman Adarius Petty

432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Adarius Petty CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Non-destructive inspec-
tion technicians assigned to the 432nd Maintenance Squadron
Staff Sgt Jason Walthers, 432nd Maintenance Squadron, non-destructive inspection technician looks for discrepancies are among the first Airmen to receive training on a new technol-
in an aircraft piece at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., July 22. Walthers is training on the new NDI technology. ogy used to maintain and fix remotely piloted aircraft and parts.

The Q-800 Portable Shearography System equipment or
laser shearography is an innovative technology used for NDI
of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft.

“This asset is specifically for our aircraft, and it’s in testing
as of right now,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Walthers, 432nd MXS
NDI technician. “There are 10 total in our inventory, each
costing between $70,000 and $80,000.”

The system, a laser based imaging process that induces
stress into a part of an aircraft using heat which allows the
thermal signature of the part to be visible to technicians
through a computer. If there are differences in the thermal
signatures, a defect will be registered since heat is trapped
within the part itself.

With Airmen’s minds focused on the conservation of time
and money, this new technology allows for maintenance to
be performed on location. Previously, the only option was to
send the aircraft to the manufacturer for repair, which often
left aircraft out of commission for three to four months.

Airmen partnered with NDI instructors from Hill Air
Force Base, Utah, to ensure a smooth transition between
inspection capabilities.

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