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Apr 11 2022

Zero Learning Curve: Map Dents Easier with dentCHECK

By Case Study, dentCHECK, Events, Insights

New technology for a decades-old problem: dentCHECK’s zero learning curve

At the 2019 Aerospace Maintenance Competition, more than 150 engineers, technicians, and students discovered the efficiency and accuracy of dentCHECK. But what was their experience in using new technology to solve a decades old problem? 82% of competitors rated the learning-curve of dentCHECK as Zero (<5 minutes). Read on to learn more.

From its early days, 8tree’s vision is to make precision 3D measurement as easy as taking a photo. Guided by the principles of Simplicity, Speed, and Actionable Results, dentCHECK is designed to provide operators with actionable results within seconds. With one-click, dentCHECK measures dents on an aircraft surface, and superimposes the results onto the inspected surface, giving operators immediate feedback so they may determine the next course of action quickly.

In the 2019 AMC, each team was tested on a wide array of aircraft maintenance skills. There were more than 25 different tasks spanning from structural repair to avionics troubleshooting to taking a human factors awareness test! Each team had several weeks to prepare themselves with pages of tool manuals and process guidelines in order to excel in the competition. So how did competitors find the learning-curve and ease-of-use of dentCHECK?

At the conclusion of the competition, competitors were surveyed to rate the learning-curve of dentCHECK. 82% of competitors rated the learning-curve of dentCHECK as Zero (<5 minutes). “Love this tool. It eliminates so much time and is very efficient. Have more dents to measure?”, said Candice McHargue, one of the competitors.

Back at AMC 2022: Airframe damage inspection event

You asked. We listened. After 2 years of the AMC being cancelled, 8tree is returning to the 2022 AMC with more dents to map, and with a newly added dentCHECK function that will be experienced first-hand by competitors this year. Stay tuned to learn more!

Read the entire AMC 2019 Case Study
Case StudydentCHECKEventsInsights
16. October 2022

AMC 2022 – dentCHECK vs. Traditional Methods

What is the Aerospace Maintenance Competition? The Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC) is a 2-day competition held in conjunction with the annual MRO Americas organized by Aviation Week. It is a…
Leonard Buck
Case StudydentCHECKEventsInsights
19. April 2022

Supporting the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals with Technology

Do years of experience and skill level of aviation professionals affect the time taken to complete an inspection task? The answer lies within the choice of tool used. When using…
Howard Chung
Case StudydentCHECKEventsInsights
11. April 2022

Zero Learning Curve: Map Dents Easier with dentCHECK

New technology for a decades-old problem: dentCHECK's zero learning curve At the 2019 Aerospace Maintenance Competition, more than 150 engineers, technicians, and students discovered the efficiency and accuracy of dentCHECK.…
Howard Chung
Case StudydentCHECKInsights
31. July 2019

Tick-tock, tick-tock. Accelerate Aircraft Inspection, Avoid Delays and Save Money

At the recent 2019 Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC), dentCHECK helped participating technicians complete an inspection task 8x faster, delivering higher efficiency when compared to using traditional manual methods. In addition,…
Arun Chhabra
Case StudydentCHECKInsights
5. July 2019

Make better decisions with measurements you can trust

Passersby couldn’t ignore the significance of data emerging from the recent 2019 Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC) #AMCAero.  It is tough to ignore that traditional manual measurements have 18x poorer measurement…
Arun Chhabra
Case StudydentCHECKfastCHECKInsights
12. June 2019

How Did 100 Different Manual Measurements Stack Up?

What do you uncover by analyzing hundreds of manual measurements of the same surface? The Truth. 8tree conducted the world’s most comprehensive study of dent-mapping in the aviation sector, at…
Arun Chhabra
Case StudyInsights
29. April 2019

Aircraft hail-damage: What tools will aircraft maintenance crews use for the job?

What does an aviation technician do when their aircraft is pummeled by hail? To contrast traditional methods vs. emerging technology, more than 150 engineers, technicians, and students participated in a…
Arun Chhabra
Apr 08 2022

Large Area Hail Damage Mapping with dentCHECK

By dentCHECK, Insights

What do the New Mexico desert, Elvis Presley’s 1962 Lockheed JetStar, and 8tree have in common?

In 2001, the Roswell International Air Center (RIAC) in New Mexico started to offer commercial aircraft parking. Up to 800 aircraft can be parked in a more than 5,000-acre fenced areas. American Airlines, United, Air Canada, and several others temporarily park their aircraft here. RIAC is also home to Evis Presley’s Lockheed Jetstar!

However, there is no roof over this giant open-air parking lot, which leaves the aircraft exposed to catastrophic weather events, such as hail storms.

One such extreme hail-event occurred last year. Numerous aircraft at RIAC were severely damaged. 8tree’s dentCHECK was called in to expedite damage-mapping of several wide-bodies.

Taking advantage of dentCHECK’s new large area panoramic mapping functionality (“panoLite”) it took just days to map and report each aircraft, compared to the weeks or months taken by traditional methods.

Large area damage mapping with panoLite.

How does it work?

To enable the powerful panoLite capability, specially-designed and reusable ‘smart-rulers’ (panoLite tapes) are applied to outline the hail-affected areas of interest.

Applications Engineer Keith applying panoLite tapes on stabilizer.

The purpose of the panoLite smart-ruler is two-fold. First, the idea of the smart-ruler is a familiar one to aviation technicians, who currently follow an established workflow of applying masking tape marked with measurement increments to define an area of interest. Secondly, the smart-ruler is ‘smart’ and easy, as it only takes seconds to apply and peel off for re-use. Once applied, it delivers an incredibly efficient and seamless alternative to the traditional hail-mapping workflow, since it automatically communicates with the dentCHECK tool to create accurate large area damage-maps.

Once the panoLite smart-ruler has been applied, the familiar dentCHECK point-and-shoot dent mapping process can begin.

As long as some portion of the panoLite smart-ruler is visible to the dentCHECK tool during a given scan, then the well-known 8tree Damage Reporting Tool (DRT) automatically stitches the successive scans resulting in one large-area panoramic scan.

panoLite tapes applied on stabilizer to enable large area mapping of the whole area.

A comprehensive digital damage-report is generated as part of this automatic panoramic scan. The report format – familiar to most existing dentCHECK users – tabulates and itemizes each dent alongwith its key metrics, such as depth, size and inter-dent distance.

Part of an hail damage report (B777 – Slat).

End-to-end digitalized hail-damage reporting

The entire end-to-end digital process takes only a couple minutes, and equips operators and technicians with instantly-actionable damage-reports that guide informed repair strategies.

Does your organization still use slow, inaccurate and error-prone traditional manual methods to map catastrophic hail-damage?

If so, consider exploring the end-to-end digitalized dent-mapping workflow enabled by dentCHECK – a tool trusted by the leading airlines/MROs across the global aviation maintenance industry.

As for Elvis’ JetStar, after being parked for 35 years, it might not need hail damage-mapping anymore.

 

Contact us to receive the complete example report.

 

Sources:
https://simpleflying.com/elvis-presley-1962-lockheed-jet-star/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHeqr5YdqUU&t=20s
https://www.chavescounty.net/roswell-international-air-center-2/
https://www.airplaneboneyards.com/roswell-international-air-center-boneyard.htm

Apr 07 2022

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Integrates 8tree’s dentCHECK

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press, Testimonial

As featured in

World-renowned aviation school is using dentCHECK at its Daytona Beach, Florida campus to improve student skills and employability.

This press release was published on PRWeb.

dentCHECK usage on an Embry-Riddle training aircraft.

dentCHECK usage on an Embry-Riddle training aircraft.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s premier accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, has begun integrating dentCHECK into its Aviation Maintenance Science (AMS) curriculum.

Embry-Riddle’s AMS department prides itself in preparing graduates to work in all sectors of aviation and aerospace maintenance. “Part of that preparation is incorporating cutting-edge technology in our curriculum, especially when that technology is already being used by leading aviation and aerospace maintenance facilities,” said Kris Hammer, associate chair of the AMS department. “Advanced aircraft require advanced inspection methods, and 8tree’s dentCHECK is a perfect example of this type of technology. Our students getting hands-on experience with the dentCHECK equipment gives them an additional edge over graduates from other Part 147 schools.”

“This is a major step in our journey to help prepare students for the technologies and practices that await them in the aviation maintenance workplace,” said Arun Chhabra, CEO, 8tree. “By engaging the technical curiosity of today’s students, tools like dentCHECK help increase their interest in aviation maintenance careers. This strengthens their employment prospects with airlines, MROs and OEMs who already use such technologies in increasing numbers. Additionally, it addresses the industry’s chronic shortage of maintenance technicians by creating a strong pipeline of qualified candidates. We are delighted to have Embry-Riddle as the launch partner for 8tree’s Academic Initiative in the aviation industry, and look forward to helping the industry navigate the ongoing generational transition in the workforce.”

dentCHECK is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry. It is now used by the world’s leading commercial, cargo and defense MROs. Delivering real-time ‘go/no-go’ answers at the push of a single-button, the tool significantly reduces damage-mapping and reporting times, compared to traditional manual methods that use depth-gauges and straight-edges.

Approved and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer), dentCHECK is used by the world’s leading airlines/MROs for fast and accurate damage-mapping and SRM-compliant multi-dent reporting. When compared to traditional inspection methods, dentCHECK delivers a 90% gain in efficiency and 35x better measurement consistency.

OEM-acceptance has led to widespread adoption of dentCHECK amongst airlines/MROs. Detailed case-studies from easyJet, Delta TechOps and TAP-M&E, as well as news from Lufthansa Technik, Kalitta Air, Aeromexico, Airbus’ Flightline, DHL-Express and Zeppelin, demonstrate that dentCHECK drastically reduces inspection and reporting times by up to 90%. This shortens aircraft Turn-aroundTime (TaT), which further reduces lost revenues and very directly improves operational efficiency for airlines. dentCHECK enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

About 8tree

“Precision 3D measurement as simple as taking a photo”

With this vision in mind, 8tree makes 3D optical surface inspection tools that solve chronic problems for multiple industries. 8tree’s products empower every operator – from mechanics on the floor, to engineers in the lab – with instantly actionable precise measurements, portability and performance. With its patented usercentric product design, instant ‘go/no-go’ answers and zero-learning curve, 8tree is committed to making precision 3D scanning more broadly accessible – technically and commercially.

For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Reporters worldwide contact Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for content experts in all aspects of aviation, aviation business, aerospace, engineering and STEM-related fields. Our faculty experts specialize in unmanned and autonomous systems, security and intelligence, air traffic and airport management, astronomy, human factors psychology, meteorology, spaceflight operations, urban air mobility and much more. Visit the Embry-Riddle Newsroom for story ideas.

Embry-Riddle educates 32,500+ students at its residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, at approximately 110 Worldwide Campus locations and
through online degree programs. U.S. News & World Report has named Embry-Riddle Worldwide the nation’s No. 1 provider of online bachelor’s degree programs.

For more information, visit https://erau.edu/
Aviation Maintenance Science information https://erau.edu/ams

Feb 03 2022

KF Aerospace Adopts dentCHECK for its Commercial MRO Operations

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press, Testimonial

As featured in

Leading Canadian AMO, KF Aerospace successfully implements dentCHECK at its Kelowna headquarters maintenance facility for better inspection quality and time-savings.

This press release was published on PRWeb.

dentCHECK @KF Aerospace

KF Aerospace, a leading Canadian approved maintenance organization (AMO) has begun using 8tree’s dentCHECK to enhance the efficiency and quality of its dent-mapping activities.

“KF performs hundreds of structural repairs annually on a wide variety of commercial aircraft” says Gregg Evjen, Chief Operating Officer, “Implementation of dentCHECK has allowed KF to improve accuracy, accelerate the damage mapping processes, and produce a digital record for our Engineers to utilize as they develop the repairs.”

“We are absolutely thrilled that KF Aero decided on dentCHECK, when they embraced the tool after a rigorous evaluation a couple years ago”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO, 8tree. “They joined the global community of dentCHECK users as the first Canadian firm to do so. Several other Canadian operators have since followed in their footsteps. KF Aero joins the ranks of more than three dozen MROs, airlines and OEMs that use dentCHECK daily to disposition dent-damage on aircraft across the cargo, commercial, business and defense aviation sectors. We look forward to continuing to support KF Aero’s maintenance operations and having them experience 8tree’s exceptional customer service.”

dentCHECK is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry. It is now used by the world’s leading commercial, cargo and defense MROs. Delivering real-time ‘go/no-go’ answers at the push of a single-button, the tool significantly reduces damage-mapping and reporting times, compared to traditional manual methods that use depth-gauges and straight-edges.
Approved and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer), dentCHECK is used by the world’s leading airlines/MROs for fast and accurate damage-mapping and SRM-compliant multi-dent reporting. When compared to traditional inspection methods, dentCHECK delivers a 90% gain in efficiency and 35x better measurement consistency.

OEM-acceptance has led to widespread adoption of dentCHECK amongst airlines/MROs. Detailed case-studies from easyJet, Delta TechOps and TAP-M&E, as well as news from Aeromexico, Airbus’ Flightline, DHL-Express and Zeppelin, demonstrate that dentCHECK drastically reduces inspection and reporting times by up to 90%. This shortens aircraft Turn-around-Time (TaT), which further reduces lost revenues and very directly improves operational efficiency for airlines. dentCHECK enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

About 8tree

“We make precision 3D measurement as simple as taking a photo”

With this vision in mind, 8tree makes 3D optical surface inspection tools that solve chronic problems for multiple industries. 8tree’s products empower every operator – from mechanics on the floor, to engineers in the lab – with instantly actionable precise measurements, portability and performance. With its patented user-centric product design, instant ‘go/no-go’ answers and zero-learning curve, 8tree is committed to making precision 3D scanning more broadly accessible – technically and commercially.

For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

About KF Aerospace

We’re all about THE CRAFT.
KF Aerospace celebrates 50 years of innovative aircraft solutions for corporate, commercial and military customers worldwide—including major airlines like WestJet, Air Canada, Icelandair and Condor. From our humble roots in the Okanagan Valley, KF has grown to specialize in aircraft maintenance and modifications, military aircrew training, air cargo operations and leasing—with the same commitment to quality and service established by our founder in 1970. With facilities across Canada, KF is home to around 1000 highly skilled employees.

To learn more visit http://www.kfaero.ca                                

Jan 13 2022

Kalitta Air, LLC (“Kalitta Air”) Adopts dentCHECK to Enhance Cargo Aircraft Maintenance Operations

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press, Testimonial

US cargo airline Kalitta Air implements dentCHECK at its Oscoda MRO facility and CVG line operations, further expanding the tool’s adoption within the air cargo sector.

This press release was published on PRWeb.

Kalitta Air inspectors use dentCHECK at the company’s MRO facility in Oscoda, Michigan.

Kalitta Air inspectors use dentCHECK at the company’s MRO facility in Oscoda, Michigan.

Kalitta Air, a leading US cargo and special-missions airline has begun using 8tree’s dentCHECK to enhance the efficiency and quality of its dent-mapping activities. dentCHECK is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry. It is now used by the world’s leading commercial, cargo and defense MROs. Delivering real-time ‘go/no-go’ answers at the push of a single-button, the tool significantly reduces damage-mapping and reporting times, compared to traditional manual methods that use depth-gauges and straight-edges.

“With the implementation of 8tree’s dentCHECK technology, Kalitta Air’s dent mapping program will be elevated to the next level. We look forward to working with 8tree in implementing this state-of-the-art technology”, said Zoltan Kocis, Vice President of Maintenance, Engineering and Procurement, Kalitta Air.

“We are delighted to welcome Kalitta Air to the rapidly growing global community of dentCHECK users”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO, 8tree. “Kalitta Air joins the ranks of more than three dozen MROs, airlines and OEMs that use dentCHECK daily to disposition dent-damage on aircraft across the cargo, commercial, business and defense aviation sectors. We look forward to supporting Kalitta Air’s maintenance operations and having them experience 8tree’s exceptional customer service.”

dentCHECK is approved and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer) and used by the world’s leading airlines/MROs for fast and accurate damage-mapping and SRM-compliant multi-dent reporting. When compared to traditional inspection methods, dentCHECK delivers a 90% gain in efficiency and 37x better measurement consistency.

OEM-acceptance has led to widespread adoption of dentCHECK amongst airlines/MROs. Detailed case-studies from easyJet, Delta TechOps and TAP-M&E, as well as news from Aeromexico, Airbus’ Flightline, DHL-Express and Zeppelin, demonstrate that dentCHECK drastically reduces inspection and reporting times by up to 90%. This shortens aircraft Turn-around-Time (TaT), which further reduces lost revenues and very directly improves operational efficiency for airlines. dentCHECK enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

About 8tree

“We make precision 3D measurement as simple as taking a photo”

With this vision in mind, 8tree makes 3D optical surface inspection tools that solve chronic problems for multiple industries. 8tree’s products empower every operator – from mechanics on the floor, to engineers in the lab – with instantly actionable precise measurements, portability and performance. With its patented user-centric product design, instant ‘go/no-go’ answers and zero-learning curve, 8tree is committed to making precision 3D scanning more broadly accessible – technically and commercially.

For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

About Kalitta Air

Kalitta Air is an FAR Part 121 Air Carrier and a leading provider of air cargo transportation, scheduled and on-demand charter service for customers in the United States and around the world. The company operates an all-Boeing fleet of 38 aircraft comprising the 747, 767 and 777 aircraft types. Kalitta Maintenance operates a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport in Michigan. Kalitta Air makes it happen – on time, anytime, anywhere.

Aug 31 2021

Flying dentCHECK — Press Coverage by the French Ministry of Defense

By Automation, dentCHECK, Press

Automate non-destructive testing in aircraft maintenance

Aircraft maintenance requires regular inspection of the aircraft surfaces. We are speaking about non-destructive testing (NDT). These tasks are time-consuming and potentially dangerous for operators working at height. The Defense Innovation Agency (DIA) and other stakeholders called for projects to “automate non-destructive testing“. The project aims to develop solutions to reduce the duration and improve the quality of such maintenance operations.
8tree’s collaboration with Donecle and Dassault to develop a flying dentCHECK is part of this initiative. The French Ministry of Defense recently announced an article and a video about our drone project with Donecle and 8tree.

The article was published in French. Read below a segment about our project and have a look at the video, where you can see the drone flying around a Rafale aircraft.

DONECLE, in partnership with 8tree and Dassault provides an automatic 3D inspection of aircraft skin, thanks to a 100% automated drone. This technique allows to detect and measure surface defects such as dents, impacts, or perforations. Tested on metallic and composite surfaces, the solution also allows comparisons with the aircraft’s digital mapping and digital monitoring of the evolution of defects.
– Source

Aug 17 2021

Inspector Gadgets … – Article about Inspection Tools in Arabian Aerospace Magazine

By dentCHECK, Press

“Inspection is a key part of the MRO community’s contribution to aviation safety.
Chuck Grieve reviews developments in inspection tools and methods where communication is king.”

Check out this new article in the Arabian Aerospace Magazine (Issue 3, Vol 13, Aug-Oct) on page 44.

Link to Magazine (article on p.44)

Download PDF (article only)

Jul 28 2021

Towards dent measurement by drone

By Automation, dentCHECK, Insights

« Can you make dentCHECK fly? »

This is a question which our customers and prospects ask on a regular basis. Dent damage is a chronic and recurring problem on aircraft, due to loading operations, hail-storms, bird strikes, etc.. But detecting, measuring and precisely locating such damage is a long and challenging process, which can be risky for inspectors working at height. As an example, on an annual basis, hail strikes affect 25% of the worldwide fleet and requires dozens of hours of inspection. How can the manual process of dent characterization be improved?

Aircraft hit by a hail strike, courtesy of ©The Aviation Herald http://avherald.com/h?article=47a10f14

In this context, a drone seems an obvious solution.

However, embedding dentCHECK on a drone is not an easy thing to do and requires intense development.

So, the question came up – Who can we collaborate with to make dentCHECK flying?

We identified Donecle as our launch partner to realize the vision of a flying dentCHECK. Donecle as the leader of automated aircraft visual inspection has a strong expertise in drone robotics, automation and aircraft maintenance processes.

After initial tests, we accelerated our collaboration under the approval of the DGA, working together with Dassault on Rafale inspections.

Working on next generation of automated drones for aircraft inspections

The solution features Donecle’s automated drone which will scan targeted areas where risks of dents are well known (such as doors, leading edge, HTP, tail…). The acquired 3D scan data will then be sent into our damage reporting tool which will automatically map and measure dents and generate an SRM-compliant report.

Typical use cases include inspection after hail strike or after hard contact during in-flight refueling for military aircraft; dent measurement around doors which are subject to impacts during loading and unloading operations; inspection of dents and depth defects during aircraft manufacturing, and any other dent inspection in areas difficult to access.

This new unique solution will enable much faster inspections, bring better accuracy thanks to the precise location of the dents relative to the aircraft structure, improve safety of workers (no need to climb on upper surfaces and dangerous areas) and contribute to a paperless process.

The question which is on everyone’s lips is of course: when will it be available? We are making good progress and after recent promising lab tests we conducted the first field-tests on aircraft, before larger deployment 2021.

So, stay tuned, we will soon officially announce the availability of this new product!

Learn more about Donecle: https://www.donecle.com/

May 28 2021

Hail Damage Assessment on Aircrafts with panoLite™

By dentCHECK, Insights

How do you handle hail damage inspection in your maintenance operations?

Hail damage is inevitable for a  busy fleet of aircraft.  It results in significant damage to the aircraft. Whether it’s safety critical or only cosmetic, the damage creates extensive maintenance work that requires precise assessment.

Are you still mapping hundreds of dents manually?

For most maintenance organizations, coping with hail damage situations is still a pain. Assessing all relevant data by hand is cumbersome and prone to error.

8tree’s new panoLite feature for dentCHECK® tackles this major challenge and might be the right tool for you.

panoLite enables large-area mapping. It allows the operator to cover a large hail damage scenario in just one dent-mapping job. Multiple individual dentCHECK scans are automatically stitched into an accurate panorama view, within seconds!

panoLite captures and analyzes up to a two-meter-wide area, at a time.  An SRM-compliant multi-dent report is seamlessly and instantly generated.

panoLite captures and analyzes damages on areas up to two meters wide, at a time. An SRM-compliant multi-dent report is seamlessly and instantly created.

How does it work?

The dentCHECK operator applies a reusable encoded panoLite tape onto the aircraft skin. While performing the scans, the operator needs to ensure, that each scan covers at least one coded marker on the panoLite tape.

The markers on the panoLite tape allow automatic and instant stitching of the scans without any user intervention.

Using the dentCHECK Damage Reporting Tool (DRT), operators can measure inter-dent distances across the whole panoramic area with a single a click.

Finally, the operator can export an end-to-end digital multi-dent report (.xls, .pdf) which shows a panorama view of the large area with all measurement results summarized in graphical and tabular views.

Read also this article from the 2019 Aerospace Maintenance Competition: Aircraft hail-damage: What tools will aircraft maintenance crews use for the job?

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