LATAM reduces aircraft exterior inspection time by using drones

LATAM Group began tests to incorporate the use of drones in the external inspection of aircraft fuselage, reducing the time of this process from 8 hours to only 40 minutes.

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The tests consist of the drone automatically flying around the aircraft and taking up to two thousand detailed photos of the entire fuselage, using artificial intelligence to identify potential damage and possible repairs required.

The tests are currently being conducted at the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility located in São Carlos, Brazil, and are expected to be extended to the Maintenance Center in Santiago, Chile in the coming weeks.

«At LATAM we see technology as an opportunity to improve and optimize our aircraft maintenance and inspection processes. That is why we are constantly looking for new tools that allow us to establish more efficient and accurate processes, always keeping the safety of our passengers and collaborators as a priority,» says Marcos Melchiori, Senior Manager MRO São Carlos of Latam Airlines Group.

LATAM Group is also incorporating the use of augmented reality glasses for the inspection and maintenance of its aircraft in remote locations.

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These can transmit images in real time to the engineering areas, allowing technicians to act in a faster and more accurate decision making, further raising the level of safety and punctuality.

LATAM states that the equipment can provide daily support and remotely assist technicians at the airline’s other airports with more specific and complex aircraft maintenance, reducing the chances of operational impacts.