HAECO, a global leader in aircraft engineering solutions and engine services, has launched drone-assisted aircraft inspection trials at its facilities in the USA. This initiative aims to integrate advanced drone technology into the aircraft maintenance process, enhancing inspection efficiency and effectiveness across its American operations. 

By utilizing autonomous drone technology, HAECO seeks to improve inspection efficiency and safety standards. The initiative developed in partnership with Donecle, is designed to enhance the processes in detecting structural defects, assessing paint quality, and identifying lightning strike damage. The autonomous flight capability allows for comprehensive inspections of hard-to-reach areas, reducing the need for human access at high elevations and minimizing potential safety risks.

"The launch of these trials marks an important step in our commitment to smarter, safer, and more efficient aircraft maintenance solutions," said Summit Chan, Group Director of Corporate Development at HAECO. "This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to explore innovative technologies that enhance our operational efficiency and provide greater value to our customers."

As HAECO continues these trials, the company remains focused on further innovation through strategic investments in transformative technologies. In addition to drone-assisted aircraft inspections, HAECO is exploring advanced robotic solutions for inspection and logistics. These initiatives aim to enable more insightful data analytics and improved operational efficiency, reinforcing HAECO's commitment to operational excellence as an MRO.

-End-

About HAECO Group

HAECO is proud to celebrate its 75^th anniversary as one of the world’s leading aircraft engineering and maintenance service providers. The HAECO Group provides a comprehensive range of solutions encompassing airframe services, line services, inventory technical management, component overhaul, aerostructure repairs, landing gear services, engine services, global engine support, parts manufacturing and technical training. HAECO Group comprises 16 operating companies, employing around 15,000 staff in Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Europe and the Americas. Learn more at www.haeco.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X or WeChat for the latest updates.

About Donecle

Through its fully automated solution, combining fully automatic drones with advanced image analysis software and a cloud-based digital history, Donecle is reshaping the aircraft inspection landscape, enabling aircraft maintenance actors to perform faster, more reliable & consistent visual inspections on aircraft external structures. 

The Iris drone family provides market-leading inspection capabilities for different use cases. 

Iris GVI is available in 2 versions:

•    Iris GVI for aircraft enables General Visual Inspections (GVI), Lightning Strike inspections  (LSI), but also mandatory placards checks and paint assessment with Akzonobel.

•    Iris GVI for engines & landing gears, which handles off-wing engines and landing gears’ inspections, for input/output comparisons, top-quality escape, and configuration control.

Iris dentCHECK, in partnership with 8Tree, is focused on precise dent measurements, ensuring faster & accurate structural assessments at heights.

Iris drone solutions are up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, drastically cutting downtime and reducing subjectivity whilst increasing safety and traceability with comprehensive maintenance history. 

Donecle’s Iris GVI drones are the only solution listed in both Airbus and Boeing AMMs and are trusted globally by leading companies such as United Airlines, AAR, AkzoNobel, HAECO, several NATO Air Forces, Safran, LATAM Airlines, VivaAerobus, Regional Jet Center, Jet Aviation, DHL, etc.

www.donecle.com