MIAMI, Oct. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR (NYSE: AIR), a
leading aviation services provider to commercial airlines and
governments worldwide, has announced the integration of Donecle
drone technology into its award-winning maintenance, repair and
overhaul (MRO) operations.
AAR´s Miami MRO facility is the first in its global network to
use the fully automated drone technology to drive operational and
cost efficiencies, where the pilot phase has yielded increases in
speed and precision. With laser positioning, the drone can safely
perform end-to-end visual inspections of B737 and A320 aircraft in
under an hour.
"In exploring opportunities to increase efficiencies and best
utilize our skilled workforce, AAR continually assesses
opportunities to digitally enable our businesses," said
Rahul Ghai, AAR Chief Digital
Officer. "In the case of our MRO sites, our investments in
technologies like drones, machine learning and mobile devices will
drive a more efficient operation, optimized technician schedules,
as well as improved turnaround times achieved through faster and
more accurate inspections and maintenance plan execution. This will
lead to ultimately higher customer satisfaction, while helping us
build out richer data to enhance our overall maintenance planning
and execution capabilities."
"We are very proud to support AAR in its innovations to better
serve its customers and keep its position as the leading
independent MRO worldwide, while also contributing to AAR´s digital
transformation," said Josselin
Bequet, Donecle CEO and Co-Founder.
Designed for MRO specifications, the drone is programmed to
detect any aircraft structural damage, as well as assess paint
quality, markings and signs of lightning strike. One complete scan
by a drone covers the equivalent of several maintenance tasks and
personnel, conserving significant time and resources in the
inspection and overall maintenance turnaround time.
AAR and Donecle have partnered on an initial 12-month technology
agreement, and upon further assessment and results, will expand the
platform to other MRO facilities. In compliance with Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, AAR performs manual
aircraft inspections in addition to the drone inspections.
For more information on AAR's MRO Services, please click
here.
About AAR
AAR is a global aerospace and defense
aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 people
in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and
government customers through two operating segments: Aviation
Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services
include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AAR's
Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems and Composite
Manufacturing operations. Additional information can be found at
www.aarcorp.com.
About Donecle
Donecle is the leader of automated
aircraft inspection by drone. Donecle is a French company located
in Labege, France, founded in
2015, with strong expertise in aircraft maintenance processes,
drone robotics, automation and computer vision deep learning. Our
technology combines 100% automated UAVs with advanced image
analysis algorithms to inspect aircraft quickly and reliably.
Donecle is committed to delivering high-standard services to
customers through constant improvement and a dedicated customer
focus team. Our clients include airlines, MROs, aircraft OEMs and
military operators around the world.
This press release
contains certain statements relating to future results, which are
forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as
assumptions and estimates based on information currently available
to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from
historical results or those anticipated, including those factors
discussed under Item 1A, entitled "Risk Factors", included in the
Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2019. Should
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely,
or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect,
actual results may vary materially from those described. These
events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict
accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements
or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated
events. For additional information, see the comments included in
AAR's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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SOURCE AAR