Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter)
Air coupled ultrasonic testing station for helicopter tail booms:
The automated air coupled ultrasonic inspection of tubular CRFP sandwich structures is performed by a 10-DOF manipulator specifically designed for the task. It is possible to scan tubes with a diameter between 300 mm and 1100 mm at a velocity of up to 500 mm/s. Since 2012 this facility is integrated in the series production and inspects all tail booms of the Airbus Helicopters model EC145 T2.
PDF: Automated Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Technique for the Inspection of the EC145 Tail Boom