Aircraft Drone Inspection: Companies, Software, and Devices
Modern aircraft inspection is increasingly supported by drone technology, offering faster, safer, and more precise evaluations of airframes, surfaces, engines, and associated structures. Here’s an overview of notable companies, key software, and device solutions leading this field.
Leading Drone Inspection Companies
• Donecle Pioneers in fully automated drone-based aircraft inspection. Approved by aviation authorities and listed in both Boeing and Airbus Aircraft Maintenance Manuals. Their Iris platform provides rapid surface checks, defect detection, and integration with reporting software.
• Mainblades Delivers automated drone solutions for visual inspections on various aircraft models. Mainblades combines inspection drones with high-resolution cameras and compliant automatic flight planning for hangar operations.
• Jet Aviation Utilizes AI-driven drones to perform lightning strike checks, regulatory marking inspections, paint quality assessments, and generate automated reports. Their solutions provide real-time mapping and cloud-based data management for traceability.
• Airbus/Testia Developed an advanced indoor inspection drone specifically for MROs and airlines. Features laser-based obstacle avoidance, autonomous flight paths, and smart image comparison against digital aircraft models, reducing inspection time dramatically.
• CURSIR Specializes in drone-based flight inspections and navigation aid calibration (ILS, VOR, PAPI, and runway lights) for airports, offering precision, cost, and environmental benefits. Provides complete products—with hardware and analysis software—and training/support.
Notable Drone Inspection Software
Typical Devices and Technological Capabilities
• High-resolution imaging (visual and 3D scanning) for surface damage, paint quality, and structural analysis.
• Automated flight paths for full airframe coverage and aerial point comparison vs. digital twins.
• Laser-based obstacle sensing for safe navigation within maintenance hangars and near structures.
• Real-time AI analytics that spot dents as small as 1 mm² and can measure depth to 0.1 mm—critical for damage assessment.
• Integrated cloud data storage for traceability, historical analysis, and compliance management.
• Regulatory compliance with EASA, FAA, and OEM standards—seen in solutions by Donecle, Mainblades, and Jet Aviation.
Industry Applications
• General Visual Inspections (GVIs)
• Lightning and hail damage checks
• Dent and buckle detection
• Paint, marking, and cosmetic assessments
• Pre-purchase and insurance claim checks
• Calibration of navigational aids (ILS, VOR)
• Predictive maintenance tasks
Conclusion
Aircraft drone inspection combines automated flight hardware, advanced real-time analytics, and regulatory-compliant reporting. Leaders like Donecle, Mainblades, Jet Aviation, Airbus/Testia, and CURSIR offer full-spectrum solutions with specialized aircraft software and devices, streamlining maintenance, improving safety, and minimizing downtime for airlines and MROs.