Aircraft storage, maintenance, and recycling firm TARMAC Aerosave has announced a new project with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designers Donecle to develop a drone specifically for aircraft maintenance purposes.
Developing solutions
Announced at the MRO Americas trade fair in Atlanta earlier this week, the two French companies unveiled a new partnership to revolutionize aircraft fuselage and inspection solutions. Donecle, an industry expert in UAVs, with products utilized by various airlines, including Pan-South American carrier LATAM and Austrian Airlines, will aid TARMAC Aerosave in developing a Donecle system drone to ensure the continued airworthiness of the up to 280 aircraft stored by the company.
Although not a substitute for maintenance and mechanics procedures, the unique system developed by Donecle allows for complete automation during the scanning process, with no pilot or GPS required to operate the drone. Each scan, which takes around two hours, can inspect for paintwork, lightning strike, and general requirements, with images sent through a secure analysis software to review and monitor aircraft.
Despite the recent announcement, the two companies have already run a successful test campaign of the UAV, currently running at full operation within TARMAC Aerosave’s narrowbody aircraft hangars at Francazal Airport (LFBF) in Toulouse. Further tests are underway to get the UAVs operational outside and on widebody aircraft stored across the company’s two other facilities at Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport (LDE) and Teruel Airport (TEV).
Donecle’s systems
Launched back in 2015, the Toulouse-based UAV developer has already partnered with major airlines and aircraft manufacturers, including Embraer and Airbus, on projects to disrupt outdated maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) industry practices. With just 20 employees, the company has rapidly grown to meet the demands of consumers based across Europe and South America.
Donecle has notably worked extensively with South American carrier LATAM, which began deploying the company’s drones at its MRO base within São Carlos Airport (QSC) in January 2020 for Airbus A320 heavy checks. LATAM found significant success with the drones, with preliminary results initially slashing inspection times from eight hours to just 40 minutes. The carrier expanded its usage of Donecle’s systems last year, extending its use to another MRO facility based at Santiago de Chile Airport (SCL) in June 2022.
Most recently, the company has been working on growing its industry presence, acquiring French Artificial Intelligence (AI) drone startup Dronetix in 2022. The acquisition aided Donecle in strengthening its autonomous mapping assets and upgrading its current systems, allowing for flights without pre-programming and further developing and commercializing its technology.
“This is an important milestone in Donecle’s growth. Combining the assets and know-how of both companies will strengthen our offer and boost the development of future capabilities,” Donecle chief executive Matthieu Claybrough noted in a statement.
“Our goal remains unchanged: to offer our customers cost-saving solutions while improving traceability and safety.”
What are your thoughts on the new partnership between Donecle and TARMAC Aerosave? What other aviation companies would you like to see using more autonomous systems? Let us know in the comments.
