The aerospace industry relies on advanced nondestructive testing (NDT) to ensure safety and reliability. Automated technologies, such as phased arrays and 3D scanning, enhance defect detection in aircraft structures, reducing human error. This overview emphasizes the importance of these advancements.

Manual methods of performing nondestructive testing (NDT) and human evaluation of the results are rapidly being replaced by automated, digitized, and artificial intelligence interpretation of the results wherever economically feasible.

Robotic inspection path planning can be tedious, but ultrasonic testing path programming must be fully automated and user-friendly.

Recent advancements in ultrasonic testing have focused on improving inspection speed, sensitivity, and data management. We explore the principles, applications, and benefits of plane wave imaging in ultrasonic inspections.

In the field of NDT, industrial ultrasonic testing (UT) is a long-established method. However, new materials and components are finding their way into the industry, requiring continuous technological advances. With stricter regulations, workforce shortages, and rising inspection needs worldwide, the urgency for smarter, more efficient inspection methods is critical.

Offering a major advantage over conventional ultrasonic testing, PAUT provides 2D image representations of flaws in a weld as opposed to a mere A-scan signal that could be challenging to interpret.

Ultrasonic fatigue testing is importance for materials intended for high endurance, high reliability applications.

While PAUT is becoming a popular approach for nondestructive inspections, it is important that users understand this technology, its limitations and how it should be applied.

Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics announced it has leased a 21,000 sq ft high bay facility in Falconer, NY.

While COVID dampened demand early on, the skills gap and labor shortage that has plagued the industry for more than a decade is still in full swing. As new NDT methods advance, quality professionals require new training, and technicians transitioning from film techniques to non-film techniques need hands-on experience.