Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Aircraft Maintenance

The article deals with the issue of unmanned aerial vehicles, and their use in aircraft maintenance as a tool for visual inspection of the airframe. There are quite a few factors in the maintenance process that can affect its quality and safety. In the process of reducing the risk of human influence in aircraft maintenance, it is necessary to set up tools and processes so that human factor failure can be eliminated as much as possible. Example of such a concept can be a "Smart Hangar" system, which introduces digitization into processes in a certified commercial aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul organization (MRO) as well as in a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO). The article discusses the problem of using UAVs in the maintenance process and identifies the risks associated with this activity. On a practical example, it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of introducing UAVs in the maintenance process in small MRO organizations.