Billerica, Mass. -- Under a license from the Boeing Management Company, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies announces Bondtracer, a durable, simple tool that will allow flightline and ramp crews at airports to quickly and easily evaluate possible damage to composite structures caused by accidental collisions with baggage loaders and other vehicles. 

Developed in cooperation with Boeing and building upon the Boeing Ramp Damage Checker (RDC) invention, GE's Bondtracer allows flightline mechanics to quickly and easily evaluate any damage the aircraft may have and determine if the airliner can continue to fly or if it needs further maintenance before the next flight. 

Airlines can potentially lose millions of dollars per year due to minor accidents that occur on the flightline, such as minor collisions with baggage loaders. For each accident, an aircraft must be grounded while extensive tests are conducted to confirm its integrity and airworthiness. For carbon fiber composites, when damage does occur, it can cause sub-surface delamination, which is difficult to gauge with visual inspection alone. 

"Carbon fiber composites require different processes for evaluating impact and performing non-destructive inspection," says Patrik RoomThierry Laffontan, Aerospace Segment Manager at GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies. "Our goal with Bondtracer is to provide ramp crews with a simple device to quickly determine when more extensive inspection is required. The solution allows airlines to ensure safety while increasing efficiency and productivity." 

With Bondtracer, flightline and ramp crews will be able to evaluate the severity of impact damage right at the gate, in accordance with the aircraft's maintenance manuals. This will help operators dispatch airworthy aircraft quickly, preventing unnecessary grounding or flight delays and providing significant savings. 

Bondtracer is as easy to use as a common stud-finder. It has a simple display with green indicating consistent skin thickness and red indicating an unanticipated thickness change. It is designed to be a useful tool for ramp-personnel with no non-destructive testing training or certifications. 

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is Healthcare for Infrastructure. The business is part of GE Enterprise Solutions, a $5 billion business helping customers compete and win in a changing global environment by combining the power of GE's unique expertise and intelligent technology to drive customers' productivity and profitability. GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is a leading innovator in advanced measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions that deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to its customers. The company designs and manufactures sensing instruments that measure temperature, pressure, moisture, gas and flow rate for demanding customer applications. It also designs, manufactures and services inspection equipment, including radiographic, ultrasonic, remote visual and eddy current, that monitors and tests materials without disassembly, deforming or damaging them. GE Sensing & Inspection's products are used in a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. The company has 4,700 employees at more than 40 facilities in 25 countries worldwide.