OVERVIEW

The Aging Aircraft Laboratory is located at NIAR's Aircraft Structural Testing and Evaluation Center (ASTEC) at Hawker Beechcraft Corporation in Wichita. When it was created in September 2002, the lab's focus was the investigation into the affects of age on small passenger airplanes for the FAA. Since that time, the lab has expanded to commercial airplanes such as the Boeing 737 and military aircraft such as the Boeing B-52 bomber and KC-135 tanker. The Aging Aircraft Lab has also been diversifying the materials it works with, from the traditional aluminum to more contemporary composite materials.

In the forensic investigation, the Aging Aircraft Lab uses high-tech equipment to detect problems, such as cracks or corrosion, with specific parts of the aircraft. The aircraft first undergoes a visual inspection and eventually is dissembled to allow for a more thorough investigation. The forensic investigation is supported by an engineering analysis, which allows the lab to determine what areas of the plane may fail and then set up inspections to prevent failure.

Both processes allow owners and operators all over the world the opportunity to learn more about their aircraft and about how to make them operate safely over longer periods of time.