Modern aircraft and helicopters are increasingly made of composites. These are high-quality plastics that are so strong and light that they can replace metal. But there is also a downside. Repair and maintenance of these parts is extremely complicated and the technology is actually still in its infancy. A new knowledge center at the aviation business park Aviolanda in Hoogerheide is unique in Europe and should solve this problem.
Composites are plastics that – like a kind of lasagna – are built up layer by layer with fibers and resins.
Old aircraft had no more than 10 percent of these types of parts, but now this is more than 60 percent with current aircraft. Right down to the fuselage and wings. The Joint Strike Fighter F-35, transport helicopter NH-90 and also the huge Airbus A350 are full of them.
Aviolanda wants to attract more and more companies involved in the development and maintenance of aircraft and helicopters. The best known and oldest of these is of course Fokker.
“You can’t just cover up damage with a sticker.”
The new DCMC knowledge center is completely focused on high-quality plastics. Director Martin Knegt: “Composites are very different from metal, which you can dent or nail closed. You cannot simply cover up damage in this plastic with a sticker. Very high requirements are set in aviation and repairs must be carried out very carefully.”
Using small robots on wheels and drones, the aircraft are extensively scanned inside and out to determine the extent of the damage. Then it is checked whether the part needs to be replaced or whether it can be repaired.
But the knowledge to repair damaged composite is still in its infancy. The arrival of the DCMC, which has been in the works for five years, should change that. Knegt: “We are going to bring together knowledge and experience here. And we can use that to train people in the aircraft industry. And that is unique in the world or at least for Europe.”
The arrival of the knowledge center is a nice boost for the aviation business park, which was informed at the end of March that Fokker Elmo will leave for Papendrecht next year. This means 900 jobs will disappear in Hoogerheide.
On the other hand, aircraft maintenance company Fokker Techniek wants to expand at Aviolanda and will soon be using a new hangar for large aircraft. Employment there can grow by 100 jobs. The neighboring Woensdrecht Air Force Base also uses the knowledge at Aviolanda for the maintenance of fighter jets and transport helicopters.
Fokker Techniek director Roland van Dijk hopes that other companies will also come to the aviation business park in Hoogerheide. “It is precisely through cooperation that we can lift Aviolanda to a higher level.”
