Why Non-Line-of-Sight RFID is Essential for Aircraft Component Traceability?

When it comes to aviation, each part, including bolts, engines, etc., has to be subject to precise tracking in order to be safe, in compliance, and maintenance efficient. The inability to keep track of or check the history of a certain part may result in security concerns, time loss, or commercial fines.

Traceability is done so as to make sure that all the parts fitted in an airplane are genuine, airworthy, and well-maintained in their lifecycle.

What Limits Traditional Barcode Systems In Aircraft Component Tracking?

Barcodes are dependent on line-of-sight scanners, where technicians have to find each label and scan it physically. However, in compound systems such as aircraft, there exist many parts covered by structures, and a scan when required will probably not be possible without disassembly of the system. RFID inventory management is a great way to apply the tracking component in aviation.

Also, there is a phenomenon of lost barcodes as a result of heat, oil, or corrosion, usually experienced in an aviation context, resulting in loss of data and errors in manual record keeping.

How Does Non-Line-Of-Sight RFID Solve These Challenges?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an approach using radio waves to identify and monitor components attached with tags with no physical visibility. There is also Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) RFID, which can be used to read the part embedded in or metal which is in panel without any effort.

This technology has significantly minimised the effort put into the manual scanning, the maintenance turnaround time will be improved, and positive component recognition will be assured regardless of the condition.

How Does RFID Improve Aircraft Maintenance And Inspection Efficiency?

By maintaining operators reading RFID, the maintenance team is able to obtain a real-time digital history of each component, installation date, service life, repairs, and certification, during which they can obtain a digital record of repaired components and the date.

Technicians can now scan parts within seconds as opposed to taking hours to find and confirm the parts. This leads to a decrease in inspection time, a decrease in mistakes, and an increase in skillfulness maintenance planning, which directly affects aircraft presence and flight security.

What Kind Of Data Can Be Stored On RFID Tags Used In Aviation?

The RFID tags are capable of containing the detailed information that includes:

·         Part number, serial number.

·         Details of the manufacturer and certification.

·         History of installation and maintenance of the equipment.

·         Operation life and service intervals.

This electronic passport is a digital certificate that guides each component throughout its life-cycle- making it transparent, including manufacturing to its decommissioning process.

How Does RFID Support Regulatory Compliance In Aviation?

The rules imposed on aviation authorities, such as the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), require that any component installed must be documented with care.

RFID patient tracking system is a similar tech that can be implemented to provide automated and error-free gathering of data, complying with observed standards of compliance, e.g., component traceability, ATA Spec 2000. This will be done to guarantee that all the parts comply with airworthiness and safety standards that are not dependent on manual recordkeeping.

RFID will be in the heart of a connected, transparent, regulatory-ready future as the aviation industry is digitalizing.