Maintenance and Repair

Maintenance and Repair

24 February 2025

Structural integrity

NLRs structural integrity capability helps organisations optimise the operation of their (military) aircraft. We support the optimisation of usage and maintenance, aiming to maximise operational readiness while minimising costs and maintaining safety standards. Our expertise can also help extend component life and reduce maintenance costs. NLR can support you with:
Maintenance and Repair

17 January 2025

Booklet: Applying innovation in MRO

If you are maintaining aircraft or if you are looking for innovative maintenance technologies to improve the availability of your aircraft or to reduce costs, NLR can support you. Or if you want to prepare for the future of aircraft MRO, we are your sparring partner. Operators, maintenance organisations and OEMs aim for maximum aircraft […]
GERDA robot for Smart maintenance inspections and smart training
Maintenance and Repair

18 December 2024

R&D case: Smart maintenance inspections and smart training devices

Maintenance is important to make aircraft operations a success. Unfortunately, the MRO industry is faced with a shortage of labour and pollution. How can we use innovations to help the industry? The challenge Aircraft maintenance organisations perform high-tech maintenance on aircraft. The maintenance activities are labour intensive and require considerable resources. In this research, we […]
Maintenance and Repair

18 December 2024

R&D case: Remote Support for Maintenance Personnel

Global aviation is increasing, but the current lack of qualified maintenance personnel is becoming very problematic.It may eventually lead to a reduced availability of the fleets and, thus, reduced revenues for their operators. Part of the solution is to increase the efficiency of the existing maintenance processes by introducing innovative tooling. Royal NLR has developed […]
Maintenance and Repair

04 April 2024

Generic engineering robot for defect assessments (GERDA)

Explore how Royal NLR is revolutionising maintenance inspections with state-of-the-art autonomous robots. Our technology streamlines detailed and repetitive tasks, enhancing productivity and accuracy. Meet GERDA, our Generic Engineering Robot for Defect Assessments, capable of inspecting various parts with precision. Join us as we transform the future of maintenance.
Artist Impression of a UAM air taxi
Maintenance and Repair

20 July 2023

Extending aircraft service life is more relevant than ever

ICAF Conference: fatigue and the integrity of structural materials. To make flying as efficient and sustainable as possible, the aviation sector is always on the lookout for ways of making aircraft as light as possible. Fatigue – the point at which a material gives way under a low but varying load – plays an important […]
Maintenance and Repair

05 April 2023

Better predictions of metal fatigue in engineering structures

Fatigue of metals can cause premature failure of components and structures that are subject to cyclic loading. To avoid that risk, designers still employ a theory from the 1960s. Royal NLR has now come up with a new equation for calculating the growth rate of cracks under cyclic loading better. The proof of this has […]
AIRTuB: Automated Inspection and Repair of Turbine Blades
Maintenance and Repair

23 February 2023

R&D case: Automated Inspection and Repair of Turbine Blades (AIRTuB)

Offshore wind energy plays a major role in the transition to green energy. The wind turbine blades require periodic inspection. The inspection and repairs are carried out by specialists who descend along the blade on a cable. This is very labour-intensive and an even greater challenge offshore. The AIRTuB consortium developed systems that are mounted […]
Competency-based maintenance training
Training and Simulation

23 September 2022

R&D case: Competency-based maintenance training

Development of maintenance training as a result of changed regulations The challenge The development of the European Military Aviation Regulations (EMAR) resulted in changes in the Dutch military aviation regulations. The content and levels of the maintenance type training for the F-16, AH-64D, CH-47D/F and the NH-90NFH therefore needed to be updated. Moreover, the training […]