(Olympus NDT Inc.: Waltham, MA) -- Solid laminate aircraft composites can be internally damaged by impacts in a way that isn't visible on the outer surface. The Model 35RDC Ramp Damage Checker is a hand-held ultrasonic instrument, developed by Olympus under a license of the Boeing Management Co. to nondestructively inspect the composite panels of an aircraft (such as the Boeing 787) for structural damage. This simple-to-operate unit is specifically designed to be used by airport personnel to quickly and accurately evaluate internal damage caused by passenger ramps or other devices that have been placed against the composite fuselage panels. These inspections need to be done quickly and reliably at the terminal gate before the aircraft flies to its next destination. For that reason, the 35RDC is designed for very simple operation and easy-to-read assessment of damage or absence of damage.

Airport ground crew can use the 35RDC with little or no training by simply holding the instrument in one hand and placing a small ultrasonic probe to the composite part. The rugged 35RDC features a backlit LCD that displays the word GOOD if no subsurface damage is found or the word BAD when it detects subsurface damage.

 …