NDT Inspection & Testing radiographs welded test pieces for Boeing welder qualification

Citation

(2006), "NDT Inspection & Testing radiographs welded test pieces for Boeing welder qualification", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778fab.005

NDT Inspection & Testing radiographs welded test pieces for Boeing welder qualification

NDT Inspection & Testing radiographs welded test pieces for Boeing welder qualification

Keywords: Materials, Aircraft components

NDT Inspection & Testing has recently carried out radiographic examination and interpretation of welded samples supplied by Aeronavali, of Tessera, as part of the prequalification procedure for welders on Boeing projects at the Italian company. The inspection was carried out at the company's Worcester site, which is the only location in Europe qualified to perform this type of work for Boeing.

The examination involved the X- radiography of four different samples in four different materials: aluminium, titanium, stainless steel and an alloy steel. The radiographs were then assessed and returned for eventual welder qualification by Boeing.

All the radiography work was personally supervised by Rod Philliss, who is one of the few people in Europe qualified to Boeing Level 3. To save valuable time, Rod, who is also qualified to NAS410/EN4179 Level 3 and PCN Level 3, had to modify the approach to the inspection work by using approved Inspection Quality Indicators (IQIs), instead of waiting for the standard IQIs to be delivered from Seattle.

NDT Inspection & Testing is one of the UK's largest independent inspection service providers and a centre of excellence for radiographic, advanced ultrasonic imaging and a wide range of more traditional inspection services using state-of-the-art solutions to inspection problems. It has recently been awarded Merit status for its NDT operations at its Queensferry, Worcester and Sittingbourne sites by Nadcap, the international program which allows industry oversight of the quality control of specific manufacturing processes and products hi the aerospace sector. Merit status extends the interval between audits and is widely acknowledged as an endorsement of a company's quality performance commitment to its customers. The company is also UKAS-approved to ISO EN 17025 and has quality approvals from a number of major aerospace companies as well as Boeing, including Airbus, Raytheon, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems and their prime contractors.

Details available from: NDT Inspection & Testing Ltd, Tel: 01244 520058, E-mail: billbrowne@compuserve.com