Assemblies Susceptible To Delamination

VEM Maintenance & Engineering has been chosen by Airbus as its only Authorized Repair Center in Latin America to overhaul the composite rudder assemblies of the Airbus A310 fleet.

The Brazilian company notes it already holds all major certifications in both airplane and component maintenance.

Airbus says VEM's technical capacity was the determining factor for the company to be chosen and certified. Another positive point was VEM's "White Room" (a chamber with environmental control: temperature, relative humidity, and suspended particles), which can hold the rudder of the A310, and meets all of Airbus' control standards.

The course was held from October 20-31 at Airbus' facilities in Stade, Germany. VEM sent a team of three members (technicians/engineers), from the Composite Structures Area, to take the training and then to multiply it within the company.

The course focused on theoretical and practical aspects of the construction and repair concept of the A310 rudder, including key parts of the process, such as delamination and disbonds caused by the moisture entrapment... defects that reduce the structural integrity of these components (shown above).

"Besides the importance of this certification for VEM's portfolio of services, it was also important for the growth of the team," comments Structural Engineer Rodrigo Gaya. "Airbus presented to us the techniques developed over the past five years, so that the same quality assured by Airbus is assured by its Authorized Repair Centers. It was gratifying to hear commented by Airbus' technical team and by Project Manager Olaf Rokitta that VEM obtained the best results in the entire history of this training, which took place on the ninth day of testing."

FMI: www.vem.aero/, www.airbus.com