LATAM Airlines Group, in South America, has begun tests to use drones in the exterior inspection of aircraft fuselages and preliminary results show that the time required has been reduced from eight hours to only 40 minutes. The tests consist of the drone automatically flying around the aircraft and taking up to 2,000 detailed photos of the entire fuselage, using artificial intelligence to identify potential damage and possible required repairs. The tests are being carried out at the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities located in São Carlos, Brazil, and testing is expected to be extended to the Maintenance Centre in Santiago, Chile, in the coming weeks. SEE the podcast: Flight Safety Detectives dissect the Netflix doco “Downfall”. READ: Boeing will bounce back says world’s largest leasing company READ: Ukraine’s President wants to build another AN-225 “At LATAM we see this technology as an opportunity to improve and optimise our aircraft maintenance and inspection processes. We are constantly looking for new tools that allow us to establish more efficient and precise processes, with the safety of our passengers as the top priority”, Marcos Melchiori, Senior Manager MRO São Carlos of LATAM Airlines Group said. LATAM is also incorporating the use of augmented reality glasses for the inspection and maintenance of its aircraft in remote locations. These can transmit images in real-time to engineering, which allows technicians to make faster and more accurate decisions, further raising the level of safety and punctuality. Teams can provide daily support and remotely assist technicians from other LATAM airports in more specific and complex aircraft maintenance, reducing operational impacts.