Non Destructive Inspection lab keeps Hercs flying safely Published Feb. 18, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. James Brock 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The mission of the 910th Airlift Wing depends upon the operability of its fleet of eight C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft; the 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS) does critical work to help keep them in the air. One of the tools the AMXS uses to ensure the 910th's aircraft are safe to fly is the Non Destructive Inspection (NDI) lab. The NDI lab inspects aircraft components for stress that can lead to component failure. The inspections use special equipment to detect problems that the human eye cannot. During a recent aircraft inspection, maintainers spotted a crack above the aircrew entry door and called upon NDI's services to investigate. Master Sgt. Aldred Redarowicz is the non-commissioned officer in charge of the NDI lab. "NDI allows us to monitor the structural integrity of the airframe using x-ray and ultrasound," said Redarowicz. "We can see within a material's volume to determine continued serviceability and reliability." According to Redarowicz, NDI used x-ray tools to inspect horizontal and vertical longerons (airframe supports) for cracks concealed behind doubler plates (connecting devices) on the aircraft. Redarowicz said his shop used additional technologies to further inspect the aircraft's structure. "Ultrasonics (similar to ultrasound technology used in hospitals) were used to verify that the longerons weren't cracked in a different orientation," said Redarowicz. "Eddy current (electrical currents used to detect discontinuities) was used for surface inspections to scan around all the fasteners on the airframe." After NDI finished testing to determine the scope of repairs, maintainers fixed the aircraft, returning it to a fully mission capable status. Largely due to the work of maintainers, the 910th Airlift Wing has performed more than 150 thousand accident-free flying hours dating back more than 30 years.