Aircraft are being used in service significantly longer than their original design life. This cost driven measure is subjecting aircraft structures to conditions that are increasing the probability of failure, particularly as a result of aging. Aircraft that already endured a long service life of more than 35 years are now being considered for additional 45 service years. This issue of long term usage and aging of aircraft is relevant to both military and commercial aircraft. The 1988 failure of the Boeing aircraft, which was operated by Aloha Airlines, heightened the level of attention of aircraft manufacturers, users and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the aging commercial aircraft. The increased usage of old aircraft has added a great degree of urgency to the ongoing need for reliable and efficient NDE methods of flaw detection and characterization in aircraft structures.
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