How much faster are the drone inspections?

NCMS reports the system cut inspection time by at least 40% during C-17 heavy maintenance visits.

Does the software make the final call on damage?

No. The software flags suspected defects, but maintenance staff must examine them and decide what work is needed.

Where is Boeing testing this?

At its San Antonio maintenance facility in Texas, and the team is still refining the process before wider use.

RoboticsTop Companies' AI MovesTop Companies AI10m agoNov 7, 2026, 06:30 JST

Boeing tests drone inspections on C-17 Globemaster III

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3 Key Points

What happened
Boeing is testing camera-equipped drones and its Automated Damage Detection Software on C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at its San Antonio maintenance facility; NCMS reports the system cut inspection time by at least 40% during heavy maintenance visits and identified more than 95% of anomalies in each scan.
Why it matters
Shorter inspections could return aircraft to service sooner and reduce the need for inspectors to climb onto aircraft or use raised work platforms.

WHO IT HITSMaintenance technicians and inspection crews working on C-17 aircraft stand to benefit from less time on elevated platforms, while operators gain faster return-to-service times. Boeing's military and commercial maintenance teams are already sharing lessons from the trials.

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Context & Analysis

Boeing's drone inspection trial builds on several years of development with autonomous flight specialist Near Earth Autonomy, which Boeing invested in through its HorizonX Ventures arm in 2017. The companies previously tested autonomous inspections at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where early trials showed drones could collect images and transmit them for automated analysis. Each image is linked to a location on the aircraft so inspectors can check the same area again.

The technology has also been tested on other military aircraft, including the KC-46 Pegasus, KC-135 Stratotanker, P-8 Poseidon, EA-18G Growler and C-5 Galaxy. Boeing says it has tested the main inspection procedures and developed guidance for staff training and quality checks. The San Antonio team is still refining the process before wider use.

Separately, Boeing is using aircraft data to help plan C-17 maintenance. In April, it introduced Aircraft Data Reasoner, software that examines aircraft data for signs of component problems. Boeing said an analysis of historical service data indicated a 2%–3% increase in aircraft availability. In July, Boeing announced plans to work with Pelico on maintenance scheduling and parts supply. Boeing wants to extend the drone inspection process to other maintenance sites and other aircraft, and its military and commercial maintenance teams are sharing what they learn from the trials.

FAQ

How much faster are the drone inspections?: NCMS reports the system cut inspection time by at least 40% during C-17 heavy maintenance visits.
Does the software make the final call on damage?: No. The software flags suspected defects, but maintenance staff must examine them and decide what work is needed.
Where is Boeing testing this?: At its San Antonio maintenance facility in Texas, and the team is still refining the process before wider use.

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