ATA Congratulates Delta Air Lines and Vibrant Staff as Winners of the FAA-ATA “Better Way” Award

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, in association with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), today presented the winners of the 2010 FAA-ATA Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) “Better Way” award.

The Better Way Award annually recognizes a government-industry team that has developed and applied a technology, technique, process or policy resulting in a more sensitive, reliable or cost-effective process for inspecting and testing of aircraft, aircraft components or aircraft systems. This award, jointly sponsored by the FAA and ATA, was presented today at the ATA Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Forum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Industry and airline professionals on the Application of Process Compensated Resonant Testing (PCRT) team who were recognized with this prestigious award include: Scott Davidson, Mark Elliott, Jim Heuer, Jeff Peiter, David Piotrowski, Ramesh Ramakrishnan, John Robertson, Eric Schmitt and Louise Schoon from Delta Air Lines, and Lemna Hunter, Leanne Jauriqui and Greg Weaver from Vibrant.

Delta Air Lines teamed with Vibrant, to test the PCRT system, which is based on the fundamental that any rigid component will resonate at specific frequencies dependent on mass, geometry and material properties. The PCRT team proved this technique can reduce costs by allowing for a more rapid, reliable and sensitive inspection. The PCRT technique can be used to find all known defects in the JT8D engine first-stage turbine blades.

“We extend well-deserved congratulations to this year’s winning team for its enhanced work in the advancement and cost reduction of engine inspections,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “Engine reliability is an absolutely crucial component and this award exemplifies the importance of the industry’s need for continuing these collaborative efforts.”

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.