Abaris Completes Third Round of the Advanced Composite Structures Workshop for CAA Inspectors

Abaris Training Resources, Inc, of Reno, NV, USA, announces completion of the third “Advanced Composite Structures” course held for Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) inspectors the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2016, at the “Aviation House,” located next to Gatwick Airport outside of London, England, U.K.

Abaris’ president, Michael J. Hoke, presented the five-day workshop for 17 inspectors on a variety of topics ranging from basics of composite materials and construction methods to more specific regulatory documents related to composite structures. In addition, the group discussed new EASA and FAA policies on bonded repair size limit as well as high-energy wide-area blunt impact (HEWABI) damage issues and potential solutions.

The workshop portion of the course included hands-on exercises in which each group of two inspectors were tasked with fabricating a prepreg, 4-ply, carbon fiber unidirectional tape panel with either a symmetric or asymmetric laminate scheme to demonstrate the importance of laminate symmetry in layup. The panels were vacuum-bagged with a heat blanket and cured using a portable vacuum pump and hot bond control unit. After curing, the panels were evaluated for thermal warpage specific to the asymmetric laminates.

Overall, the course was well-received and all of the attendees received official certificates of completion along with composite reference materials.

Abaris has been conducting advanced composite training since 1983. For more information, visit www.abaris.com.