In the Canadian Forces, as for other operators of aging aircraft, the need has arisen to utilize new tools for managing corrosion problems more cost effectively. Corrosion surveillance methodologies are focused on the reduction of unnecessary inspections and on optimizing certain
maintenance and inspection schedules. To accomplish the former, on-going development of on-board corrosion sensors is required, with the ultimate goal of establishing truly “smart structures”. For the optimization of these schedules, a link between the corrosivhy of the operating environment and these schedules is needed. Information on atmospheric corrosivity at a marine base is sought in terms of an overall corrosivity map of the base, real-time atmospheric corrosivhy measurements in the external atmosphere and air quality monitoring in “air-conditioned” hangars. Corrosion surveillance information should be integrated with complementary data and information to enhance its value and impact.
Keywords: corrosion surveillance, aircraft, atmospheric corrosivity, information processing