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Before the introduction of NDT into aircraft maintenance engineering, the decision as to whether an aircraft was declared airworthy was based entirely upon previous inspections of the aircraft conducted within the stripdown limits of the approved maintenance schedule, and the inspector’s own examination of those parts which were accessible and visible.
The inspector’s degree of confidence in affixing his signature to a legal document declaring airworthiness was the sum total of his own engineering knowledge and experience and by the reliability record of the aircraft type. His basic inspection tools were still his flashlight and mirror, and the range of his inspection was limited to those areas that were visually accessible . With respect to the inaccessible areas, it was necessary to wait until an expensive tear-down inspection was performed to determine the true condition of the equipment. Consequently, structural tear-down merely for the sake of inspection remained a very expensive burden to the aircraft operator, but a very necessary procedure for the inspector.
In 1959, two Senior NCOs from Material Command Headquarters in Ottawa, were sent on a Nondestructive Testing course at the Department of Mines and Resources, located at that time on Victoria Island in the middle of the Ottawa River. This was followed by On Job Training conducted at Dept of Mines and Resources, and at the old Material Laboratory at CFB Rockcliffe.
Between 1962 and 1964 approximately 10 personnel within NDT were trained by these two Senior NCOs. As a pre-requisite for this course the NDT personnel were to have had at least ten years experience on the aircraft maintenance. The majority of the original 10 trainees attended various NDT courses in England, the USA and Canada.
NDT support was provided by 6RD for the entire Canadian Forces. However, it was only on a “when-available” basis for the sea and land elements. They were equipped with a travel-all van which they used exclusively to transport their equipment and men to respective bases requiring NDT services wherever possible. The NDT teams were constantly on the road.
In 1963 F/L Vanier was appointed the first Nondestructive Testing Officer (NDTO). In 1964 the first NDT course was held at 6RD Trenton. This was the initial build-up of NDT with plans to establish a NDT detachment at each command, i.e. Training, Transport, Air Defence Command and Maritime command, and each to be geographically located in order that each detachment could provide NDT services to all bases in the surrounding area.
Annual courses of approximately 10 students were run each year from 1964 to the mid 90’s. There were several years of cutbacks but new training courses have resumed.
Eleven NDT Detachment/Facilities were established between1967 and 1982 today only facilities remain at Greenwood, Shearwater, Bagotville, Comox, Moose Jaw, Winnipeg and Cold Lake, the NDT Centre has been in Trenton since inception. From a high of approximately 110 personnel, the NDT specialty is now established with 51 personnel.
To date there have been approximately 500 personnel who have been trained and contributed to this valuable integral part of Canadian Forces maintenance and safety programs.