Pratt & Whitney has acquired Amsterdam-based Aiir Innovations as it looks to expand the use of AI-assisted borescope inspection technology across its engine portfolio and global MRO operations.

Aiir Innovations’ software applies artificial intelligence (AI) to borescope video to assist inspectors with faster and more repeatable engine assessments.

Pratt & Whitney has already applied the technology to V2500 engine inspections and recently completed pilots on the GTF and F135 engines, with plans to expand its use across the company.

Rob Griffiths, senior vice president of commercial engines operations at Pratt & Whitney, said: “Broadening the integration of AI-assisted inspection capability strengthens our ability to detect issues earlier, improve turnaround times, increase time on wing and reduce operational disruption for our customers.

“It will fundamentally reshape how engines and components are inspected, maintained and supported throughout their lifecycle, as we increase its application across Pratt & Whitney.”

The software has already been rolled out to commercial customers and MRO providers and, according to Pratt & Whitney, has significantly reduced inspection times.

The technology adapts to inspector feedback to improve classification performance over time, enabling the software to become increasingly aligned with real-world inspection expertise.

It also provides configurable reporting capabilities, allowing inspection processes that previously required substantial time to be completed in minutes while improving consistency, traceability and accuracy.

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