AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings’ Iris CMX provides the objective data needed to strengthen predictive models and improve the speed and efficiency of inspections.
Aircraft paint maintenance has reached new heights of precision and predictability with the latest evolution of AkzoNobel’s
digital management system. The company’s Aerospace Coatings business
has introduced a second drone-based tool, the Iris CMX, to its Aerofleet Coatings Management service.
First launched in 2023, Aerofleet uses data-rich insights to help airlines optimise coating maintenance across their entire fleets. The new Iris CMX drone features a targeted three-in-one contact-based sensor capable of directly measuring coating performance. Developed in partnership with Donecle, it captures quantitative data for dry film thickness, colour, and gloss measurements. This brings a superior level of accuracy, consistency, and repeatability to inspections.
The Iris CMX joins the existing Iris GVI drone, which flies in a set grid to provide a full-surface visual analysis via 600 high-definition photos. AkzoNobel’s software then analyses these images to flag wear or issues. By employing this advanced two-drone system, Aerofleet can precisely determine when an aircraft actually requires repainting, moving away from schedules based solely on flight hours or time.
“Aerofleet Coatings Management has always been about giving airlines greater confidence in when and why they maintain or repaint their aircraft. Iris CMX provides the objective data needed to strengthen predictive models while improving inspection speed and efficiency,” has stated Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel's Automotive and Specialty Coatings business.
The system now integrates three core data inputs:
- Environmental data: Route profiles, UV exposure, and humidity.
- Visual analysis: Full-surface imaging from the Iris GVI drone.
- Precision measurement: Targeted data from the Iris CMX drone.
A trained team can operate both drones simultaneously on either side of an aircraft, completing a full inspection of a narrowbody plane in roughly 30 minutes. Ideally suited for fleets of 100 aircraft or more, the service helps airlines reduce unnecessary repainting, lower costs, and increase aircraft availability. This ultimately contributes to improved operational efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint.