Standardization of drone and AI use for aircraft inspections
We actively participate in two global working groups — EUROCAE WG-132 and SAE G-38 — which aim to harmonize international standards for automated aircraft inspections.
At Integración Tecnológica Empresarial (ITE), we are taking a decisive step forward in our commitment to innovation and technical excellence by joining two of the world’s most relevant working groups dedicated to standardizing the use of drones and artificial intelligence (AI) in aircraft inspection tasks.
These are EUROCAE’s WG-132 (Europe) and SAE International’s G-38 (United States), both focused on defining the technical and regulatory criteria that will shape the future of automated aircraft maintenance.
Two organizations, one shared direction
The WG-132 group, led by EUROCAE, focuses on developing standards and recommended practices for Automated Aircraft Inspections, ensuring that the use of automated technologies such as drones maintains the safety and airworthiness levels required in civil aviation.
Meanwhile, SAE International’s G-38 committee, officially launched in 2024, is creating global guidelines to facilitate the adoption of automated exterior inspections using drones, promoting consistency in data collection, comparison with traditional methods, and validation by regulatory authorities.
Recognizing their aligned goals and the importance of regulatory harmonization, both groups have initiated an active and coordinated collaboration. Meetings are held jointly, alternating locations between Europe and the United States, reinforcing a shared agenda for global standardization and acceptance.
“Cooperation between EUROCAE and SAE is key to ensuring that the resulting standards are recognized on both sides of the Atlantic. Taking part in this effort places us in a privileged position to anticipate and contribute to the requirements that will define the industry in the coming years,”
—highlights Juan Díaz Bejarano, Director of our Drone Solutions Unit.
These working groups also include major manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus, as well as leading airlines like Delta, United Airlines, ANA, Emirates, and KLM, all of which are already testing this type of inspection technology.
Applied experience and forward-looking vision
Our participation in these international forums is far from merely representative: ITE was invited to join this initiative due to its role as a developer of advanced solutions in the field — particularly the proven performance of our CANARD by ITE system in airport environments and its successful validation and certification processes.
Among the most notable projects is our collaboration with IAG / British Airways, with trials conducted in Cardiff and Glasgow, where we validated automated operations combining computer vision and artificial intelligence for General Visual Inspection (GVI) of aircraft.
“Our work with CANARD by ITE shows that it is possible to perform inspection operations at active airports — both day and night — with a high degree of consistency. This practical capability has sparked significant interest among manufacturers and airlines”, emphasizes Díaz Bejarano.
Although our GVI solution continues to evolve, our technical credibility and ability to operate in real-world environments have earned us substantial recognition in the sector. Our contribution to the international validation of emerging technologies — a particularly demanding process in the aerospace field — has likewise been highly valued.
Next stop: Pittsburgh
The next joint meeting of EUROCAE WG-132 and SAE G-38 will take place from November 4 to 6 at the SAE offices in Pittsburgh (USA), where Juan Díaz Bejarano will attend on behalf of ITE and our solution CANARD by ITE.
During this meeting, progress will be made in defining common requirements, equivalence criteria, and validation methodologies that will enable drone inspections to be recognized as reliable alternatives to traditional manual checks.
We will continue to participate actively in both groups, which are already considering merging to gain greater efficiency and institutional influence in the development of global standards.
“Being part of these working groups not only allows us to stay at the forefront of technology, but also to help shape how the aircraft maintenance industry will evolve in the coming years. It’s a strategic opportunity for ITE and for Spain,” concludes Díaz Bejarano.