A method for the assembly of frames in an aircraft shell, wherein the aircraft shell comprises a skin and a plurality of stringers co-cured with the skin, wherein the skin has a plurality of reference marks. Identifying the reference marks on the skin using a first robot with artificial vision, establishing a local reference for the positioning of each frame based on a reference mark, grabbing a frame using the first robot, establishing a relative position between the first robot and the frame based on the reference mark, positioning the frame on an inner side of the aircraft shell using the first robot, and with a second robot, drilling holes through the frame and skin, and attaching the frame to the skin with fasteners.

A method for the assembly of frames in an aircraft shell, wherein the aircraft shell comprises a skin and a plurality of stringers co-cured with the skin, wherein the skin has a plurality of reference marks. Identifying the reference marks on the skin using a first robot with artificial vision, establishing a local reference for the positioning of each frame based on a reference mark, grabbing a frame using the first robot, establishing a relative position between the first robot and the frame based on the reference mark, positioning the frame on an inner side of the aircraft shell using the first robot, and with a second robot, drilling holes through the frame and skin, and attaching the frame to the skin with fasteners.

Provided are methods of forming stiffened stringer panels with integrated plank structures. A skin member having an inner surface is provided. A plank is positioned onto the inner surface of the skin member. The plank extends from a first side to a second side, and each laminate ply of the set of layered laminate plies is sized to form a geometric profile for each of the first side and the second side. Each laminate ply of the set of layered laminate plies is arranged to extend from the first side to the second side. A stringer is placed onto a support tool. The support tool, and the stringer thereon, is positioned upon an uppermost laminate ply of the set of layered laminate plies. The skin member, the plank, and the stringer are joined.

A tie-down for attachment to an aft tail section of an aircraft for inhibiting damage to the aircraft when the aircraft is on the ground is disclosed. The tie-down has a mount member configured to attach to the aft tail section and a projection member supported by the mount member. The projection member extends in a generally downward direction from the mount member so as to provide a contact surface with the ground that is lower than the aft tail section.

A tie-down for attachment to an aft tail section of an aircraft for inhibiting damage to the aircraft when the aircraft is on the ground is disclosed. The tie-down has a mount member configured to attach to the aft tail section and a projection member supported by the mount member. The projection member extends in a generally downward direction from the mount member so as to provide a contact surface with the ground that is lower than the aft tail section.

A lightning strike protection layer for an aircraft is disclosed having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes a first fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a first electrically conductive metal layer and the second portion includes a second fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a second electrically conductive metal layer, and the first and second portions are joined at a butt joint, with the first and second fibre reinforced polymer composite layers abutting and the first and second electrically conductive metal layers abutting; and a butt-strap extending across the butt joint, the butt-strap comprising a third electrically conductive metal layer electrically connected to the first and second electrically conductive metal layers.

A lightning strike protection layer for an aircraft is disclosed having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes a first fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a first electrically conductive metal layer and the second portion includes a second fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a second electrically conductive metal layer, and the first and second portions are joined at a butt joint, with the first and second fibre reinforced polymer composite layers abutting and the first and second electrically conductive metal layers abutting; and a butt-strap extending across the butt joint, the butt-strap comprising a third electrically conductive metal layer electrically connected to the first and second electrically conductive metal layers.

Systems and methods for a caul plate for an irregular surface. One embodiment is a caul plate for co-curing or co-bonding a first composite part and a second composite part. A body of the caul plate includes a lower surface to face a top surface of the first composite part, a reference edge to locate the second composite part on the first composite part, and an upper surface that is opposite to the lower surface. The lower surface includes one or more bends to match one or more slopes in the top surface of the first composite part. The one or more bends correspond with ply changes in the first composite part.

In an example, a system is described. The system includes a guardrail having a post, and the post having a post dog. The system also includes a latch eye configured to be coupled to a flip door. The system also comprises a safety latch mechanism configured to be coupled to a fixed structure and including a body, a socket configured to receive the post, and a door latch rotatably coupled to the body and biased in a latched position that is configured to engage with the latch eye and thereby retain the flip door in a lowered position. Based on the post being inserted into the socket of the safety latch mechanism, the post dog engages with and rotates the door latch from the latched position to an unlatched position, thereby allowing the flip door to be raised from the lowered position to a raised position.

In an example, a system for preventing a flip door from being raised without a guardrail installed is disclosed. The system includes a guardrail having a post, and the post having a post dog. The system also includes a safety latch mechanism configured to be coupled to a fixed structure. The safety latch mechanism includes a body, a socket disposed in the body and configured to receive the post, and a door latch rotatably coupled to the body and biased in a latched position that is configured to retain a flip door in a lowered position. Based on the post being inserted into the socket of the safety latch mechanism, the post dog engages with and rotates the door latch from the latched position to an unlatched position, thereby allowing the flip door to be raised from the lowered position to a raised position.