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Laboratories analysis

Optimize maintenance for your dynamic components.

For the maintenance of dynamic components, analysis of lubrication oil and particles should be required. These specialized analyses are essential for assessing your gearbox's airworthiness and ensuring its performance and longevity.

Dedicated laboratories are equipped to perform these analyses, which are crucial for assessing component serviceability.

To support our customers' needs for oil and particle analysis, Airbus has expanded its network of partners. It’s up to you to leverage the proven capabilities of these Airbus-approved laboratories to find a partner that best fits your needs.

At Airbus, we understand the critical role of rigorous oil and particle analysis in maintaining the health of your fleet. That's why we've expanded our partner network, all dedicated to this essential service. This extensive network ensures you can easily connect with partners who precisely meet your needs, all backed by Airbus's stringent standards.

For the maintenance of dynamic components, analysis of lubrication oil and particles should be required. These specialized analyses are essential for assessing your gearbox's airworthiness and ensuring its performance and longevity.

  • 25

    labs expanded global diagnostic network

  • 15

    approved labs equipped for particle characterization

  • 14

    approved labs dedicated to enhanced oil analysis

Particles analysis

When it comes to particle analysis, the requirements are highly specific. This work demands unique expertise in facies characterization, terminology, and the specific parameters analyzed.

Due to these highly specialized requirements, Airbus approved laboratories are equipped to perform the particle characterization needed to meet the maintenance directives in our technical publications. This ensures the accuracy and reliability essential for your dynamic components' safety and performance.

Additional recommendations

To avoid delays in laboratory particle analysis, please ensure you fully adhere to the particle collection procedure defined in the technical publication (refer to MTC 20-08-01-601).

Just a reminder: after the degreasing step, particles must be collected using Kit Aero KA0225-3 (or an equivalent kit), which includes a transparent adhesive tape and a transparent support sheet

Oil analysis

Regarding oil analysis activities, laboratories able to do it are the ones certified in accordance with international standards (for example ISO 17025) or locals' regulations.

Airbus has defined an extended set of tests, called “enhanced oil analysis”. All these laboratories approved by Airbus are able to perform this set of tests.

Technical publication already requests carrying on this set of tests for some helicopter types. Airbus recommends applying this new set of tests to all helicopter types. However, the technical publications still specify when the previous set of tests, the Spectrographic Oil Analysis Program (S.O.A.P.), may be applied.

Enhanced oil analysis

The extended set of tests includes:

  • Water content to track humidity pollution in the oil, which could generate oxidation
  • Viscosity stability to ensure an oil film on mechanical components (according to standard measurements must be performed at both 40°C and 100°C)
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma (I.C.P.) or spectral analysis to monitor the stability of additives and identify elements that are contained in the oil (e.g. iron, magnesium, aluminum, sulfur, phosphorous)

    Inductively Coupled Plasma (I.C.P.) when available should be favored.

    Rotating disc electrode (R.D.E.), often designated as Rotrode, may also cover the needs if the laboratory confirms that it be able to identify all elements requested by technical publication (e.g. iron, magnesium, aluminum, sulfur, phosphorous); if necessary with a complementary test (e.g. sulfur by X-ray fluorescence)

  • Total Acid Number (TAN) to monitor synthetic oil chemical stability

    Increased oil acidity can also lead to the damage of non-metallic parts.

  • Particle Quantifier (PQ) index to measure oil magnetism

Spectrographic Oil Analysis Program (S.O.A.P.)

The set of tests includes only:

  • Water content
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma (I.C.P.) or spectral analysis

Some of the laboratories, thanks to a dedicated statement of work set up, enable Airbus to analyze the data produced in the frame of oil and particle analysis activities.

In any case, it is requested to communicate to Airbus all analysis results using the already known communication channels.

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