MAINTENANCE Protecting Engineers and Airframes on the Ramp In light of the current worldwide health crisis affecting global aviation, cost and time-efficiency for aircraft maintenance, repair and modifications will be absolutely critical elements in helping the sector to recover over the months and years ahead. All photos courtesy of JB Roche By Ian Nagle J ust like humans, airframes manufactured using composite materials are susceptible to different types of superficial skin wounds. Surface abrasions, that we call "hangar rash," are usually limited to minor damage caused to an aircraft while on the ground and often within the vicinity of a hangar, hence the term. It's sustained usually as a result of vehicles or ground equipment (GSE) coming into contact with the fuselage, engine nacelles or wing surfaces, resulting in cosmetic scratches or punctures to the laminate.