Loading ...Educating people on what composites are is a very important step toward acceptance and usage. The industry in general has a very large scope, including in some that you don’t think of very often. According to Abaris Direct Services, a direct service company designed to help individuals understand and overcome difficulties in a wide variety of composite issues, the industry is coming to an apex. “With the advent of the new Boeing 787 the new generation aircrafts are forcing the issue and people are clamoring to know more about advanced composites from the ground up,” says Louis Dorworth, Abaris division manager. “Now, it’s up to the industry to make sure they get the right information.”
Dorworth, who has worked on projects like the Beech Starship and the B-2 Bomber, emphasizes the need for non-industry composites education because, “Right now there are groups of highly educated people using and testing composites, but they are not fully comfortable with composites,” he says. “As they become more aware of what composites are, how they are made and what issues to look for, they will be more comfortable with the material and repairs that need to be made—a huge benefit for the composites industry.”
Although the word about composites is already out, Dorworth points out the imperative next step. “At this point the industry needs to make itself readily available,” he says. “People look in different places for information, materials, equipment and training. I think the best way in this age is the internet. Ten years ago people didn’t have that kind of access. Now, if you don’t have a website, you’re not going to stay in business.”
