The solution
DARA Fleetlands successfully modernized its document management system using GTX solutions, enabling faster modifications, improved engineering efficiency, and seamless integration with CAD workflows. This ensures that military helicopters remain operational, safe, and ready for deployment at all times.
DARA Fleetlands: Digitizing military helicopter maintenance drawings
Maintaining helicopters for the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF, DARA Fleetlands needed a modernized system to update technical drawings efficiently. GTXRasterCAD® enabled hybrid editing, automated raster-to-vector conversion, and streamlined workflow efficiency, ensuring aircrafts remain mission-ready with optimized maintenance processes.
DARA Fleetlands, based in Hampshire, UK, is the primary maintenance hub for helicopters used by the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force. With a workforce of 1,100 professionals, DARA Fleetlands ensures that Chinooks, Sea Kings, Lynxes, and Gazelles remain operational for rescue missions, military operations, and humanitarian aid. Managing technical modifications and repairs efficiently is critical—but many legacy engineering drawings still existed only on paper, creating workflow challenges.
Challenge
DARA Fleetlands faced difficulties in modifying and updating technical drawings for aircraft maintenance and testing equipment.
- Many engineering schematics were only available on paper, making revisions slow and time-consuming.
- The Engineering services and Design division needed to update equipment specifications to match modern aircraft modifications but lacked an efficient way to integrate older drawings into CAD workflows.
- Ensuring accurate updates and quick retrieval was essential for military readiness and operational efficiency.
Solution
DARA Fleetlands adopted GTXRasterCAD® and GTXRasterCAD PLUS, integrating them into AutoCAD® 2000 to enable fast raster-to-vector conversion and hybrid editing.
- Scanning & digital cleanup: Large-format scanners digitized legacy engineering drawings, enabling engineers to enhance and edit images seamlessly.
- Hybrid editing workflow: GTX allowed raster drawings to be modified like vector files, preserving original data while ensuring modern CAD compatibility.
- Automated vectorization: GTXRasterCAD PLUS provided fast and precise vector conversion, ensuring fully compatible AutoCAD® DWG files for ongoing use.
Result
By digitizing technical drawings, DARA Fleetlands significantly reduced maintenance delays, ensuring fast access to critical schematics.
- Engineers efficiently update aircraft test rigs and components, keeping military helicopters ready for deployment.
- The GTX-powered workflow eliminated time-intensive manual redrafting, accelerating repair processes and improving operational reliability.
- The system streamlined document storage and access, ensuring long-term engineering data sustainability for military applications.