Female Lead in Aerospace

Wendy Hamadock, Crew Chief at Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) at San Antonio Aerospace (SAA), puts aircrafts through rigorous tests for airworthiness – and she has 35 years of experience in the aerospace industry. 

“Not many women find themselves in this role, but I fell in love with all the testing to detect cracks and defects in aircraft structures using various tests like Ultrasonic, Radiographic, Magnetic Particle, Liquid Penetrant, and more, when studying Non-Destructive Testing at Spartan School of Aeronautics,” says Wendy.

The Rigour of Non-Destructive Testing

Non-Destructive Testing plays a vital role in the aerospace industry by ensuring the structural integrity and safety of aircraft and spacecraft components. These methods are employed throughout the entire lifecycle of aerospace products—from material selection and manufacturing to maintenance and repair—to detect defects without causing any damage to the components.

“I see NDT as fundamental in maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft by detecting flaws that could compromise structural integrity which could otherwise result in catastrophic failures, compromising the safety of passengers and crew,” Wendy explains.

Furthermore, NDT helps manufacturers comply with the strict safety standards requirements that regulatory bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) impose. NDT can also prevent costly repairs and replacements, reducing downtime and maintaining operational efficiency by detecting defects early.

Come Join Us

Besides her passion for testing aircrafts, Wendy says “I love being part of a team of highly skilled personnel that work together to deliver safe aircraft to our customers.” She also hopes that more women will find their way to NDT. 

As we celebrate Women’s Day on 7 March, we celebrate Wendy’s leadership, which has been instrumental in guiding her team to achieve outstanding results, making her a true asset to SAA.