#AmazingJobsAtSafranNacelles - Gilles - “Non-destructive testing is constantly changing!"

Radiography, ultrasound, dye penetrant inspection, magnetic particle inspection, tomography… these technical terms are not widely known to the general public, and refer to methods used to check the health condition of materials or components without damaging or destroying them. Hence their name: non-destructive testing (NDT). They are the opposite of destructive testing, which requires “sacrificing” the tested part, because it can no longer be used afterwards. We can understand why this is so appealing! 

It is rather by chance that Gilles Durécu turned to this demanding field, even though this fan of fighter jets and air shows had taken his first steps at Safran Nacelles when he was still at university! “I did my professional degree training period in the nozzle design office in Le Havre and I stayed there as part of my certification as an aerospace manufacturing engineering technician.” he recalls. But, as no hiring opportunities arose at the time, he began his career as a service provider in other companies in the sector, and when recruited by a landing gear maintenance company, he evolved toward NDT. This is where he passed his 2 certification levels in dye penetrant inspection and magnetic particle inspection. 

“After six years," Gilles continues, “I applied to Safran Nacelles for a NDT technician role. The peculiarity of the position was that it included taking the level 3 certification. I saw the opportunity to progress in my profession and to support the increase in competence of a leading company in its field.” In fact, Gilles obtained his level 3 in dye penetrant inspection in 2018, then a level 2 in radiography in 2020, and finally level 3 in 2023. "The last is considered the hardest to get," says Gilles, who has devoted a lot of time and determination to meet these challenges. But why these two specialisations? "Dye penetrant inspection and X-rays are an interesting combination for the inspection of welds" he explains. “The first detects surface defects, while the radio allows you to check the inside of the material." 

With this dual skill, Gilles now divides his time between auditing and monitoring internal dye penetrant testing and radiography processes, auditing Safran Nacelles and Safran suppliers, technical support for all functions that use NDT, and monitoring his colleagues’ professional certifications. “It requires good organisation, but also a taste for teamwork and hands-on work," he says, “because I spend a lot of my time in the workshop." 

Despite the already vast experience he has acquired, Gilles still considers himself relatively new in the profession. “I learn every day! Mostly because I am called upon in many situations: the industrialisation of a new part, the choice of a new machine, the monitoring of a technical problem, the development of new inspection methods… I also work on R&D topics such as additive manufacturing. The world of NDT is constantly being renewed and I can see the techniques evolving: radiography has gone digital, artificial intelligence is opening up prospects for automatic detection…” 

But, although he works at the heart of innovation, Gilles remains attached to a more traditional form of know-how when it comes to his hobbies: an avid image lover, he practices black and white photography printed on silver paper. “I like the craftsmanship side of it and the artistic touch,” he says. A way to recharge your batteries, because yet another challenge awaits him soon: “I want to evolve as an NDT expert at Safran Nacelles and then put my expertise at Safran’s service by becoming a Group Expert." 

*the average age of NDT level 3 inspector was 52 years in 2012 and has been gradually decreasing since then. Source: French Confederation for Non-Destructive Testing.