Definition
An aircraft structure in which the components are joined together with adhesive rather than with mechanical fasteners such as rivets, bolts, or screws. The adhesive is cured under controlled heat and pressure to form a strong, continuous bond between the parts.
Plain English
A part of the aircraft where the pieces are glued together with a special high-strength adhesive instead of being held with rivets or bolts.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance and inspection discussions, especially with composite parts, panels, skins, and certain repaired areas.
Derivation
Bonded comes from the Old English 'bond,' meaning something that ties or holds together. In aviation it carries the specific sense of being held by a cured adhesive joint, not by mechanical fasteners.
Why Pilots Care
Bonded structures provide smooth surfaces and weight savings but must be inspected for delamination which can compromise safety.
Intuition Check
Bonded does not just mean “connected” or “associated.” In aircraft structure, it means physically joined with an adhesive or bonding process so the parts share loads.
Example Sentence 1
The control surface is a bonded structure, so the technician used a tap test rather than looking for loose rivets.
Example Sentence 2
Inspectors checked the bonded structure for signs of separation after the hard landing.