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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Aircraft Inspector

💰 $ - $

AviationAerospaceMaintenanceInspectionQuality Assurance

🎯 Role Definition

A Jet Aircraft Inspector is a certified maintenance professional responsible for planning, executing, documenting, and approving inspections and airworthiness assessments for jet aircraft. This role ensures compliance with FAA/EASA/CAAC regulations, manufacturer maintenance manuals (MRM/SRM), airworthiness directives (ADs), and company procedures. Inspectors identify structural, mechanical, avionics, and systems defects; perform or supervise non‑destructive testing (NDT); authorize release to service; and collaborate with maintenance, engineering, and quality teams to maintain safe, reliable fleet operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) Technician / Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Technician
  • Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Technician with aviation experience
  • Line or Base Maintenance Technician (Avionics, Structures, Engines)

Advancement To:

  • Lead Jet Aircraft Inspector / Senior Inspector
  • Maintenance Control Supervisor / Base Maintenance Manager
  • Quality Assurance Manager / Airworthiness Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Structural Repair and Composite Specialist
  • Maintenance Planner / Reliability Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct comprehensive scheduled and unscheduled inspections on commercial and business jet airframes and engines in accordance with FAA/EASA regulations, manufacturer structural repair manuals (SRM), and company maintenance programs, documenting findings in the maintenance tracking system.
  • Perform detailed structural inspections including fuselage, wings, empennage, control surfaces, landing gear, and attachment fittings, identifying corrosion, cracks, fastener failures, and composite delamination; provide repair recommendations and deviation approvals when required.
  • Execute and interpret non‑destructive testing (NDT) procedures (e.g., eddy current, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant) to detect subsurface defects and verify integrity of metallic and composite structures; ensure NDT equipment calibration and certification are current.
  • Inspect and test turbine engines, APUs, nacelles, and engine mounts for evidence of oil leaks, foreign object damage (FOD), bird strike, thermomechanical damage, and structural distortion; coordinate borescope inspections and report findings to engine shop/overhaul teams.
  • Verify compliance with airworthiness directives (ADs), service bulletins (SBs), manufacturer's bulletins, and engineering dispositions; plan and record corrective actions, including parts replacement, modification kits, and mandatory compliance tasks.
  • Review and interpret maintenance program tasks, Minimum Equipment List (MEL) limitations, Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC), wiring diagrams, and system schematics to guide inspections and troubleshooting activities.
  • Perform avionics and electrical system inspections, including pitot-static systems, transponders, ADS‑B, flight management systems (FMS), autopilot/flight control rigs, and communication radio checks; coordinate with avionics technicians for repairs and validations.
  • Conduct pressurization, oxygen, and emergency equipment inspections, verifying regulator operation, oxygen masks, life vests, slide systems, and emergency lighting per regulatory intervals and flight requirements.
  • Inspect hydraulic, pneumatic, and fuel systems for leaks, contamination, component integrity, hose/line condition, and subsystem operation; witness functional tests and report anomalies for corrective action.
  • Carry out landing gear inspections and testing including retraction/extension cycles, bogie checks, shock strut servicing, tire and brake condition assessments, and torque/rigging verification; generate work packages for component exchanges or repair.
  • Lead and document post‑incident and damage inspections (lightning strike, hail, hard landing, runway excursion) following approved inspection protocols, coordinate with engineering for damage assessment, and author disposition letters for return to service.
  • Sign maintenance release forms and perform return‑to‑service approvals within the scope of authority (A&P with Inspection Authorization, company authorization), ensuring all work conforms to technical records and regulatory standards.
  • Prepare and maintain accurate maintenance records, logbook entries, inspection certificates, discrepancy tags, and digital inspection reports in AMMS/AMOS/TRAXIS/other enterprise systems; ensure traceability of parts, repairs, and approvals.
  • Support trouble‑shooting activities by diagnosing mechanical and system failures using test equipment, wiring continuity checks, operational checklists, and collaborating with OEM engineering for root cause analysis.
  • Supervise and quality assure subcontractor and vendor inspections or repairs, ensuring conformity with the work scope, OEM requirements, and company quality standards; conduct acceptance inspections on returned components.
  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives: update inspection checklists, revise standard operating procedures (SOPs), report trends in recurring defects, and recommend preventive maintenance or design changes to reduce unscheduled removals.
  • Manage inspection tooling, gauges, and test bench calibration schedules; maintain tool control and calibration records to ensure measurement accuracy and regulatory compliance.
  • Provide technical guidance, on‑the‑job training, and mentoring to junior inspectors and maintenance technicians on inspection techniques, defect recognition, and maintenance documentation best practices.
  • Coordinate with maintenance control, flight operations, and production planning to manage aircraft dock times, minimize AOG implications, and prioritize inspection tasks while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance.
  • Participate in internal and external audits (FAA/EASA/third‑party) and safety reviews; prepare evidence, respond to findings, implement corrective actions, and close audit items in support of continuous regulatory compliance.
  • Ensure safety and environmental compliance during inspection activities; enforce lockout/tagout procedures, hazardous material handling, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) within hangar and ramp environments.
  • Maintain current knowledge of industry regulatory changes, OEM service information, repair techniques, and new technologies such as composite repair methods and digital inspection platforms.

Secondary Functions

  • Contribute to the development and refinement of inspection checklists, maintenance control procedures, and digital templates that improve inspection accuracy and consistency.
  • Assist engineering in evaluating repair schemes and modification kits; collect field data and inspection evidence to support lightweight engineering dispositions and design approvals.
  • Participate in cross‑functional continuous improvement projects (quality, reliability, maintenance planning) to reduce defects, unscheduled maintenance, and aircraft downtime.
  • Support vendor qualification activities by reviewing supplier inspection records, nonconformance reports, and calibration certificates during incoming component acceptance.
  • Provide subject matter expertise for procurement and inventory teams on spare parts criticality and shelf life considerations identified during inspections.
  • Train peers on new inspection tools (e.g., digital borescopes, tablet inspection software) and help integrate inspection data into corporate analytics for reliability trending.
  • Assist in developing and delivering technical training modules, safety briefings, and regulatory awareness sessions for maintenance staff.
  • Help manage the documentation flow during major checks and retrofits to ensure all inspection signoffs, part certifications, and engineering releases are properly recorded.
  • Support incident investigation teams by providing inspection data, photographs, and detailed technical observations to enable comprehensive root cause analyses.
  • Participate in customer communications and technical liaison when inspections identify issues that could impact operations, helping to explain findings, schedules, and corrective action timelines.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • FAA A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) certificate or equivalent civil aviation maintenance license (EASA Part‑66 B1/B2) required.
  • Inspection Authorization or company inspection endorsement preferred.
  • Proficiency with NDT methods and certifications (Level I/II ultrasonic, eddy current, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant); borescope inspection experience.
  • Strong knowledge of FAA 14 CFR / EASA Part‑M/Part‑145 regulations, airworthiness directives (ADs), and maintenance recordkeeping requirements.
  • Ability to read and interpret aircraft structural repair manuals (SRM), maintenance manuals (MM), wiring diagrams, IPC, and OEM service bulletins.
  • Experience with digital maintenance and reliability systems (AMOS, TRAXIS, CAMP, Ramco, CAMO, or equivalent) and electronic logbooks.
  • Competence in conducting engine borescope inspections, functional tests, rigging checks, and torque verification procedures.
  • Familiarity with composite repair techniques, bonded structures inspection, and corrosion prevention methods.
  • Proficient in using inspection tooling: micrometers, bore gauges, torque wrenches, pull‑tests, thread gauges, and calibrated test equipment.
  • Ability to prepare formal discrepancy reports, engineering requests, and maintenance release documentation with precise technical language.
  • Practical knowledge of avionic system testing, ADS‑B, transponder checks, and pitot/static system verification.
  • Competence in parts traceability, bill of materials verification, and acceptance inspections for replaced components.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail and methodical approach to inspection and documentation.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills for clear reports and cross‑department collaboration.
  • Analytical problem‑solving skills and sound judgement under time constraints (AOG and turnarounds).
  • Team player with the ability to lead small inspection teams and mentor junior staff.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance inspection workload during heavy maintenance cycles.
  • Customer‑facing professionalism when interacting with operators, OEM representatives, and regulatory auditors.
  • Adaptability to work varied shifts, nights, and weekend schedules in fast‑paced maintenance environments.
  • Commitment to safety culture and continuous professional development.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED; completion of an FAA‑approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School or equivalent technical training preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aviation Maintenance Technology
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Nondestructive Testing/Materials Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years of hands‑on aircraft maintenance and inspection experience, with at least 2 years on jet transport or business jet platforms.

Preferred: 5+ years of dedicated jet inspection experience on narrowbody/widebody or business jet fleets; prior inspection authorization or lead inspector experience; experience with major checks (C/D checks) and damage assessment.

Certifications & Professional Development Recommended:

  • FAA A&P Certificate (required) or EASA Part‑66 B1/B2
  • Inspection Authorization (IA) or company inspection license (preferred)
  • NDT Level II certifications (UT, ET, MT, PT)
  • Manufacturer‑specific training (Boeing, Airbus, Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer)
  • Safety training: Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), LOTO, CPR/First Aid
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