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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Maintenance Inspector

💰 $ - $

AviationAircraft MaintenanceQuality AssuranceEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

The Jet Maintenance Inspector is a certified aircraft maintenance professional responsible for conducting detailed inspections, audits, and sign-offs to ensure jet aircraft meet airworthiness, safety, and regulatory standards. This role combines technical inspection expertise (structural, systems, powerplant, avionics) with strong regulatory knowledge (FAA, EASA), high-fidelity documentation, and cross-functional communication with maintenance, engineering, quality, and flight operations teams. The inspector identifies defects, approves corrective actions, oversees repair quality, and signs maintenance release documents when authorized.

Key SEO & LLM keywords: Jet Maintenance Inspector, Aircraft Inspector, FAA A&P, EASA Part-66, airworthiness inspection, NDT, borescope, structural inspection, avionics troubleshooting, maintenance release, inspection program.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Aircraft Maintenance Technician / A&P Mechanic
  • Avionics Technician or Powerplant Technician
  • Quality Control Technician or Maintenance Support Specialist

Advancement To:

  • Lead Maintenance Inspector / Senior Inspector
  • Maintenance Control Supervisor / Production Control Manager
  • Quality Assurance Manager / Airworthiness Manager
  • Maintenance / Engineering Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Reliability Engineer
  • Airworthiness Certification Specialist
  • Regulatory Compliance Auditor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform thorough line, base, and depot-level inspections of jet airframes, engines, auxiliary power units (APUs), and avionics systems to verify compliance with manufacturer maintenance manuals, structural repair manuals, and regulatory airworthiness directives.
  • Execute pre- and post-maintenance functional checks and operational tests (hydraulics, flight controls, landing gear, environmental control systems) to validate repair effectiveness and system integrity before release to service.
  • Conduct detailed structural inspections including fastener checks, corrosion assessment, composite and metallic repairs, borescope inspections of engine hot sections, and non-destructive testing (NDT) verification per established inspection intervals and damage tolerance procedures.
  • Review and interpret maintenance data, AMM, SRM, IPCs, wiring diagrams, schematics, and engineering drawings to identify discrepancies, root causes, and necessary corrective actions.
  • Authorize and certify maintenance releases, work orders, and logbook entries in accordance with FAA 14 CFR (or applicable authority) rules, ensuring all paperwork, sign-offs, and signatures are complete and legally compliant.
  • Coordinate with engineering, structural repair stations, and OEM technical representatives to evaluate repair schemes, temporary repairs, and engineering dispositions, and to carry out approved modifications and inspection findings.
  • Execute scheduled compliance tasks including Airworthiness Directives (AD) compliance tracking, Service Bulletins (SB) implementation, and Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information reviews to maintain regulatory currency.
  • Perform non-routine troubleshooting and fault isolation on complex avionics and aircraft systems, recommending corrective actions, parts replacement, or engineering consultations when necessary.
  • Lead and perform quality audits of maintenance processes, vendor repairs, and subcontractor workmanship to verify quality standards, traceability of parts, and conformance to repair specifications.
  • Use and maintain inspection tools and calibrated test equipment (multimeters, borescopes, torque wrenches, pressure gauges, test benches) and ensure calibration records comply with company and regulatory requirements.
  • Conduct root cause analyses and write detailed technical findings and corrective action reports to prevent recurrence of defects and improve maintenance reliability.
  • Supervise and mentor junior inspectors and technicians, providing on-the-job training, inspection technique coaching, and guidance on documentation best practices and regulatory compliance.
  • Maintain and update inspection records in maintenance tracking systems (CAMP, AMOS, TRAX, CHAMP, Ramco, Maximo) and generate inspection reports, trend data, and KPIs for management review.
  • Execute flight-line and ramp inspections, turnaround inspections, and defect verification for on-demand operations to minimize AOG downtime while ensuring safety and airworthiness.
  • Oversee component removal and installation procedures, ensuring proper part identification, life-limit tracking, and correct use of approved parts, rotables, and consumables.
  • Participate in maintenance planning meetings and daily production briefings, providing inspection input to turnaround times, resource allocation, and technical risk assessments.
  • Ensure compliance with safety management system (SMS) processes, hazard reporting, and safety briefings; proactively identify safety risks and recommend mitigations to reduce incidents and human factors issues.
  • Validate repair quality after structural or major system overhauls and confirm that all engineering orders and modifications were correctly performed before final acceptance.
  • Manage configuration control and document management for inspected aircraft, including logbook accuracy, configuration changes, and release status tracking.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives for inspection techniques, checklists, SOPs, and preventive maintenance schedules to drive increased aircraft availability and reduced rework.
  • Liaise with flight crew, operations, and customer representatives to explain inspection findings, maintenance timelines, and airworthiness status while maintaining professionalism and clear communication.
  • Ensure environmental, health and safety (EHS) and hazardous materials handling practices are adhered to in inspection and repair activities, including proper disposal and documentation of regulated waste.
  • Participate in emergency response and AOG recovery efforts as the inspection authority on technical decisions, damage assessments, and expedited repair approvals.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ongoing training programs by developing inspection checklists, training materials, and practical assessment criteria for inspector certification.
  • Assist in procurement reviews for technical publications, tooling, ground support equipment, and calibration services to ensure inspection capability.
  • Contribute inspection data to reliability programs (MRBR, MPD) to influence maintenance planning and reduce repetitive defects.
  • Participate in regulatory audits and certification activities, preparing required documentation and responding to findings with corrective action plans.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise for safety investigations, incident reports, and insurance claims requiring technical inspection evidence.
  • Help maintain an electronic documentation library for inspection procedures, ADs, SBs, and service information with version control and access management.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate or EASA Part-66 B1/B2 certification (required).
  • Demonstrated experience with jet aircraft inspection standards, AMM, SRM, IPC, and OEM service documents.
  • Strong capability with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods: borescope inspection, eddy current, dye penetrant, ultrasonic inspection (NDT Level I/II preferred).
  • Proficient in engine borescope inspection techniques and interpretation of findings for turbine engines (CFM, GE, PW, RR experience advantageous).
  • Working knowledge of avionics systems troubleshooting, wiring diagrams, and LRUs replacement procedures.
  • Experience with maintenance tracking and MRO IT systems (CAMP, AMOS, TRAX, CHAMP, Ramco, Maximo).
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, structural repair manuals, and damage tolerance documentation.
  • Skilled at performing functional tests for hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel, environmental control, and landing gear systems.
  • Familiarity with AD/SB compliance management and documentation control processes.
  • Knowledge of calibration procedures and use of precision inspection tools and test equipment.
  • Understanding of composite repair techniques, bonding processes, and inspection criteria for modern airframe materials.
  • Experience authorizing maintenance releases, logbook entries, and ensuring compliance with 14 CFR or applicable local regulations.
  • Competent in Microsoft Office suite and technical report writing; able to prepare detailed inspection reports with photographs and annotation.
  • Experience conducting quality audits and supplier/vendor oversight for repair stations and subcontracts.
  • Certifications preferred: NDT Level II, Lead Auditor (AS9100/ISO9001), OSHA 10/30, Dangerous Goods Regulations training.

Soft Skills

  • Meticulous attention to detail with strong diagnostic reasoning and investigative skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication; capable of explaining complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong decision-making and ownership: able to make airworthiness judgments under time pressure.
  • Team player with collaborative approach across maintenance, engineering, and operations.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance scheduled inspections and AOG responses.
  • Customer-focused mindset: communicates status and impacts clearly to internal and external customers.
  • Integrity and accountability for regulatory compliance and accurate recordkeeping.
  • Adaptability and continuous learning orientation to stay current with evolving aircraft technology and regulations.
  • Coaching and mentorship abilities to develop junior staff and transfer institutional knowledge.
  • Resilience in high-pressure environments and ability to remain calm during recovery operations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED; FAA A&P license or equivalent certification required (EASA Part-66 acceptable).

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline.
  • Additional certifications (NDT Level II, Lead Auditor, OEM-specific courses) are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aviation Maintenance Technology
  • Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Avionics / Electrical Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–10+ years of progressively responsible aircraft maintenance and inspection experience, with a minimum of 3 years on jet aircraft for most roles.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of direct jet airframe/engine inspection experience, including heavy maintenance cycles.
  • Experience with major airframe types (e.g., Boeing 737/747/757/767/777/787, Airbus A320/A330/A340/A350/A380) preferred.
  • Proven track record performing structural repairs, NDT inspections, and certifying maintenance releases.
  • Prior experience in an MRO, airline maintenance control, or OEM/repair station environment.
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