Occupation

Aviation Inspectors

Human Advantage 74%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.5 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.

Also Known As: Aeronautical Inspector, Aerospace Inspector, Air Carrier Inspector, Aircraft Inspector, Aircraft Landing Gear Inspector, Aircraft Maintenance Inspector, Aircraft Quality Control Inspector (Aircraft QC Inspector), Aircraft Systems Inspector +25 more

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Core Tasks

  1. Inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, modification, or repair and overhaul of aircraft and aircraft mechanical systems to ensure adherence to standards and procedures.
  2. Examine maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals.
  3. Inspect new, repaired, or modified aircraft to identify damage or defects and to assess airworthiness and conformance to standards, using checklists, hand tools, and test instruments.
  4. Approve or deny issuance of certificates of airworthiness.
  5. Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.
  6. Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.
  7. Recommend replacement, repair, or modification of aircraft equipment.
  8. Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions.
  9. Examine aircraft access plates and doors for security.
  10. Recommend changes in rules, policies, standards, and regulations, based on knowledge of operating conditions, aircraft improvements, and other factors.

Supplemental Tasks (3)

  1. Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes.
  2. Analyze training programs and conduct oral and written examinations to ensure the competency of persons operating, installing, and repairing aircraft equipment.
  3. Conduct flight test programs to test equipment, instruments, and systems under a variety of conditions, using both manual and automatic controls.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
34%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
29%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
20%
Some College Courses
14%
Bachelor's Degree
4%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

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  • SAS

Software (17)

  • Aircraft regulation databases
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Robotic workstation software
  • Technical Data Management System TDMS

Tools & Equipment (35)

  • Aircraft Technical Publishers ATP Maintenance Planner
  • Angled feeler gauges
  • Borescopes
  • Coordinate measuring machines CMM
  • Desktop computers
  • Dial gauges
  • Eddy current inspection equipment
  • Eddy current pencil probes
  • Fluorescent penetrant testers
  • Hand held magnifiers
  • Handheld computers
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Ladders
  • Laptop computers
  • Magnetic particle inspection equipment
  • Maintenance tracking software
  • Micrometers
  • Non-destructive inspection NDI robots
  • Ohmmeters
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Output meters
  • Personal computers
  • Precision rulers
  • Pressure gauges
  • Protractors
  • Scaffolding
  • Shearographic equipment
  • Tachometers
  • Thermographic equipment
  • Thread gauges
  • Torque wrenches
  • Ultrasonic inspection devices
  • Vernier calipers
  • Wearable computers
  • X ray inspection equipment

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Maintenance & Repair Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
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