Occupation · SOC 53-6051.01
Aviation Inspectors
Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
10 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringWritingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingTroubleshootingTime ManagementJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSystems AnalysisSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationOperation and ControlSystems EvaluationScienceRepairingPersuasionNegotiationLearning StrategiesInstructingEquipment MaintenanceCoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesEquipment SelectionOperations AnalysisMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
English LanguageMechanicalPublic Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceTransportationEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologyMathematicsAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsPhysicsDesignAdministrativeTelecommunicationsPsychologyEconomics and AccountingCommunications and MediaPersonnel and Human ResourcesSales and MarketingChemistryGeographyTherapy and CounselingBuilding and ConstructionHistory and ArcheologyMedicine and DentistryBiologyForeign LanguageSociology and AnthropologyFood ProductionPhilosophy and TheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Adobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAircraft regulation databasesComputer aided manufacturing CAM softwareDassault Systemes CATIAEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordRobotic workstation softwareSAP softwareSASTechnical Data Management System TDMS
Representative tasks
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsDocumenting/Recording InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsWorking with ComputersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesThinking CreativelyTraining and Teaching OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesProcessing InformationPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoaching and Developing OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDeveloping and Building TeamsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Aircraft exterior components — inspect under direct supervision using checklists to identify visible damage, corrosion, or defects on fuselage, wings, and landing gear.Hand tools and basic test instruments — select and apply following established protocols during introductory aircraft inspection tasks on the hangar floor.Maintenance records and flight logs — review under supervisor guidance to locate prescribed service intervals and verify basic documentation completeness.Aircraft mechanical systems — recognize common defects and non-conformances by comparing observed conditions against published standards and approved data.Inspection findings — document in standardized forms and logs under direct oversight to build accurate repair and inspection records.Landing gear and tires — examine for obvious signs of wear, damage, or corrosion by following step-by-step inspection checklists in a supervised maintenance environment.Engine exteriors — observe and describe evidence of fluid leaks, physical damage, or unusual conditions to a senior inspector during routine walkaround checks.Safety and airworthiness regulations — read and comprehend applicable FAA regulations and maintenance manuals with guidance from experienced inspectors.Aircraft operational instruments — monitor gauges and meters during supervised ground runs to recognize baseline normal readings versus potential anomalies.Repair and modification recommendations — assist in identifying and communicating equipment discrepancies to supervising inspectors for disposition in a maintenance facility.
developing
Aircraft maintenance and repair work — inspect independently against approved standards and procedures to verify mechanic compliance during routine scheduled maintenance events.Maintenance logs and service records — examine without close oversight to confirm that inspections, overhauls, and modifications occurred at required intervals and are properly documented.Repaired or modified aircraft — conduct structured airworthiness assessments using checklists, hand tools, and test instruments to identify defects before return to service.Certificates of airworthiness — evaluate inspection findings and supporting documentation to make informed approve-or-deny recommendations in familiar conformance scenarios.Inspection and certification reports — prepare detailed, accurate records that meet regulatory requirements and support audit trails in a busy MRO or airline environment.Landing gear, fuselage, wings, and engine exteriors — assess systematically for corrosion, structural damage, and repair needs during scheduled heavy-maintenance checks.Repair, modification, or replacement actions — recommend based on observed defects and comparison with serviceable-limits data, coordinating with maintenance crews.Aircraft engines and systems — start and monitor during ground-run procedures, interpreting instrument readings to identify malfunctions before return-to-service approval.Troubleshooting findings — apply structured logic to recurring discrepancies encountered during routine inspections, escalating complex cases to senior inspectors as needed.Spreadsheet and office software — use to track open discrepancies, manage inspection schedules, and produce summary reports for maintenance supervisors.
proficient
Full-scope aircraft airworthiness inspections — conduct autonomously across new, repaired, and modified aircraft, integrating checklists, instrumentation, and regulatory knowledge to make independent airworthiness determinations.Complex maintenance records and multi-source documentation — analyze to identify discrepancies, missing entries, or deferred items that affect airworthiness status in high-volume airline or MRO operations.Non-routine structural and mechanical defects — diagnose by applying advanced inductive and deductive reasoning to ambiguous findings and comparing them against engineering data and AD requirements.Certificates of airworthiness — approve or deny with full regulatory authority, defending decisions with documented evidence and clear written justification to operators and regulators.Comprehensive inspection, investigation, and certification records — author and maintain to a standard that withstands FAA audit, legal review, and accident investigation scrutiny.Landing gear, fuselage, wing, and propulsion systems — evaluate concurrently across multiple aircraft types for corrosion, fatigue, and damage-tolerance compliance in an MRO or fleet-maintenance setting.Mechanic workmanship and repair quality — assess against type certificate data sheets and supplemental type certificate documentation, resolving non-conformances through direct engagement with maintenance teams.Aircraft ground-run and systems-operations tests — lead and interpret, correlating live instrument data with maintenance history to confirm successful completion of complex repairs or modifications.Equipment replacement, repair, and modification dispositions — recommend with supporting technical rationale, coordinating findings with engineering, quality assurance, and regulatory personnel.Database and ERP software — use proficiently to query open discrepancies, manage airworthiness-directive compliance tracking, and generate regulatory compliance reports.
advanced
Inspection standards and quality-assurance programs — develop and implement at the organizational level, aligning internal procedures with FAA regulations and industry best practices across all aircraft types in the fleet.Aviation safety culture — champion through visible leadership, mentoring developing and proficient inspectors, and institutionalizing lessons learned from audit findings and incident investigations.Airworthiness certification policy — interpret and influence at the regulatory interface, representing the organization in discussions with FAA oversight personnel and during certificate management negotiations.Inspection workforce capability — assess gaps and design structured training and competency development programs to build technical proficiency across the inspection department.Complex fleet-wide maintenance and modification programs — oversee from a quality and safety standpoint, directing inspector resources and resolving escalated airworthiness disputes between engineering and operations.Organizational inspection records systems — design and govern, ensuring data integrity, audit readiness, and integration with ERP platforms across multiple maintenance stations or contracted vendors.Risk-based inspection strategies — formulate by synthesizing operational data, maintenance history trends, and regulatory intelligence to prioritize resources and reduce systemic airworthiness risk.Cross-functional safety investigations — lead in response to significant defects, incidents, or regulatory findings, coordinating technical analysis, corrective actions, and formal reporting to authorities.Supplier and contractor quality standards — establish and audit, holding external MRO partners and parts suppliers accountable to the organization's airworthiness and certification requirements.Emerging technology and regulatory change — evaluate proactively for impact on inspection practices, directing adaptation of procedures and toolsets to maintain compliance and operational safety.
Also known as
33 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Aeronautical InspectorAerospace InspectorAir Carrier InspectorAircraft InspectorAircraft Landing Gear InspectorAircraft Maintenance InspectorAircraft Quality Control Inspector (Aircraft QC Inspector)Aircraft Systems InspectorAirplane InspectorAirworthiness InspectorAirworthiness Safety InspectorAviation Safety Inspector (ASI)Avionics InspectorAvionics Safety InspectorFlight InspectorFlight Operations InspectorGeneral Avionics Safety InspectorInspectorJet InspectorMaintenance InspectorManufacturing Aviation Safety Inspector (Manufacturing ASI)Manufacturing Safety InspectorOperations InspectorPilot Safety InspectorPit InspectorPre-Flight OperatorPreflight InspectorQuality Control Inspector (QC Inspector)Quality InspectorRTS Inspector (Return to Service Inspector)Safety InspectorSafety Pilot InspectorTechnical Inspector