Aircraft Inspection Types and Areas

Aircraft Inspection

• Types of inspections:
  • Pre-flight inspections: visual checks before each flight
  • Post-flight inspections: checks after each flight
  • Scheduled inspections: routine checks at set intervals (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly)
  • Annual inspections: comprehensive checks required by regulatory authorities
• Inspection areas:
  • Airframe and structural components
  • Engines and engine components
  • Avionics and electrical systems
  • Propellers and propeller systems
  • Landing gear and brakes
• Inspection techniques:
  • Visual examinations
  • Functional tests
  • Measurement and testing
  • Non-destructive testing (e.g. X-ray, ultrasound)

Quality Control

• Purpose: to ensure maintenance work meets specified standards
• Quality control checks:
  • Review of maintenance records
  • Inspection of completed work
  • Verification of parts and materials
  • Testing of systems and components
• Quality control personnel:
  • Responsible for conducting quality control checks
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
  • Identify and report discrepancies

Safety Protocols

• Hazard identification and risk assessment:
  • Identify potential hazards in the maintenance environment
  • Assess the risk of injury or damage
  • Implement measures to mitigate or eliminate hazards
• Personal protective equipment (PPE):
  • Required for certain tasks (e.g. welding, chemical handling)
  • Ensure proper use and maintenance of PPE
• Lockout/tagout procedures:
  • Prevent accidental startup of systems or equipment
  • Ensure proper isolation and de-energization
• Emergency procedures:
  • Fire response
  • Spill response
  • First aid and medical response

Record Keeping

• Maintenance records:
  • Document all maintenance activities
  • Include details of work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted
  • Required for regulatory compliance and auditing purposes
• Record retention:
  • Maintenance records must be retained for a specified period (e.g. 5 years)
  • Records must be accurate, complete, and legible
• Electronic records:
  • Allowed by regulatory authorities
  • Must meet specific requirements for security, accessibility, and backup

Repair Procedures

• Repair categories:
  • Minor repairs: routine maintenance tasks (e.g. replacing light bulbs)
  • Major repairs: complex tasks requiring specialized skills and equipment
• Repair procedures:
  • Follow approved data (e.g. manufacturer's instructions)
  • Use approved materials and parts
  • Conduct inspections and testing to ensure airworthiness
• Repair documentation:
  • Document all repairs and modifications
  • Include details of work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted

Aircraft Inspection

• Various types of inspections are conducted on aircraft, including pre-flight, post-flight, scheduled, and annual inspections.
• Inspections cover critical areas, including airframe and structural components, engines, avionics, propellers, and landing gear.
• Inspection techniques involve visual examinations, functional tests, measurement and testing, and non-destructive testing methods like X-ray and ultrasound.

Quality Control

• Quality control ensures maintenance work meets specified standards, and is critical for ensuring airworthiness.
• Quality control checks involve reviewing maintenance records, inspecting completed work, verifying parts and materials, and testing systems and components.
• Quality control personnel are responsible for conducting checks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and identifying and reporting discrepancies.

Safety Protocols

• Hazard identification and risk assessment are crucial for identifying potential hazards in the maintenance environment and mitigating or eliminating them.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for certain tasks, and its proper use and maintenance are essential.
• Lockout/tagout procedures prevent accidental startup of systems or equipment, and ensure proper isolation and de-energization.
• Emergency procedures are in place for fire response, spill response, and first aid and medical response.

Record Keeping

• Maintenance records document all maintenance activities, including work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted.
• Records must be retained for a specified period, typically 5 years, and must be accurate, complete, and legible.
• Electronic records are allowed, but must meet specific requirements for security, accessibility, and backup.

Repair Procedures

• Repairs are categorized into minor and major repairs, with minor repairs including routine maintenance tasks and major repairs requiring specialized skills and equipment.
• Repair procedures involve following approved data, using approved materials and parts, and conducting inspections and testing to ensure airworthiness.
• Repair documentation is critical, and includes details of work performed, parts replaced, and inspections conducted.