Aviation Inspectors

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Transportation & Material Moving
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-6051
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Examine maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals.
• 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.
• Approve or deny issuance of certificates of airworthiness.
• Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.
• Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.
• Recommend replacement, repair, or modification of aircraft equipment.
• Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions.
• Examine aircraft access plates and doors for security.
• Recommend changes in rules, policies, standards, and regulations, based on knowledge of operating conditions, aircraft improvements, and other factors.
• Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes.
• Analyze training programs and conduct oral and written examinations to ensure the competency of persons operating, installing, and repairing aircraft equipment.

Tools and technology

Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, SAP software, SAS, Aircraft Technical Publishers ATP Maintenance Planner

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
• Transportation Inspectors
• Construction and Building Inspectors
• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
• Avionics Technicians
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Aviation Inspectors — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.