Aviation Inspectors
Aviation inspectors inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with federal safety regulations.
Aviation inspectors' job is to keep the world's air transportation system safe. They ensure the safety of an aircraft, and its crew and passengers, by conducting pre-flight inspections of its equipment and systems and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Their responsibilities include checking flight logs and maintenance records, verifying the completion of required checks and investigating accidents and determining their causes.
They also examine air traffic controls, navigational aids and communications equipment, and suggest repairs when necessary. They make sure that airports and aircraft comply with safety regulations.
Aviation inspector's training requires a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology. Before getting certified by the concerned aviation authority, they are required to gain experience in a vocational setting. Prospective candidates are supervised by certified mechanics and may undergo more than five years of aircraft maintenance experience to qualify for the position of aviation safety Inspector.
Necessary skills include compliance with legal regulations, monitoring airworthiness certifications, conducting regular research, using proper documentation, conducting aviation audits, enforcing fuel storage regulations, performing risk analysis, having computer literacy, issuing waivers, applying technical communication skills, etc.
An aviation safety inspector’s job is very stressful as the lives of so many people are in their hands. This is why the aviation safety inspector's salary is high and incommensurate with the job responsibilities. With experience and advancement, there are prospects of higher earnings.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- M.Sc. Aviation
- B.E. Aeronautical Engineering
- B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering
- B.Sc. Physics
Tasks
- 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.
- Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions.
- Examine aircraft access plates and doors for security.
- Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.
- Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.
- 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.
- Examine maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals.
- Recommend replacement, repair, or modification of aircraft equipment.
- 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.
Progression Routes
READY FOR MORE?
Subscribe to our Premium package and you'll unlock a wealth of extra information about your favourite careers and gain access our library of immersive 360° VR careers experience.
As a Premium user you'll find out more about the day-to-day demands of any career, what you could earn and, importantly, receive expert advice on study routes, preparation expenses, and where & what to study to fulfil your potential.