Visual Airframe Inspections
Inspections remain a crucial part of aircraft maintenance and proficiency in inspections ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a visual inspection is a process of using the eye, alone or in conjunction with various aids, as the sensing mechanism from which judgments may be made about the condition of the unit to be inspected. Visual inspections are used to assess the overall condition of a structure, component, or system.
For aircraft, inspections provide early detection of defects, manufacturing errors, or fatigue. The also help aircraft maintenance teams obtain information about the condition of a defective component or unit. The FAA divides visual inspections into four different categories according to their degree of effectiveness and difficulty: (1) walkaround inspections, (2) general visual inspection, (3) detailed visual inspection, and (4) special detailed visual inspection.
The Visual Airframe Inspection Process

There are varying types of aircraft with different airframes, make-up, modification as well as the environment in which they operate. Because of this, inspections are conducted by qualified and trained inspectors who are familiar with the equipment. Inspections take time and in some cases, downtime is inevitable. However, with today's technology, visual aircraft, and airframe inspection can be completed, saved and documented using video and photo imaging systems, borescope attachments and camera insertion tubes.
When it comes to aircraft, a series of inspection occur at different times. This helps to identify any potential defects before they become problematic. According to the FAA, visual inspections should need two fundamental elements to be successful: (1) a trained inspector with binocular vision and good visual acuity; (2) an inspection procedure which defines the details of the inspection, including examples of the defect(s) tracked. The following are all the components that should be frequently inspected:
Visual detection of surface cracks and hidden defects Hardware and fasteners Control systems Visual inspections for corrosion and disbands Painted surfaces Windshields and ports Engine
Equipment Used In Visual Inspection
Because of their design, borescopes allow you to conduct a remote visual inspection of internal surfaces and inaccessible areas. Borescopes have many uses in the field of aviation maintenance and repair and, typically, they come in two types: rigid and flexible. Flexible and rigid borescopes also vary and the need for each would be influenced by the type of equipment, resolution, video/photo capabilities and environment.
Borescopes are typically used for inspecting:
Typical Airframe Defects
Inspection remains a crucial aspect of aircraft maintenance and should not be neglected. According to the FAA, over 80% of the inspections on large transport category aircraft are visual inspections. That number is even greater for small transport aircraft and general aviation aircraft. Visual inspections can help decrease deconstruction and downtime and tend to be the most economical and efficient way to obtain an early assessment of the aircraft’s conditions. Properly conducting a full inspection ensures the safety of the equipment and its products or passengers.