Over 80 percent of the inspections on large transport category aircraft are visual inspections. On small transport aircraft the ratio is even greater and on general aviation aircraft, virtually all inspection is visual. Visual inspection is usually the most economical and fastest way to obtain an early assessment of the condition of an aircraft and its components. Most of the defects found on aircraft are found by visual inspections, and the air frame manufacturers and users depend on regular visual inspections to ensure the continued airworthiness of their aircraft. Consequently, it is important that visual inspection methods be understood and properly applied by those responsible for the continued airworthiness of aircraft. Proficiency in visual inspection is crucial to the safe operation of aircraft. Such proficiency is gotten from experience, but also by learning the methods developed by others. This document outlines some of those methods and the way they are used in the various inspections carried out on aircraft.

Date Published: 7 July 1995
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 2455, Nondestructive Evaluation of Aging Aircraft, Airports, Aerospace Hardware, and Materials, (7 July 1995); doi: 10.1117/12.213529

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2455:
Nondestructive Evaluation of Aging Aircraft, Airports, Aerospace Hardware, and Materials
Tobey M. Cordell; Raymond D. Rempt, Editor(s)