Description
Aircraft assembly inspectors use measuring and testing equipment to inspect and monitor aircraft assemblies to ensure conformity to engineering specifications and to safety standards and regulations. They examine the assemblies to detect malfunction or damage and check repair work. They also provide detailed inspection documentation and recommend action where problems were discovered.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to aircraft assembly inspector:
aviation assembly diagnostic inspector
aircraft assembly diagnostic inspector
aircraft assembly test inspector
aviation assembly repair inspector
aviation assembly maintenance inspector
aviation assembly test inspector
aircraft assembly maintenance inspector
aircraft assembly repair inspector
aviation assembly installation inspector
aircraft assembly installation inspector
aviation assembly inspector
aviation assembly safety inspector
aircraft assembly safety inspector
Minimum qualifications
A high school diploma is generally required to work as an aircraft assembly inspector.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Aircraft assembly inspector is a Skill level 2 occupation.
Aircraft assembly inspector career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to aircraft assembly inspector.
vessel assembly inspector
rolling stock assembly inspector
motor vehicle assembly inspector
product assembly inspector
consumer goods inspector
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of aircraft assembly inspector. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of aircraft assembly inspector with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
avionics inspector
aircraft engine inspector
motor vehicle engine inspector
rolling stock engine inspector
aircraft engine tester
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of aircraft assembly inspector.
- Quality assurance procedures: The procedures to inspect a product or system to ensure that it is according to specifications and requirements.
- Aircraft mechanics: Technicalities over mechanics in aircrafts and related topics in order to perform a wide range of repairs in aircrafts.
- Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
- Common aviation safety regulations: The body of legislation and regulations that apply to the field of civil aviation at regional, national, European and International levels. Understand that regulations aimed at protecting citizens at all times in civil aviation; ensure that operators, citizens, and organisations comply with these rules.
- Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of aircraft assembly inspector.
- Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
- Inspect aircraft manufacturing: Conduct inspections in the aviation industry; inspect plants where aircraft parts are manufactured to ensure safety and quality control. Ensure that aircraft components are manufactured in compliance with safety and design specifications.
- Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
- Operate precision measuring equipment: Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.
- Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
- Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
- Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
- Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
- Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
- Ensure aircraft compliance with regulation: Ensure that every aircraft complies with applicable regulation and all components and equipment have officially valid components.
- Write inspection reports: Write the results and conclusions of the inspection in a clear and intelligible way. Log the inspection’s processes such as contact, outcome, and steps taken.
- Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aircraft assembly inspector. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Engineering principles: The engineering elementsย like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are appliedย in the completion of engineering projects.
- Electromechanics: The engineering processes that combine electrical and mechanical engineering in the application of electromechanics in devices that need electricity to create mechanical movement or devices that create electricity by mechanical movement.
- Defense system: The various weapons and weapon systems used to protect citizens and to harm or shield incoming enemies and enemy weapons.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aircraft assembly inspector. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Act as contact person during equipment incident: Act as the person to be contacted when an equipment incident occurs. Participate in the investigation by providing insights.
- Prepare audit activities: Prepare an audit plan including both pre-audits and certification audits. Communicate with the different processes in order to implement the improvement actions that lead to certification.
- Inspect aircraft for airworthiness: Inspect aircraft, aircraft components, and aviation equipment to ensure they conform to design specifications and to airworthiness standards following major repairs or alterations. Approve or deny issuance of airworthiness certificates.
- Issue licences: Issue official documentation which grants licence holders with official permission to perform certain activities, after having investigated the application and processed the necessary documentation.
- Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
- Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
- Maintain test equipment: Maintain equipment used for testing the quality of systems and products.
- Supervise work: Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate personnel.
- Manage maintenance operations: Oversee maintenance activities, making sure that staff is following procedures and ensuring routine and periodic refurbishment and maintenance activities.
- Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
- Send faulty equipment back to assembly line: Send equipment that didn’t pass inspection back to the assembly line for re-assembly.
- Lead inspections: Lead inspections and the protocol involved, such as introducing the inspection team, explaining the purpose of the inspection, performing the inspection, requesting documents, asking appropriate questions, and maintaining a high level of professionalism when investigating subjects.
ISCO group and title
7543 – Product graders and testers (excluding foods and beverages)
References
- Aircraft assembly inspector – ESCO