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What is an Aviation Inspector?
Occupation Description Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.
Daily Life Of an Aviation Inspector
- Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions.
- Examine maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals.
- 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.
- Schedule and coordinate in-flight testing programs with ground crews and air traffic control to ensure availability of ground tracking, equipment monitoring, and related services.
- 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 landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.
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Skills Needed to be an Aviation Inspector
When polled, Aviation Inspectors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Types of Aviation Inspector Jobs
- Aircraft Quality Control Inspector
- Aviation Safety Inspector
- Manufacturing Safety Inspector
- Quality Inspector
- Quality Control Inspector
Job Outlook for Aviation Inspectors
In the United States, there were 28,200 jobs for Aviation Inspector in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,600 new jobs for Aviation Inspector by 2026. The BLS estimates 2,900 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Aviation Inspector are Alabama, Rhode Island, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Minnesota, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Aviation Inspector Salary
The typical yearly salary for Aviation Inspectors is somewhere between $28,870 and $123,980.
Aviation Inspectors who work in Maine, District of Columbia, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Aviation Inspectors in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $105,850 |
| Arizona | $61,380 |
| Arkansas | $70,790 |
| California | $76,290 |
| Colorado | $77,660 |
| Connecticut | $82,870 |
| District of Columbia | $100,630 |
| Florida | $85,340 |
| Georgia | $70,850 |
| Hawaii | $79,490 |
| Idaho | $73,870 |
| Illinois | $84,420 |
| Indiana | $78,520 |
| Iowa | $77,250 |
| Kansas | $86,500 |
| Kentucky | $71,930 |
| Louisiana | $69,970 |
| Maine | $101,310 |
| Maryland | $65,710 |
| Massachusetts | $71,840 |
| Michigan | $79,170 |
| Minnesota | $83,180 |
| Mississippi | $85,700 |
| Missouri | $73,160 |
| Montana | $77,390 |
| Nebraska | $86,130 |
| New Hampshire | $72,500 |
| New Jersey | $74,010 |
| New Mexico | $58,510 |
| North Carolina | $79,680 |
| North Dakota | $87,030 |
| Ohio | $58,740 |
| Oklahoma | $76,600 |
| Oregon | $76,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,710 |
| Rhode Island | $53,090 |
| South Carolina | $72,160 |
| South Dakota | $57,780 |
| Tennessee | $78,120 |
| Texas | $84,250 |
| Utah | $55,360 |
| Virginia | $77,920 |
| Washington | $73,480 |
| Wisconsin | $86,990 |
| Wyoming | $70,470 |
What Tools & Technology do Aviation Inspectors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Aviation Inspectors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- SAP software
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- SAS software
How to Become an Aviation Inspector
Learn what Aviation Inspector education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become an Aviation Inspector?
Who Employs Aviation Inspectors?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.