What Do Aviation Inspector Do?
Position Description Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.
What Do Aviation Inspectors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Analyze training programs and conduct oral and written examinations to ensure the competency of persons operating, installing, and repairing aircraft equipment.
- Conduct flight test programs to test equipment, instruments, and systems under a variety of conditions, using both manual and automatic controls.
- Observe flight activities of pilots to assess flying skills and to ensure conformance to flight and safety regulations.
- 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.
- Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.
- Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Aviation Inspector?
Aviation Inspectors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Other Aviation Inspector Job Titles
- Return to Service Inspector
- Avionics Inspector
- Preflight Inspector
- Aerospace Inspector
- Supervising Airplane Pilot
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. There will be an estimated 2,900 positions for Aviation Inspector per year.

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.
How Much Does an Aviation Inspector Make?
Aviation Inspectors make between $28,870 and $123,980 a year.

Aviation Inspectors who work in Maine, District of Columbia, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Aviation Inspectors make in each U.S. state?
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 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 do I Become an Aviation Inspector?
What education is needed to be an Aviation Inspector?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Aviation Inspector?

Aviation Inspectors Sector

Below are examples of industries where Aviation Inspectors work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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