Syllabus: Visual Inspection Techniques

Introduction

Welcome to the Visual Inspection Techniques course.

This non-mandatory course is designed to develop practical competence in personnel who carry out visual inspections. Throughout this course, we will explore how visual inspection is the foundation of aircraft safety and often the first line of defence in catching a defect before it becomes a critical failure. The training will equip you with the exact competencies you need to effectively and efficiently carry out visual inspections, moving you from simply 'looking' at a component to truly 'seeing' its condition.

Who is the course for?

This course is particularly suited to aircraft mechanics, technicians, and engineers who are assigned to maintain and inspect aircraft on the line or in the hangar. Regardless of your specific job role, this blended learning training provides the insights needed to combine the right mindset with the right inspection techniques to ensure nothing is missed.

What is the benefit of this training?

By attending this course, delegates will:

• Understand the vital importance of the professional inspector's mindset, focusing on Curiosity, Diligence, and Accountability.
• Learn to identify potential defects early, ensuring they are rectified quickly before becoming bigger issues down the line.
• Reinforce how to effectively command a work area to establish a 'Zero Energy State' before beginning an inspection.
• Strengthen understanding of human factors, specifically how our environment, mindset, and daily routines impact what we see and what we might miss.
• Ensure every inspection is thorough enough to detect deterioration early, maintaining the unbroken Chain of Safety before the aircraft is presented to the flight crew.

Learning objectives

By attending this course, delegates will:

• Gain up-to-date knowledge of the regulatory landscape, specifically the authority and responsibility delegated under EASA Part-66 and Part-145.
• Refresh their understanding of the Approved Maintenance Programme (AMP) and the MSG-3 philosophy.
• Break down the Four Pillars of Preparation: mastering documentation, assembling a professional toolkit, commanding the work area, and surgically preparing the aircraft surface.
• Grasp the mechanics of different inspection types, including General Visual (GVI), Detailed (DET), Enhanced Zonal Analysis Procedure (EZAP), Special Detailed (SDI), and Vital Point Inspections.
• Apply proactive awareness to systematic scanning patterns, mastering light angles, and accurately writing defect reports using 'What, Where, and How Big'.

Detailed content

Module 1: The Professional Inspector

• The foundation of aircraft safety and the critical role of the inspector as the last line of defence.
• The Regulatory Framework: EASA Part-145 (Approval to Operate) and Part-66 (Licence to Practice).
• Cultivating the professional mindset: Curiosity, Diligence, and Accountability.
• Exercising delegated authority and the profound responsibility of a professional signature.

Module 2: The Inspection Process

• The Four Pillars of Preparation: Documentation, Toolkit, Zero Energy State, and Surface Preparation.
• The Approved Maintenance Programme (AMP), MSG-3 philosophy, and the Zonal Inspection Programme.
• Types of Inspection: GVI, DET, EZAP, SDI, and Vital Point Inspections.
• The Art and Science of Seeing: Light angles, specular reflection, and scanning patterns.
• Sentencing and Documentation: Comparing findings against the AMM/SRM and writing professional defect reports.

Module 3: Inspections, What to Look Out For

• Identifying types of corrosion, cracks, leaks, and barely visible damage.
• Specific inspection areas: Engines, landing gear, hydraulics, electrical systems, and equipment installations.
• Understanding materials and construction behaviour under stress, including aluminium, steel, and composites.
• Proper use of inspection tools, including high CRI torches, telescopic mirrors, and 10x magnification lenses.

Module 4: Human Factors and Inspections

• How the physical environment, mindset, and daily routines impact the visual inspection process.
• The specific human factors that visual inspectors are susceptible to.
• Strategies to minimise the potential of human factors negatively influencing inspections.
• Bridging the gap between theory and the hangar floor through hands-on classroom application.

Assessment & Certification

Review concerning the background and concepts of Aircraft Visual Inspection, The Four Pillars of Preparation, Identifying Types of Inspection (GVI, DET, EZAP, SDI), Toolkit Utilisation, and Surface Preparation. Updating Regulatory Requirements, Terminology, and Aircraft Maintenance Program Management of the Zonal Inspection Programme and Corrosion Prevention and Control Programme (CPCP). In accordance with: Acceptable Methods, Techniques & Practices (FAA AC 43.13-1B and 43.13-2B). EASA Part-145 and Part-66 regulations.

• Examination: Short knowledge checks following each module and a Final Assessment.
• Final assessment Passing Score: 85 pct.

Completion of Final Assessment and Course Evaluation are required to earn the completion certificate.

To gain the most value out of the course we recommend that you watch each video and answer the short quizzes as designed.

Although for many of you this course will be a reminder, use it as exactly that - to remind you of why we are taking this course and the efforts we can go through in the future to ensure we don't have a disaster happen again.

If you go through the course in this way then please allow 1.5 - 2 hours.

We're glad you asked 😃

Firstly, We do not believe that a 'Read and Click-Next' eLearning course engages in the same way as a real person. This is why in this course you'll meet Sam, someone who has worked all his life within the aviation world and is passionate about safety.

So, this course will differ in that you'll watch some short videos, presented by Sam, who will go through the required topics and encourage you to think about why we have to take this course. 

When you have completed the course, by watching every video, completing every activity and answering the questions at the end, you'll be automatically sent your certificate by email.

Sure - however, you'll gain nothing more than a 'tick-in-the-box' and a certificate. Will you be compliant? No, not in the way that is intended.

Ultimately we encourage you to consider how a professional, working in a very safety critical industry, should approach mandatory training such as this and take the time to use this course as a good refresher.

It's really easy, just click the 'Check-out' or 'Buy Now' button, pay and you can immediately get started.

You may be sent an email with a confirmation link inside - click that and you'll be inside the course.

Yes, absolutely!

We love working with organisations and partnering to bespoke our courses as much as possible.

For this co0urse we also offer a classroom faciliated Practical Session for putting the theory into practice through skill based activities.

You can either have our experienced team deliver this or we will provide everything you need for one of your own instructors to deliver this practical day.

Just ask us for the pricing options

Please contact us and tell us what you'd like.

[email protected]