53-6051.01 - Aviation Inspectors

Updated 2010

Summary Report for:
53-6051.01 - Aviation Inspectors

Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.

Sample of reported job titles: Aircraft Inspector, Aircraft Quality Control Inspector, Airworthiness Safety Inspector, Aviation Safety Inspector, Avionics Safety Inspector, Technical Inspector, Aircraft Quality Assurance Inspector, Assembly Inspector, Aviation Maintenance Inspector

View report: Summary Details Custom

Tasks

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.
Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions.
Examine aircraft access plates and doors for security.
Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.
Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.
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 maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals.
Recommend replacement, repair, or modification of aircraft equipment.
Recommend changes in rules, policies, standards, and regulations, based on knowledge of operating conditions, aircraft improvements, and other factors.
Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes.

Tools & Technology

Tools used in this occupation:

Eddy current examination equipment — Eddy current inspection equipment; Eddy current pencil probes

Gauges or inspection fixtures — Dial gauges; Inspection mirrors

Infrared imagers — Thermographic equipment

Integrated maintenance information systems — Aircraft Technical Publishers ATP Maintenance Planner; Maintenance tracking software

Wearable computing devices — Wearable computers

Technology used in this occupation:

Data base user interface and query software — Aircraft regulation databases; Data entry software

Industrial control software — Robotic workstation software

Office suite software — Microsoft Office software

Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel

Word processing software — Microsoft Word

Knowledge

Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Transportation — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Physics — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Clerical — Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Skills

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

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.

Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities

Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Work Activities

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Work Context

Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?

Electronic Mail — How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Telephone — How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Deal With External Customers — How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Contact With Others — How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Frequency of Decision Making — How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Freedom to Make Decisions — How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Letters and Memos — How often does the job require written letters and memos?

Job Zone

Title	Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education	Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related Experience	Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples	These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include food service managers, electricians, agricultural technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.
SVP Range	(6.0 to < 7.0)

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
47	Bachelor's degree
36	Associate's degree
14	Some college, no degree

Interests

Interest code: RCI

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Work Styles

Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.

Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Work Values

Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Related Occupations

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17-2121.01	Marine Engineers
19-4051.01	Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians
47-4011.00	Construction and Building Inspectors
47-5013.00	Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining
51-4121.06	Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters Bright Outlook
51-9061.00	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
53-6051.07	Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation

Wages & Employment Trends

National

Median wages data collected from Transportation Inspectors.
Employment data collected from Transportation Inspectors.
Industry data collected from Transportation Inspectors.

Median wages (2011)	$29.92 hourly, $62,230 annual
Employment (2010)	27,000 employees
Projected growth (2010-2020)	Average (10% to 19%)
Projected job openings (2010-2020)	10,700
Top industries (2010)	Government Transportation and Warehousing

State & National

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2011 wage data and 2010-2020 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Summary Report for: 53-6051.01 - Aviation Inspectors