Definition
The required examinations of an aircraft and its components, performed at specified intervals or events, to verify continued airworthiness in accordance with the regulations under which the aircraft is operated. Inspections include those required by 14 CFR Part 91 (such as annual, 100-hour, preflight, altimeter/pitot-static, transponder, and ELT inspections) and any additional inspections mandated by Airworthiness Directives or the manufacturer's maintenance program.
Plain English
Scheduled checks of an aircraft to make sure it is safe and legal to fly. Some are done before every flight, some every 12 months, and others after a set number of flight hours or for specific equipment.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in maintenance records, preflight planning, and discussions about whether an aircraft is allowed to fly before a flight.
Derivation
From Latin inspectare, meaning 'to look into' or 'examine closely.' An aircraft inspection is literally a structured 'looking into' the aircraft to confirm it is fit to fly.
Why Pilots Care
They confirm the aircraft meets legal and safety standards, directly affecting whether a flight can depart and reducing the risk of in-flight mechanical failures.
Intuition Check
Do not read “aircraft inspections” as just someone looking over an airplane. In this FAA context, the term includes required checks that affect whether the aircraft may be flown, and some must be done or approved by qualified maintenance personnel.
Example Sentence 1
Before accepting the aircraft for the flight, she reviewed the maintenance logs to confirm all required aircraft inspections were current.
Example Sentence 2
An annual aircraft inspection must be signed off by a certified mechanic to keep the airworthiness certificate valid.