A professional who inspects aircraft and maintenance base facilities to assure conformance with federal safety and qualifications standards. Responsibilities include:

• Examines aircraft maintenance record and flight log to determine if service checks, maintenance checks, and overhauls were performed at intervals prescribed.
• Inspects landing gear, tires, and exterior of fuselage, wings, and engine for evidence of damage or corrosion and recommends repair.
• Examines access plates and doors for security.
• Inspects new, repaired, or modified aircraft, according to checklist, to determine structural and mechanical airworthiness, using handtools and test instruments.
• Starts aircraft and observes gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunction.
• Examines electrical systems and accompanies flight crew on proving flight to test instruments.
• Inventories spare parts to determine whether stock meets requirements.
• Analyzes training programs to assure competency of persons operating, installing, and repairing equipment.
• Informs airline officials of deficiencies.
• Prepares report of inspection to document findings.
• Approves or disapproves issuance of certificate of airworthiness.
• Conducts examinations to test theoretical and practical knowledge of construction, maintenance, repair, and trouble diagnosis for aircraft mechanics license candidates.
• Investigates air accidents to determine whether cause was due to structural or mechanical malfunction.
• Required to have federal aviation rating for type of aircraft inspected and pass federal aviation medical certification.
• May be designated according to specialty as Air-Carrier Electronics Inspector; Air-Carrier Maintenance Inspector.