FAA INSPECTION PREPARATION · Aero Support Group FZCO · Updated 23 October 2026
What is an FAA inspection?
An FAA inspection is a surveillance activity by Flight Standards inspectors to confirm that a certificate holder complies with the applicable parts of 14 CFR and operates safely. It may be part of initial certification, routine surveillance, a renewal (for example a foreign repair station under §145.55) or a follow-up to an event.
The FAA plans and records surveillance in the Safety Assurance System, which is risk-based and scaled to the size and complexity of the certificate holder.
Who the FAA inspects
- Part 121 and 135 operators: operations, maintenance programmes, training and the SMS required by Part 5.
- Part 145 repair stations: including stations outside the United States, which need renewal every 12 or 24 months.
- Part 129 foreign air carriers: operations specifications, ramp inspections and compliance with ICAO standards as applied by the FAA.
- Part 147 schools and Part 141/142 training organisations.
Repair stations in the EU and the UK are generally overseen by their national authority on the FAA’s behalf under bilateral agreements, with FAA sampling inspections.
How findings are handled
- The FAA’s Compliance Program (FAA Order 8000.373 and Order 2150.3C) favours correcting the underlying cause through compliance action where the certificate holder is willing and able to comply.
- Intentional, reckless or repeated non-compliance can lead to enforcement action, including civil penalties and certificate action.
- Under the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program (AC 00-58), a certificate holder that discovers and discloses a non-compliance, and fixes it with a comprehensive fix, can avoid civil penalty.
What inspectors look for
- Manuals (RSM, QCM, GMM, OM) that match actual practice.
- Records of maintenance, training and return to service kept for the required periods.
- Roster of supervisory, inspection and return-to-service personnel, with authorisations kept current.
- Calibrated tools and current technical data, including airworthiness directives.
- Control of contract maintenance and suppliers.
- Service difficulty and occurrence reporting.
How ASG prepares you
- Readiness assessment against the applicable 14 CFR parts and FAA guidance.
- Manual review to align documented procedures with practice.
- Mock FAA inspection with findings graded by risk.
- Renewal preparation for foreign repair stations.
- Support with letters of investigation, compliance actions and voluntary disclosures.
Conclusion
FAA inspectors test whether a certificate holder does what its manuals say. Organisations with accurate manuals, complete records and an internal evaluation programme that finds problems early handle surveillance well. ASG helps them reach that point.
Frequently asked questions
Through the Safety Assurance System described in FAA Order 8900.1, which is risk-based and scaled to the certificate holder.
The first certificate is valid for 12 months. Renewals can be for 24 months. The request is due at least 30 days before expiry (§145.55).
A programme under AC 00-58 that lets a certificate holder disclose a non-compliance it found itself and fix it, generally avoiding civil penalty.
No. Under the FAA Compliance Program, most unintentional non-compliance is resolved through compliance action when the certificate holder is willing and able to correct it.
Key takeaways
- FAA surveillance runs through the Safety Assurance System (Order 8900.1)
- Foreign repair stations renew every 12 or 24 months
- Compliance action is favoured over enforcement for unintentional issues
- Voluntary disclosure under AC 00-58 rewards self-detection
- Inspectors compare manuals with practice
Expecting an FAA inspection?
Tell us your certificate type and inspection date. ASG will assess readiness and run a mock inspection.