Flight inspection refers to the periodic evaluation of
navigational aids
A navigational aid (NAVAID), also known as aid to navigation (ATON), is any sort of signal, markers or guidance equipment which aids the traveler in navigation, usually nautical or aviation travel. Common types of such aids include lighthouses, ...
used in
aviation
Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' include fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air aircraft such as h ...
, such as
flight procedures and electronic signals, to ensure they are safe and accurate. Unlike
flight tests, which analyze the
aerodynamic
Aerodynamics () is the study of the motion of atmosphere of Earth, air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics, and is an ...
design and safety of the aircraft itself, flight inspection comprises reviewing flight procedures (such as routes, approaches and departures) to ensure navigational support is sufficient, there are no obstacles and the procedure is reliable.
Flight inspectors originally tested the accuracy of light beacons sighted while flying. These beacons allowed pilots to fly at night with visual guidance.
Radio navigation
Radio navigation or radionavigation is the application of radio waves to geolocalization, determine a position of an object on the Earth, either the vessel or an obstruction. Like radiolocation, it is a type of Radiodetermination-satellite servi ...
systems followed, with inspectors testing the radio transmitters while airborne, and then
GPS.
[
]
Customized aircraft are used for flight inspection, with dedicated receivers and sensors to collect data from the navigational aids being inspected. Computers decode the data and compare to the real aircraft position, with results displayed to the inspector for verification while airborne. Standards for flight inspection are provided by organisations such as the
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international sch ...
and
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
.
See also
*
Index of aviation articles
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Articles related to aviation include:
A
Aviation accidents and incidents
– Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL)
– ADF
– Acces ...
*
List of aviation mnemonics
References
{{reflist
External links
* Flight Inspection Trainin
AdanFIS
Air navigation