FAA Aviation Mechanic Airframe (AMA)Airframe InspectionMedium
An airline's maintenance program divides each aircraft into numbered geographic areas, and technicians inspect all systems, structures, and components within each area using a dedicated checklist during scheduled maintenance visits. What is this type of inspection program called?
- AProgressive inspection program
- BZonal inspection program
- C100-hour inspection program
- DRequired Inspection Item (RII) program
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Zonal inspection program
A zonal inspection program divides the aircraft into defined physical zones and inspects everything within each zone using zone-specific checklists, commonly used in air carrier Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Programs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Progressive inspection breaks the annual/100-hour inspection into smaller time-based segments, not physical zones.
- C. 100-hour inspections are time-interval based, not organized by aircraft zones.
- D. RII designates specific critical items requiring inspection by a second qualified inspector, not a zone-based system.
Zonal Inspection Program
A maintenance inspection approach that divides the aircraft into defined zones, with each zone inspected as a unit covering all systems and structures within it.
- Common in air carrier Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Programs (CAMP)
- Each zone has its own checklist covering structure, systems, and wiring
- Helps ensure comprehensive coverage without duplicating effort
Memory trick: 'Zonal = zip through Zones one at a time.'