Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) provide for the inspection of all civil aircraft at specific intervals, depending generally upon the type of operations in which they are engaged, for the purpose of determining their overall condition. Some aircraft must be inspected at least once each 12 calendar months, while inspection is required for others after each 100 hours of flight. In other instances, an aircraft may be inspected in accordance with an inspection system set up to provide for total inspection of the aircraft over a calendar or flight time period.

In order to determine the specific inspection requirements and rules for the performance of inspections, reference should be made to the Federal Aviation Regulations which prescribe the requirements for the inspection and maintenance of aircraft in various types of operations.