What is the inspection decision flow?
The short list of questions an inspector asks about every finding, always in the same order, so each one ends in the right action and nothing serious is missed.
The inspection decision flow is the sequence of questions applied to every finding, in a fixed order, that leads to one response. It joins together what the earlier entries cover: the inspection, the classification of the defect, the condition grade and the record.
Safety is asked first, and the flow stops at the first yes. A safety hazard or a lost function is critical: report and make safe. Reduced function or output, or a growing defect, is major: plan the repair and re-check. Any other change from the baseline is minor and is recorded and monitored. No change means the routine cycle continues. If a finding sits between two answers, the more serious branch is taken until it is resolved.
The order of questions that turns a finding into an action. The same finding gives the same decision whoever inspects.
The order in which an asset is looked over, so that nothing is missed. The decision flow starts once something has been found.
- Inspect and find. Look, measure and test as the procedure requires, and note what is different from the baseline.
- Ask about safety. A hazard to aircraft, vehicles or people, or a lost required function, is critical: report and make safe.
- Ask about function and output. Reduced function or performance, or a defect that is growing, is major: plan repair and re-check.
- Ask about change. Any other change from the baseline is minor: record and monitor.
- Record the decision. Document the finding, its class and the action raised, then update the asset’s condition grade.
- Review at the next cycle. Compare with this record, and revise the decision on the record if the evidence changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is the inspection decision flow?
A short sequence of yes or no questions asked about every finding, in a fixed order, that leads to one response. It turns the classification of a finding into an action, so that two inspectors looking at the same defect reach the same decision.
Q2In what order are the questions asked?
Safety first. Is the finding a hazard, or has a required function been lost? If yes, it is critical. If not, has function or performance been reduced, or is the defect growing? If yes, it is major. If not, is there any change from the baseline? If yes, it is minor. If there is no change, the asset is normal and the routine cycle continues.
Q3Why is safety asked first?
Because a safety hazard on a movement area, or the loss of a function that aircraft depend on, must be dealt with before anything else. Asking about safety first means a serious finding is never talked down by a less serious one asked earlier.
Q4What if a finding does not clearly fit?
Take the more serious branch until the finding is resolved. A decision that is later shown to be too cautious can be revised on the record, but a decision that was too relaxed may already have caused harm.
Q5Where does the flow end?
At a recorded decision. Every branch ends with the finding documented, classified and, where needed, graded for the asset, and the action raised. The flow shown here is an example; the site's own procedures set the questions, limits and response times.
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