Video prebuy inspection

What may not be so universally agreed upon is how to integrate technology, such as a virtual inspection, into what is traditionally a hands-on process of examining a complex mechanical machine. But it does work and works effectively.

Arranging a standard prebuy inspection can be tricky enough. The buyer wants a thorough inspection from an unbiased, qualified mechanic to verify the value and confirm the condition of the aircraft. The seller wants a smooth sale process without uncovering any previously unknown, or possibly deferred, maintenance issues that may delay the process, reduce the asking price, or worse, kill the deal.

In most cases, maintenance shops will have some level of experience and familiarity with mainstream aircraft that dominate ramps everywhere, such as mass-produced or late-model Cessna, Piper, Cirrus, and Beechcraft aircraft. But there’s a chance that the maintenance shop selected for a prebuy inspection may have never serviced something less common, like a Stinson 108, Beech Staggerwing, Waco YMF–5, or even a Cessna Cardinal, since fewer than 5,000 Cardinals were produced.

With so many makes and models, it’s unlikely that any A&P is a subject matter expert on all aircraft, particularly the more obscure models that don’t routinely show up in the shop. In these cases, integrating a virtual subject matter expert into the process as a consultant for the A&P performing the prebuy inspection can be money well spent for the buyer.

For example, the Cessna 177 Cardinal is different from a more ubiquitous 172 or 182. The Cardinal has a cantilevered wing (with a recent airworthiness directive to explore), a stabilator rather than an elevator (which required modifications to eliminate pilot-induced oscillation via service letter), and more. With nearly 65,000 172/182s produced compared to fewer than 5,000 Cardinals, shops may not be as familiar with the Cessna 177, so getting some specialized advice is good due diligence.

Adding a subject matter expert makes good sense even if a shop has experience with the make and model in question. Ron Dudley of Red Sky Aviation in Dandelion, Florida, was the on-site lead of a prebuy that included a remote subject matter expert on a more obscure make and model (one that he has experience with). The inspection flowed seamlessly with Dudley leading the effort and the remote subject matter expert supporting the effort, asking specific questions, wanting a close look at known problem areas for the make and model, and sharing tribal knowledge on the various model year changes.

“As a matter of convenience, it made sense to tag him [the subject matter expert] into the sequence of events to make the buyer as comfortable as possible during the inspection,” recalled Dudley. When asked how he felt about the buyer wanting to include a second A&P, Dudley took no offense to the buyer’s request and made the process easy. “It’s just one of those things where two people talk to each other and pick up knowledge from different perspectives,” said Dudley.

How it works

The easiest way to integrate a remote subject matter expert is by assigning the role of paperwork review to that remote subject matter expert. Since documents and logbooks can be digitized, and aircraft databases of service bulletins, airworthiness directives, and more are readily available on the web, the paperwork analysis can be done anywhere seamlessly and efficiently.

Leveraging technology in the form of a video prebuy may not be needed in every case, but it is a benefit to consider. Less common, but also effective, is integration of the remote subject matter expert into the physical inspection via video. The physical aircraft inspection provides an opportunity to reveal hidden or undisclosed damage history (possibly not recorded in a logbook), to identify improperly installed equipment, to discover missing parts, explore inoperative required equipment, investigate poor repairs or hidden corrosion, and more. In some cases, the remote subject matter expert may be able to direct the on-site mechanic to look in a specific area for a known problem on a specific make and model that may otherwise be overlooked simply because of unfamiliarity.

Leveraging technology in the form of a video prebuy may not be needed in every case, but it is a benefit to consider. Having the benefit of two people, one on-site (possibly selected by the seller) and one remote subject matter expert (hired by the buyer), adds a margin of confidence that the buyer is getting exactly what she or he is expecting with no surprises.

Finding a subject matter expert isn’t difficult—owners’ groups are a good place to start since they have a high concentration of people with model-specific expertise. Setting up a simple video call via Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, or another platform means that any smartphone with a camera can serve as the remote eyes for the virtual observer.

Why it works

Adding a remote subject matter expert to a prebuy inspection adds cost, but the remote portion of the inspection isn’t an all-day affair. With paperwork reviewed in advance, the remote subject matter expert joining via video can be integrated after the aircraft is dismantled, and routine inspections, such as engine check, are completed. When considered as a way to collaborate with another maintenance professional, the outcome for adding a virtual subject matter expert to the prebuy inspection process is a win for everyone—the prospective owner benefits by getting an expert second opinion. Savvy A&Ps willing to collaborate with another remote A&P benefit from an opportunity for both professionals to expand their knowledge base and share ideas in a free and open exchange. And the session can even be recorded so it can be referenced in the future.

Randy S. Bolinger is a marketing, communications, and brand management leader in the aviation, auto, and powersports industries. He is an instrument-rated pilot, has been flying for more than 30 years, and owns a Cessna 177 Cardinal.