IATA Aircraft Lease Guidance

Delivery
3.2.6 Inspection
During the physical inspection, the Lessee should ensure that both the physical condition and the actual
aircraft state in relation to the records (installed components, aircraft configuration etc.) are acceptable and
consistent with the delivery condition agreed in the lease. The physical inspection should ideally cover a full
survey of the aircraft. It is advised to take photographs (if permitted) of all relevant sections as reference
material during the lease, and for lease redelivery.
The contents of a physical inspection will be different for each aircraft type, but a generic template is included
in Annex I.
Useful tips:
The Lessee should send highly experienced staff for aircraft’s inspection and should not be overly
restrictive when considering the travels and on-site support, where necessary. The more Lessee knows
about aircraft before the acceptance the lower the risk of unplanned maintenance costs relating to preexisting
defects found following acceptance.
It is recommended to prepare a detailed inspection checklist before inspection based on Lessee’s
knowledge and maintenance experience of the aircraft type with a focus on known problem areas in both
the physical condition and technical records.
Very serious technical problems on the aircraft could be found by Lessee’s experienced engineers, and
only if the engineers know typical problems for this particular aircraft type.
It is suggested that the specialists sent for inspection have the following background:
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Base maintenance inspectors with significant experience, mechanic and avionics;
Highly experienced engineering staff, as avionics, mechanic, interior, engine engineers, structure
engineers, who can evaluate technical records and aircraft technical condition;
Technical pilots, or someone who can professionally evaluate manuals like AFM, FCOM, QRH and
compatibility of aircraft and its cockpit with the Lessee’s fleet.
Before doing the inspection, the Lessee should prepare its own checklist, which should be based on the
knowledge and maintenance experience of the particular Aircraft Type.
The knowledge of aircraft condition after inspection can give the Lessee more opportunities to reflect in
the Lease agreement the following issues:
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Special conditions, which the Lessee considers as important or sensitive;
Special requirements on aircraft redelivery;
Additional requirements in order to bring aircraft in acceptable for the Lessee condition.
After the inspection is completed, the team should work on the detailed inspection report with photos, so
that every person involved in the operating lease can read, understand and evaluate the required
information.
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