The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has approved Jet Aviation's use of automated drone and AI technology for general visual inspections (GVIs) by images. The drone inspection can be used to create a full visual record of the entire external surface of the aircraft.

GVIs are a type of regulated maintenance check used to identify defects on the surfaces of the aircraft. With this approval, Jet Aviation is now able to perform these checks with its automated drone and AI technology, resulting in a detailed paperless report for the customer and maintenance teams, in turn driving efficiency and reducing downtime for pre-purchase inspections (PPIs).

"The FOCA approval is a significant milestone for our programme as we continue to expand our automated drone and AI capabilities across our network," says Vincent Rongier, vice president business operation support. "As we continue to challenge ourselves to reimagine business aviation and grow our services, we can provide ground-breaking solutions for even the most challenging inspections and offer new, innovative services centered around predictive maintenance."

Jet Aviation launched automated drone and AI technology in 2023 for non-regulated services such as PPI inspections of external aircraft structure, paint quality checks and inspections in insurance or warranty cases. Its automated drone and AI services are now available for regulated inspections on most business jets, including the Gulfstream G280, G550 and G650, as well as narrow and wide-body aircraft.

"As our customers and industry evolve, we are committed to innovation in service of an ongoing seamless experience across all of our lines of business," says president Jeremie Caillet. "I'm very excited to integrate this cutting-edge technology into maintenance operations across our network and by all that is yet to come."