Drone Inspections at Airports
- Geoffrey M Green
- Jun 4
- 6 min read
The integration of drone technology into airport operations has reached a pivotal juncture, with regulatory breakthroughs and industry adoption reshaping safety protocols and maintenance efficiency. From aircraft inspections and pavement inspections to wildlife management, unmanned aircraft systems are now critical tools for airports worldwide.
Table of Contents
Drone Inspections
Leading Airports
Milestones
Future Outlook
Let's examine the latest advancements, enacted policies, and real-world applications driving airport drone inspections
Types of Airport Drone Inspections
Aircraft Maintenance
Delta Air Lines was the first U.S. commercial operator to receive FAA Certificate Management Office concurrence for using drones for maintenance inspections. Official FAA acceptance and implementation occurred primarily in early 2024. Delta TechOps, their airline maintenance, repair, and overhaul devision, began implementing drone inspections, initially focusing on aircraft following lightning strike events, and then added drone inspections to its Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) for the entire mainline fleet. The approval covers all mainline aircraft types, including Airbus and Boeing models. Drone inspections enable technicians to make decisions on aircraft conditions up to 82% faster compared to traditional methods
Swiss MRO provider Jet Aviation followed suit by becoming one of the first companies globally to receive approval from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) for the use of automated drones and AI technology in regulated General Visual Inspections (GVIs) across a wide range of business and commercial aircraft. This milestone, announced in May 2024, enables Jet Aviation to create a comprehensive visual record of the entire external surface of aircraft, streamlining defect identification and supporting paperless reporting for customers and maintenance teams.
The approval significantly enhances efficiency and reduces downtime, particularly for Pre-Purchase Inspections (PPIs). Jet Aviation’s automated drone and AI services, initially launched in 2023 for non-regulated tasks, now demonstrate the company’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into all aspects of maintenance operations.
Infrastructure
The landscape of airport infrastructure inspections has been transformed by the integration of drone technology - a trend accelerated by recent federal initiatives such as the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) program. While the DIIG program is specifically designed to help state and local governments establish and expand inspection programs using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), its impact is felt strongly in the aviation sector, where airport authorities and operators are leveraging these tools to modernize and streamline critical maintenance tasks
Pavement Inspections: High-resolution drones equipped with advanced imaging sensors are now regularly deployed at airports to inspect runways, taxiways, and aprons. At airports across the United States, these UAS have demonstrated their ability to rapidly identify surface defects such as cracks, weathering, and early signs of pavement distress. By capturing detailed aerial imagery, drones allow inspectors to assess large areas in a fraction of the time required by traditional ground-based methods.
However, while drones excel at detecting visible and moderate defects, low-severity issues like joint spalling still require manual verification to ensure compliance with strict safety standards. The combination of drone and human inspection creates a hybrid approach that maximizes both speed and accuracy, setting a new benchmark for airport pavement management
Obstruction Surveys: Unmanned aircraft are transforming the way airports conduct obstruction surveys. UAS-collected data now meets the rigorous accuracy standards outlined in FAA Advisory Circulars 150/5300-17 and 150/5300-18, which govern the identification and mapping of obstacles in airport environments.
Drones equipped with LiDAR and high-resolution cameras can quickly and safely survey terrain, buildings, and other structures that may pose a risk to aviation safety. This capability is especially valuable for maintaining compliance with airspace requirements and supporting ongoing airport development projects. By automating the collection and processing of survey data, drones reduce the need for labor-intensive ground measurements and minimize the risk to personnel working in potentially hazardous areas.
Wildlife Management
Wildlife strikes remain one of the most persistent and costly safety challenges facing airports worldwide. Companies like Flox Robotics use dock-based drones, managed through the Flox wildlife management platform, to enhance daily wildlife management operations - from routine inspections to runway clearance ahead of aircraft takeoffs and landings.
Flox’s technology is now being deployed at airports such as Silicon Valley’s HMB Airport (operated by the County of San Mateo) and Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Michigan, where trials ran from August to December 2024. These projects are supported by the FAA, USDA, and airport wildlife management teams, and build on successful trials at Swedish airports in Malmö, Kiruna, and Umeå.
Airports Leading the Charge
While specific airport case studies remain somewhat limited in public records due to proprietary and security considerations, several pioneering organizations and their home airports have emerged as clear leaders in the integration of drone technology for maintenance and infrastructure inspections. Their efforts demonstrate the transformative potential of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in aviation operations and safety.
Delta Air Lines (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport): Delta Air Lines has solidified its status as an industry trailblazer by becoming the first U.S. commercial operator to receive FAA Certificate Management Office concurrence for using drones in aircraft maintenance inspections across its mainline fleet. At its primary maintenance hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta has implemented a robust drone inspection program. The semi-autonomous, camera-equipped drones operate both indoors and outdoors at Delta’s facilities in Atlanta, Detroit, and Minneapolis, capturing hundreds of high-resolution images that technicians analyze for airworthiness.
The program’s initial focus has been on post-lightning strike inspections, but Delta plans to expand the use of drones to other conditional general visual inspections (GVIs), such as hail or paint condition assessments.
Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich Airport): At Zurich Airport, Swiss International Air Lines has partnered with Jet Aviation, a globally recognized MRO provider, to integrate drone technology into routine aircraft maintenance. Utilizing multispectral imaging and AI-powered analytics, Jet Aviation’s automated drones conduct thorough visual inspections of Airbus A320 family aircraft. This collaboration enables comprehensive, non-invasive assessments of the aircraft’s external surfaces, streamlining the identification of dents, scratches, and corrosion. The digital documentation generated by the drones supports paperless workflows, enhances traceability, and facilitates faster decision-making for maintenance teams. Jet Aviation’s approval from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) to use drones for regulated GVIs marks a significant milestone, positioning Zurich Airport as a leader in the adoption of next-generation maintenance practices. The program also supports pre-purchase inspections (PPIs) for business jets, further broadening the scope and impact of drone-based inspections in commercial aviation.
These efforts align with the FAA’s UAS Integration and Application at Airports guidelines, which permit drones as supplementary tools for Part 139 self-inspections but prohibit them as standalone solutions.
Regulatory Milestones
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accelerated UAS integration through targeted rule making. In March 2022, the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee proposed a comprehensive framework under Part 108, advocating for standardized detect-and-avoid systems and updated pilot certifications. These recommendations gained legislative backing through the FAA Reauthorization Act of May 2024, which mandated finalizing Part 108 by December 2024 to enable scalable drone operations.
Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Program: Launched in 2024, this federal initiative funds state and local governments to purchase drones, train personnel, and develop inspection programs.
Part 107.39 Daylight Operation Waivers: Revised in 2023 to permit nocturnal wildlife monitoring using UAS equipped with thermal cameras, addressing bird-strike risks during nesting season.
Proposed changes under the February 2024 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aim to harmonize UAS and manned aircraft inspection standards, requiring detailed schedules for airframe, engine, and emergency equipment checks. While not yet finalized, these rules signal a shift toward unified maintenance protocols.
Future Outlook: Scaling Beyond 2025
The aviation industry anticipates three key developments post-2024:
Part 108 Implementation: Final rules will establish BVLOS corridors for infrastructure inspections, with initial trials targeting Class B airports like Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver International.
AI-Driven Analytics: Machine learning models tested in 2024 demonstrated 92% accuracy in automated pavement defect recognition, though human validation remains mandatory.
Swarm Robotics: Airbus plans to deploy synchronized drone teams for wide-body aircraft checks by 2026, potentially reducing A380 inspection times from 30 hours to 42.
Challenges persist, particularly regarding battery limitations - current systems average 25 minutes of flight time - and sensor resolution gaps in sub-millimeter crack detection. However, the FAA’s ongoing research into tethered UAS with 200-foot operational ceilings and electromagnetic shielding shows promise for extended missions near navigation equipment.
As the December 2024 Part 108 deadline approaches, airports worldwide are poised to embrace drones as indispensable assets, merging regulatory clarity with technological innovation to redefine 21st-century aviation safety.
Conclusion
the integration of drone technology into airport operations marks a transformative leap forward, enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability across aircraft maintenance, infrastructure inspections, and wildlife management. With regulatory milestones like the FAA’s Part 108 framework and initiatives such as the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant program paving the way, airports worldwide are embracing unmanned aircraft systems as indispensable tools.
Industry leaders like Delta Air Lines and Jet Aviation demonstrate the tangible benefits of drone-driven inspections, reducing downtime and streamlining processes. As challenges like battery life and sensor precision are addressed, and innovations such as AI analytics and swarm robotics gain traction, the aviation sector is poised to scale these advancements beyond 2025, redefining operational standards and ensuring safer skies for the future.
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