Borescope reports after Microsoft Publisher: what to do now
If your borescope inspection (BSI) reports are built in Microsoft Publisher, move them now. Publisher is no longer available to Microsoft 365 subscribers after October 1, 2026, and support for the perpetual version ends on October 13, 2026.
By InspectView · Published October 1, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026
What changed
- Microsoft 365 subscribers can no longer open or edit .pub files in Publisher, and the app is no longer available to install.
- The perpetual version keeps working, but its support ends on October 13, 2026, when Office LTSC 2021 and Office 2021 reach end of support.
- Microsoft's advice is to save each file as a PDF to keep it viewable, and to convert that PDF to Word if you need to keep editing. It also publishes a sample PowerShell script for converting files in bulk, which needs a working, licensed copy of Publisher.
Why borescope reports are harder to move than most Publisher files
A borescope report isn't a flyer. It carries the engine's identity, the findings, images, measurements and the manual reference each finding was checked against, and an inspector signs it.
A PDF keeps a report exactly as issued, but it freezes it. A PDF-to-Word conversion keeps the text editable, but Microsoft notes that layouts with many graphics may shift, and stage-by-stage findings pages are mostly graphics.
Your three options
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Convert to PDF and keep the files as issued | Archiving past reports exactly as they were signed | You can no longer edit the template |
| Rebuild the template in Word | Shops issuing a handful of reports a month | Image layouts break easily, and template versions are hard to control |
| Move to software that builds the report from the inspection | Shops issuing many reports, or needing one format across inspectors and customers | Check that it can match the format your customers expect, and that your inspector still signs |
Before you convert: a checklist
- Find every Publisher file. Search PCs, shared drives, OneDrive and SharePoint for ".pub".
- Export issued reports to PDF first, and store them unchanged, following your quality manual's record-keeping rules.
- Separate templates from issued reports. Only the templates need rebuilding.
- List the fields every report must carry (below), plus anything your customers' formats require.
- Give the new template one owner, and put its revision number and date on the template itself.
- Run one real inspection through the new format before you retire the old one.
What a borescope inspection report should contain
| Section | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Header | Report number and revision, customer and operator, aircraft registration and type, engine model, engine serial number (ESN), engine position, location, inspection date |
| Reason for inspection | Scheduled task, airworthiness directive or service bulletin, event (bird strike, FOD, over-temperature), lease return or pre-purchase |
| References | Manual and revision used, task references, AD and service bulletin numbers where they apply |
| Equipment | Borescope make, model and probe size, and the equipment check your procedures require |
| Summary | One disposition per module: fan, LPC, HPC, combustor, HPT, LPT and exhaust |
| Findings by stage | Location, damage type, measurement, image numbers, the manual task and limit it was checked against, and the disposition |
| Images | Numbered and captioned, each tied to a finding |
| Recommendations | Actions and any repeat-inspection interval |
| Sign-off | Inspector name, certificate or authorization number, date and signature, plus any release reference your procedures require |
A common scheme uses three dispositions: serviceable, serviceable with a reduced interval (a repeat inspection or reduced cycles), and unserviceable.
Download the free borescope inspection report template, a fillable PDF in US Letter and A4.
Where AirCheck fits
AirCheck builds this report from the inspection itself. Findings are grouped by stage with their images, measurements and manual references, your inspector reviews and signs, and the report exports as a PDF. Book a demo to see it on your own footage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still open .pub files after October 2026?
With a Microsoft 365 subscription, no: you can't open or edit them in Publisher after October 1, 2026. Perpetual-version copies still open them, but without support after October 13, 2026.
Is a PDF enough for reports we've already issued?
A PDF preserves a report exactly as it was signed, which is what you want for a record. Keep it unchanged and store it the way your procedures require.
Will converting to Word keep my layout?
Not always. Microsoft notes that PDF-to-Word conversion is optimized for text editing, and layouts with many graphics may change. Check every page that has images.
What should a borescope report template include?
At minimum: engine identity, the reason for the inspection, references, equipment, a status for each module, findings by stage with images and measurements, and the inspector's sign-off.