Mid-lease inspection: what lessors check and why

What the lease allows

Most operating leases give the lessor the right to inspect the aircraft and its records at reasonable intervals and on reasonable notice, usually at a scheduled check so the aircraft is not grounded for the inspection. The lease defines the access; the inspection stays inside it.

What the inspector checks

• Physical condition: a general visual inspection of the engine externals; a borescope inspection where the lease allows it or a trend gives cause.
• Records: AD compliance, service bulletin status, LLP status and traceability, shop visit history, open deferred items, borescope and trend history.
• Configuration: data-plate photographs of the engine and accessories; the QEC or EBU against the delivery specification.
• Utilisation and trends: hours and cycles against the lease assumptions, EGT margin trend, upcoming maintenance events.
• Housekeeping: records kept in the agreed format and language, insurance and registration documents current.

What the lessor receives

A report that maps each observation to the lease condition it touches, with photographs, a list of items to raise with the lessee now, and a view of the redelivery risk if nothing changes.

Why it matters to the lessee too

An operator that gets a mid-lease list has time to plan the work into normal checks. The one that first hears about a configuration gap at the redelivery hangar pays for it in ferry delays and penalty days.