What are the best borescopes in the aerospace industry? This guide covers the basics of aviation borescopes and some of the industry’s top tools.
The best borescope in the aerospace industry is the one that’s right for the inspection at hand.
Each engine borescope has a slightly different function. And in the aerospace industry, it’s vital that each borescope inspection is performed properly and thoroughly. That means it’s important to use the inspection tool best suited for the aircraft in question.
In this article, we’ll cover the basics of aviation borescopes, the importance of inspections and our picks for the best borescopes in the aerospace industry and how they’re best used.
Before we dive into the aerospace industry’s best borescopes, let’s cover the basics of these inspection tools first.
An aviation borescope is an inspection tool consisting of a camera or eyepiece attached to the end of a rod or flexible cable. Together, these components allow maintenance technicians to examine various types of machinery and infrastructure that would otherwise be out of reach.
There are several types of borescopes used in the aerospace industry. Rigid borescopes – which only allow for a straight view into the inspection area – make popular engine borescopes as they are typically used to examine the piston engine cylinders.
When conducting more in-depth engine inspections, opt for a more flexible device, like a fiberscope. According to Aviation Maintenance Magazine, “these are flexible instruments that can easily bend to travel deep inside the engine.”
If an inspection must be recorded, choose an engine borescope that features a video camera. Videoscopes can be rigid or flexible; choose the device best suited for the task at hand.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of the aerospace industry’s inspection tools, let’s discuss their importance.
Borescope inspections are a necessary component of aviation maintenance. Most importantly, regular inspections ensure airplanes are safe for flight.
Outside of meeting safety standards, routine inspections have many other benefits, such as extending the lifespan of a plane and its many parts. And with one of the best borescopes in the aerospace industry, these benefits are never out of reach.
Here are just a couple reasons why borescope inspections are vital in the aerospace industry.
Borescope inspections are essential to preventing turbine engine failure. According to The Next Web, “A turbine engine failure occurs when a turbine engine in an aircraft unexpectedly stops producing thrust due to a malfunction other than fuel exhaustion.”