Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing calculator

First Article Inspection Load Calculator

First article inspection for aerospace hardware requires verifying drawing characteristics, recording objective evidence, compiling forms, and resolving deltas before production release. This calculator helps quality engineers estimate FAIR workload for new parts, process changes, or supplier qualification lots.

What this calculator does

  • Estimate AS9102 first article inspection hours from ballooned characteristics, verification pace, and FAIR package allowance.
  • a quality engineer needs to plan AS9102 first article inspection effort for a new or revised aerospace part
  • Returns estimated hours to verify and document first article inspection.

Formula used

  • Base FAI verification time = ballooned characteristics ÷ FAI verification pace
  • Total first article inspection load = base verification time × (1 + FAIR package and review allowance)

Inputs explained

  • Ballooned FAI characteristics: undefined
  • FAI verification pace: undefined
  • FAIR package and review allowance: undefined

How to use the result

  • Use it for AS9102 FAIR planning, process changes, new suppliers, tooling changes, and customer-requested first articles.
  • Drawing quality, missing requirements, GD&T complexity, failed characteristics, and customer review cycles can increase actual hours.

Common questions

  • What information do I need for first article inspection load? You need the ballooned characteristic count, expected verification pace, and allowance for FAIR paperwork, review, and rework of findings.
  • Which units should I use for first article inspection load? Use the units shown beside each field and keep the same lot, contract, or planning period throughout the calculation. Convert minutes to hours, pounds to kilograms, dollars per part to dollars per lot, or counts to lots before entering mixed data.
  • What does the first article inspection load result tell me? It estimates the quality labor needed to complete a first article package.
  • When is this first article inspection load estimate only approximate? Use it to schedule inspectors, quote FAI charges, delay production release realistically, or request customer clarification before inspection starts.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.