AS9102: First Article Inspection in the Aerospace Industry

Author: Maren Fichtner | October 2, 2026

Definition: What is AS9102?

AS9102 is a standard used in the aerospace and defense industries that governs the procedures and documentation for the First Article Inspection (FAI). It requires complete, feature-by-feature verification that a manufactured component meets all design specifications before actual series production may be approved.

Publisher: SAE International / International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG)

Current edition: AS9102 Rev. C

Who is AS9102 intended for?

The standard is intended for manufacturers and suppliers who produce components for the aerospace and defense industries – ranging from simple mechanical components to complex assemblies. It is typically required by OEMs and their Tier 1 suppliers for every new or substantially modified component, regardless of batch size.

Overview of core requirements

Complete feature inspection: Every feature specified in the drawing is measured and documented
Three FAI forms: Form 1 (Part Information), Form 2 (Material and Process Documentation), Form 3 (Feature Inspection)
Triggers for a new FAI: design change, change of location or process, production interruption, change of material
Delta FAI: Reduced inspection of only the modified characteristics for minor design changes
Traceability: complete traceability of test equipment, measurement values, and personnel performing the tests to the tested component
Customer approval: formal acceptance of the FAI documentation by the client prior to the start of series production

Difference from AS9100D

AS9100D is a company’s overarching quality management system and governs processes, responsibilities, and documentation at the system level. AS9102, on the other hand, is a specific procedure referenced in AS9100D that governs exclusively the initial sample inspection of a single component – comparable to a precise tool within the larger system. A company can be AS9100D-certified and still perform a specific FAI inadequately; therefore, both levels are considered separately during the audit.

Consequences of noncompliance

An incomplete or incorrect FAI blocks the customer’s approval of series production and can lead to its immediate halt if series production is already underway. Since errors in safety-critical aerospace and defense components can have serious consequences, discrepancies in the FAI documentation regularly lead to intensive scrutiny by the customer and, in the event of a recurrence, jeopardize the entire supplier relationship.

Related standards

AS9100D – quality management standard for the aerospace and defense industries
AQAP 2110 – NATO quality assurance requirements for defense equipment
EN 10204 – material certificates and material documentation
ISO 9001 – basic quality management standard

Frequently asked questions about AS9102

Is AS9102 required by law?

No, but it is contractually required by OEMs, often as part of AS9100D certification.

When must an FAI be performed?

For initial production, design changes, changes in location or process, extended production stoppages, or changes in materials.

What are the three FAI forms?

Form 1 (Parts Information), Form 2 (Material Certificates), and Form 3 (Complete Feature Inspection).

What is the difference between this and AS9100D?

AS9100D is the company's quality management system, while AS9102 is the specific testing procedure for an individual component.

Successfully implementing AS9102

First Article Inspection is one of the most time-consuming acceptance processes in the defense and aerospace industries, as hundreds of characteristics per component often need to be inspected and documented. Connected worker platforms such as weasl connect directly to testing equipment, automatically transfer measurement values to the FAI report, and automatically generate Forms 1 through 3.

Learn more about weasl and request our product flyer now.