First Article Inspection Aerospace Casting: AS9102
TL;DR: First article inspection aerospace casting is a full verification of the first production casting against its drawing and specification, documented on AS9102 forms. It is required before an aerospace part enters series production.
First article inspection aerospace casting proves that a new casting meets every requirement before volume production. A thorough first article inspection aerospace casting protects flight safety and follows AS9102. See our quality approach.
What Is First Article Inspection for Aerospace Castings?
First article inspection is a complete check of the first production part against the drawing, specification, and standards. For castings, it verifies every dimension, the material, and all special processes before series production begins. It gives customers documented proof that the very first part conforms. See this reference.
AS9102 First Article Report
The AS9102 first article report is the aerospace standard for documenting an FAI. The AS9102 first article report uses three forms that together account for the part, its materials, and every characteristic.
The three AS9102 forms:
- Form 1: part number accountability and part details.
- Form 2: material, process, and special-process certifications.
- Form 3: characteristic accountability, every dimension verified.
- Ballooned drawing: each characteristic numbered and measured.
- Records: all results documented and retained for audit.
FAI Casting Requirements
FAI casting requirements cover far more than dimensions. Full FAI casting requirements include material certificates, NDT results, special-process approvals, and any functional testing on the first casting.
What FAI verifies on a casting:
- Dimensions: every drawing characteristic measured and recorded.
- Material: chemistry and mechanical certifications checked.
- NDT: radiography and penetrant results verified.
- Special processes: heat treatment and coating certified.
- Function: any required functional or pressure test passed.
FAI vs PPAP Aerospace Casting
FAI and PPAP aerospace casting share a goal but come from different worlds. AS9102 FAI is the aerospace standard, while PPAP aerospace casting is adapted from automotive through AS9145 APQP and PPAP.
- AS9102 FAI: the aerospace standard for first article.
- PPAP: production part approval from the automotive world.
- AS9145 APQP and PPAP: the aerospace adaptation of PPAP.
- Both prove a process can make conforming parts.
Why Choose Uni Tritech for First Article Inspection
Uni Tritech is a NADCAP-certified, AS9100D foundry approved by Airbus and Collins Aerospace. We deliver full AS9102 first article inspection with in-house CMM, NDT, and laboratory services.
- AS9100D quality system, Airbus and Collins approved.
- NADCAP-accredited NDT and laboratory services.
- In-house CMM and dimensional inspection.
- Full AS9102 documentation with every first article.
Frequently Asked Questions
An AS9102 first article inspection requires the three forms (part accountability, material and process certifications, and characteristic accountability), a ballooned drawing, measurement of every characteristic, and all supporting certificates.
For cast aerospace parts, the drawing is ballooned, every characteristic on the first casting is measured, and material, NDT, and special-process certificates are verified and documented on AS9102 forms before production.
An AS9102 first article report is the standard aerospace record of an FAI. It uses Form 1, Form 2, and Form 3 to account for the part, its materials and processes, and every measured characteristic.
FAI casting requirements include full dimensional measurement, material chemistry and mechanical certificates, NDT results, special-process approvals such as heat treatment, and any required functional testing.
PPAP aerospace casting adapts the automotive production part approval process for aerospace, usually through AS9145 APQP and PPAP. It proves the process can consistently make conforming castings.
Need first article inspection aerospace casting to AS9102? Contact Uni Tritech to discuss your programme.
Need AS9102 first article inspection on your castings?
Uni Tritech delivers full FAI and documentation on aerospace castings. Talk to us about your programme today.
