Real Time and Post-Processing Flight Inspection by Drone: A Survey

Flight inspection, traditionally carried out by conventional aircraft, is a very dangerous and life-threatening activity. The recent crash of the South Africa Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA SA)'s flight inspection aircraft is one example among many. A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) -based measurement process to replace conventional flight inspection of terrestrial navigation aids (NAVAIDs) is described in this paper. Contrary to typical flight inspection with an aircraft, the RPA allows quasi-stationary overflying in critical areas with extended observation times, without using expensive manned aircraft to carry measurement equipment and antennas. This work investigates on low cost solution of flight inspection. Two cases of using drone as potential candidate of flight inspection aircraft are addressed.