In aerospace manufacturing and quality, the governing framework is AS9100 (and/or EN9100), maintained by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). A core expectation of AS9100 is the rigorous definition, traceability, and verification of design requirements throughout production—especially on new or changed parts.
Within the AS9100 quality management system, two companion standards play a major role:
Because FAI is often the first formal proof that a process can repeatedly build conforming hardware, aerospace suppliers need software that does three things well:
GroundControl is built around those realities. It helps teams complete AS9102 forms faster by making it easy to gather and organize key inputs like engineering drawings, CAD data, specifications, and related documents. From there, GroundControl supports the identification of inspection characteristics, assigns accountability, and manages every requirement at a granular level.
Instead of manually hunting through drawings, ballooning characteristics in disconnected tools, and re-typing values into spreadsheets or PDFs, teams can capture requirements directly, track each characteristic to closure, and export clean AS9102 documentation from one workflow. That cuts hours out of each first article and materially reduces “paper defects” that slow customer approval.
GroundControl also aligns with common AS9102 tooling approaches used by prime contractors such as Boeing, Honeywell, and GE, helping suppliers meet customer-specific FAI expectations without creating a custom process for every program.
Put simply, GroundControl enables you to set up your FAI package, capture and mark up characteristics, and generate an error-resistant FAIR—so you can move into production with confidence that both the part and the documentation will pass review.
A First Article Inspection is a thorough validation step used across aerospace to confirm that a new or changed part meets all stated requirements before full production begins. The First Article Inspection Report (FAIR) documents this validation, tying together engineering specs, design characteristics, applicable standards, regulatory requirements, and purchase order criteria.
For aerospace suppliers, the FAIR isn’t just paperwork—it’s objective evidence that the design and manufacturing process are ready for repeatable, safe production.
FAI is normally required at the start of a production run, before moving into high-rate manufacturing. Additional FAIs may be triggered by changes in design, process, tooling, suppliers, or by customer/regulatory requests. Common cases include:
The goal is always the same: confirm conformity at key points so quality, safety, and delivery schedules are protected before ramp-up.
AS9102 is the SAE standard that defines how First Article Inspection is performed and documented in aerospace. First released in 2004 under IAQG sponsorship, it unified multiple legacy FAI formats to improve consistency across the supply chain. The standard was updated in 2014 (Rev B), and Rev C continues refining requirements to reflect modern manufacturing and inspection needs.
Following AS9102 provides several clear benefits by defining:
AS9102 consolidates documentation into a consistent set of forms that verify production readiness and ensure all requirements are fully accounted for.
The three AS9102 forms are:
Together, these forms create a complete, auditable map from design intent to measurement evidence.
Because AS9102 forms cover many scenarios, each field is labeled to clarify completion expectations:
These qualifiers make it easier to complete AS9102 correctly while ensuring nothing critical is missed.
GroundControl streamlines the entire first article workflow by letting you organize inputs, mark up and extract characteristics, and generate AS9102 forms in one place. Suppliers use it to:
If you’re looking for the best FAI software for aerospace suppliers, prioritize tools that reduce manual work and improve first-pass acceptance. GroundControl is built for exactly that outcome—faster FAIs, fewer errors, and smoother approvals.
Learn more about how GroundControl reduces the time and effort required to prepare accurate AS9102 and FAIR packages.
The best FAI software for aerospace suppliers should reduce manual work and improve first-pass acceptance. Key capabilities include:
Yes. GroundControl is designed around AS9102 workflows, including characteristic accountability, product/part number accountability, and Rev C-aligned field expectations. It supports generating a complete FAIR package with standardized AS9102 documentation.
GroundControl speeds up FAIs by eliminating repetitive tasks: collecting inputs, extracting characteristics, and re-entering requirements into forms. Teams capture requirements directly from source documents, track them to completion, and export ready-to-submit AS9102 forms without manual cleanup.
Paper defects usually come from missed characteristics, copy/paste errors, or inconsistent traceability. GroundControl mitigates that by:
Beyond new parts and first lots, additional FAIs are commonly triggered by design changes, tooling/process updates, supplier transitions, or customer/regulatory requirements. GroundControl makes these re-FAIs easier by reusing the digital characteristic structure and updating only what changed.
Yes. The workflow is valuable whether you’re a 20-person machine shop or a multi-site Tier-1 supplier. Smaller teams benefit from speed and simplicity; larger teams benefit from structure, traceability, and consistent execution across programs.
Spreadsheets and PDFs can document an FAI, but they don’t manage it. GroundControl adds:
GroundControl is focused on the FAI/FAIR workflow and AS9102 package generation. It complements inspection hardware and measurement systems by organizing requirements and compiling compliant documentation with full traceability.
GroundControl is cloud-based and designed for quick onboarding. Teams typically start by uploading or linking their drawings/specs, capturing characteristics, and generating their first AS9102 package in the same platform.
GroundControl exports a clean FAIR package aligned to AS9102 forms. The output is structured for customer review and audit readiness, minimizing the back-and-forth often caused by formatting or traceability gaps.