How can aircraft owners ensure they are properly prepared for a Hot-Section Inspection on their aircraft? Gerrard Cowan polled a selection of MRO specialists, engine manufacturers and other industry experts to obtain their best advice.
A private jet engine Hot-Section Inspection (HSI) covers the parts of an engine that are exposed to extreme temperatures. It focuses on such areas as turbine blades, combustion chamber, turbine disks, vane rings, etc., with the aim of finding problems before they can mushroom into serious issues.
Knowing when and what is coming due is the first step to planning a successful event, according to Bill Otte, Engine Service Sales Representative at Duncan Aviation. Multiple factors can impact when events are actually due, he says, including trend data, Service Bulletin status, engine hours and/or engine cycles.
Quality engine maintenance service providers can assist with records research to help operators determine what’s coming due and when. This will also assist with pre-event planning, parts ordering, “and better understanding of what the event might cost," Otte adds.
Operators whose engines are covered by a service contract can expect to have most, if not all, of the costs covered during an event. “However, there can be findings that could be excluded from contact coverage,” Otte warns.
“Foreign Object Damage (FOD) and corrosion are examples. Plan some time to review the service contract to know what is covered.”
Other costs should also be factored in, he says, such as aircraft relocation costs when the work must be completed at a shop. If the work can be done off-site, it’s important to consider technician travel costs, expenses, shipping costs, and the labor to remove and install the engine as needed. Again, some service contracts might cover some of these costs.
This article was originally published by AvBuyer on September 22, 2025.