在过去的30年里，复合材料已经被集成到商用飞机结构中。虽然这些结构比传统金属结构减轻了重量，但在用结构的检查要求不同。在役检查的主要方法是目视检查。超声波检查通常用于评估目视发现的缺陷。超声波检查也用于应力工程相关领域的详细检查。未来的检测技术可能更多地依赖于大视场检测技术，如剪切成像或回复反射器成像。

OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS COMPOSITES HAVE BEEN INTEGRATED INTO COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES. WHILE THESE STRUCTURES SAVE WEIGHT OVER CONVENTIONAL METAL STRUCTURES, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR INSPECTION OF IN-SERVICE STRUCTURES ARE DIFFERENT. THE PRIMARY IN-SERVICE INSPECTION METHOD IS VISUAL EXAMINATION. ULTRASONIC INSPECTION IS TYPICALLY USED TO EVALUATE DEFECTS FOUND VISUALLY. ULTRASONIC INSPECTION ALSO IS USED FOR DETAILED INSPECTION IN AREAS OF CONCERN TO STRESS ENGINEERING. FUTURE INSPECTION TECHNIQUES MAY RELY MORE ON WIDE-FIELD INSPECTION TECHNIQUES SUCH AS SHEAROGRAPHY OR RETRO REFLECTOR IMAGING.