AS9102 FAI software: the first article package, filled in from your balloons.
Forms 1, 2 and 3 filled in from the ballooned drawing and the measurements, with nothing retyped. Excel export into your AS9102 Rev C template, or a PDF ready to sign, from your Windows machine.
10-day free trial · No card required · FAI included in the Pro plan
AS9102 FAI in a nutshell
FAI, First Article Inspection, proves that a first production part meets every requirement of its drawing and definition. AS9102, and its European equivalent EN 9102, set its format: three forms, expected by most aerospace, space and defence customers.
The longest is form 3: one line per characteristic on the drawing, with its requirement, its tolerances and the measured result. On an 80-dimension drawing, that's 80 lines to copy from the ballooned drawing and the measurement record, without missing one or shifting the numbers.
What CoteCote fills in, form by form
| Form | What it holds | With CoteCote |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1 | Part identification: part and drawing number, organisation, report number | Taken from the project information; the part number is read by drawing a box around the title block |
| Form 2 | Raw materials, special processes, functional tests | Tables kept in the project, carried into the form, with as many rows as needed |
| Form 3 | One line per characteristic: requirement, tolerances, measured result, conformity | One line per balloon, under the same number as on the drawing, across every page of the project |
Excel and PDF share the same source of values: the two exports can't diverge. A non-conformance accepted by the customer is documented on form 3, as our guide to FAI report concessions explains.
From drawing to package, in three steps
Balloon the drawing
CoteCote finds and reads the dimensions, tolerances and GD&T frames, and places a numbered balloon on each. ISO 286 fits and the ISO 2768 general tolerance become numeric limits.
Measure
You enter the values in the inspection table: the pass or fail status is computed as you type. Each dimension can carry the instrument that measured it, with an alert if its calibration has lapsed.
Export the package
Forms 1, 2 and 3 come out as Excel, in your AS9102 Rev C template, or as a PDF whose measurements, serial number, signature and date stay editable.
FAI on a spreadsheet, and with CoteCote
| Step | Spreadsheet | CoteCote |
|---|---|---|
| Form 3 lines | Copied from the ballooned drawing | One per balloon, automatically |
| ISO 286 and ISO 2768 limits | Looked up in tables | Computed for each dimension |
| Verdict for each measurement | A formula, or a visual check | Computed as you type |
| Measuring instruments | A separate spreadsheet | Linked to each dimension, calibration watched |
| Numbering | To be checked against the drawing | Identical on the drawing and on form 3 |
Everything starts from the ballooned drawing: how CoteCote reads the drawing is covered on the drawing ballooning software page.
Customer drawings that stay in the shop
An FAI package starts from a customer drawing, often covered by a confidentiality agreement. CoteCote does everything on your Windows machine, from reading the drawing to exporting the package: no drawing is sent to a server, and the connection is only used to validate the subscription.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an AS9102 FAI?
- First Article Inspection is the documented check that a first production part meets every requirement of its definition. AS9102 sets its format, in three forms. It is required by most aerospace, space and defence customers.
- What is the difference between AS9102 and EN 9102?
- None in substance: they are the American and European editions of the same IAQG standard, with the same forms. A package in AS9102 format also meets an EN 9102 requirement.
- Is the package in English?
- Yes, in Excel and in PDF alike: it's the language of the AS9102 forms and the one customers expect.
- My customer imposes its own Excel template. Is that a problem?
- No. The Excel export fills in the AS9102 template you give it, keeping its borders, column widths, fonts and formulas. If the number of rows exceeds what the template provides, rows are added.
- Can the package be signed after export?
- Yes. In the PDF, the measurements, the customer approval boxes on form 2, the part serial number, the signature and the date stay editable fields. Everything else, already known to the software, is printed as is.
- Which plan includes FAI?
- In the Pro plan, at €99 per user per month excluding VAT, along with report customisation and measuring instrument management. The 10-day free trial gives access to everything, no card required.
Prepare your next FAI with CoteCote
Download the software, open the drawing of your next first article and produce the package. 10-day full trial, no card required.