Internal and external audits are used to assure an operator complies with certain rules and regulations. An audit is an inspection of certain processes that facilitates this "assurance of compliance."

 

At a high level, inspections are a “do” and audits are a “check”. An inspection is typically something that a site is required to do by a compliance obligation. An audit is the process of checking that compliance obligations have been met, including that the required inspections have been done.

 

Using the IBAC/IS-BAO standards as an example:

"Business aviation organizations may choose to be audited to assist them in effectively managing the safety of their operations and to ensure that they are in conformity with the requirements of the applicable IS-BAO Standard and with their manuals, policies, processes and procedures. For an audit to be effective, it must both assess the organization’s conformity with the Standard and be of value to the organization. By reviewing manuals and procedures, examining records, interviewing personnel and observing operations, the auditor can arrive at a conclusion of conformity and the effectiveness of their management efforts."