Quick background: AS9102 and ballooning
AS9102 is the SAE aerospace standard for first article inspection. In practice, FAI means numbering every requirement on the drawing (the "balloons"), listing each characteristic with its tolerance, measuring the first part, and recording results on standard forms. Form 3, where every characteristic and its measured result is listed, is usually the biggest time sink. Ballooning software automates the numbering and list-building so your inspector spends time measuring, not typing.
The options
| Tool | Reads | Pricing | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mavlon | 2D PDF drawings | First drawing free, no signup; then per-drawing (amount not published) | Small aerospace shops doing occasional AS9102 FAIs |
| Ideagen Quality Control (formerly InspectionXpert) | PDF/2D drawings, 3D models | Not published | Shops producing frequent FAI reports |
| High QA | 2D drawings, 3D models with PMI, CMM data | Not published | CMM-heavy shops doing aerospace/automotive FAI |
| ProShop ERP | n/a (quality inside the ERP) | Quote-based; third-party listing from about $500/month | Shops wanting quality tied to the job record |
Mavlon: the low-commitment AI option
Mavlon is a browser-based tool that reads a 2D PDF drawing, places balloons and fills AS9102 Form 3 with dimensions, tolerances and GD&T for a human to review. You can try the first drawing free without signing up, which makes it the easiest way to see whether AI ballooning handles your prints. Per-drawing pricing after that isn't published. It's aimed squarely at small shops doing FAIs now and then.
Ideagen Quality Control (formerly InspectionXpert)
A long-standing ballooning and characteristic-capture tool for drawings, with measurement import and AS9102 and PPAP templates, available on desktop and cloud. If you produce FAI reports every week, a dedicated tool like this is where many shops land.
High QA
High QA is a broader inspection planning and quality platform: automated 2D and 3D ballooning, GD&T and PMI extraction from 3D models, CMM integration and AS9102/PPAP reports. It makes the most sense if a CMM is central to your inspection and you want results flowing straight into the report.
ProShop: quality inside the ERP
If you're also shopping for an ERP, ProShop builds the quality system into the same record as the job, which matters for traceability and audits. A commenter in a 2026 r/manufacturing thread specifically suggested testing how any ERP handles an NCR on a live work order during the demo. See our ERP guide.
How to choose
- How many FAIs a month? A few: start with Mavlon's free drawing and per-drawing pricing. Many: a dedicated tool or ERP quality module.
- 2D prints or 3D models with PMI? If customers send models with PMI, tools that read 3D (High QA, Ideagen) can skip some manual work.
- Do you have a CMM? CMM integration (High QA) saves re-typing results.
- Who reviews? Every tool here expects a human to check the balloons and values. Budget for that time.
Don't forget revisions
A first article isn't a one-time event. AS9102 calls for a new or partial (delta) FAI when things change, such as a drawing revision, a new process or source, or a long production gap. The real time sink in many shops isn't the first FAI, it's redoing paperwork when revision B arrives. When you trial any tool, ask how it handles a revised drawing: can it carry over unchanged characteristics and flag only what changed? Check your customer's flow-down requirements too, since many add their own rules on top of the standard.
Beyond paperwork: camera-based inspection
FAI software handles documentation. If your pain is visually checking every part in a run, that's a different category: see our quality and inspection tools, including camera-based systems like LandingAI LandingLens and Scortex Spark, and the six-camera micro-parts case study.
Frequently asked questions
What is AS9102 first article inspection?
AS9102 is the SAE aerospace standard for first article inspection. It defines how to document that a first production part meets every drawing requirement, using standard forms, including Form 3 for characteristic accountability.
What is ballooning software?
Ballooning software numbers each dimension and note on a drawing and builds the matching characteristic list automatically, so you don't number and type them by hand. Many tools then fill AS9102 or PPAP forms from that list.
Is there free AS9102 software?
Mavlon lets you try your first drawing free without signing up; after that it charges per drawing. Most other FAI tools don't publish pricing and require a quote.
Can AI do first article inspection?
AI can read drawings, place balloons and pre-fill forms like AS9102 Form 3, which saves a lot of typing. It can't measure the part, and a qualified person still needs to review every characteristic and result.
Sources
- SAE AS9102C
- Mavlon: AS9102 FAI software for small shops
- High QA: first article inspection
- Ideagen Quality Control (InspectionXpert)
- r/manufacturing: ERP system feedback for Manufacturers in CT (Apr 2026)
Facts come from public vendor pages and the sources above, checked October 24, 2026. Prices change; confirm with the vendor. Forum comments are individual opinions. Spot an error? Tell us.