What Industries Use Borescopes?

Borescopes started as specialist tools for engineers and technicians, but today they’re used in a surprising range of industries. Anywhere you need to inspect something you can’t easily see—inside an engine, behind a wall, down a pipe—a borescope quickly becomes essential. Modern models range from simple rigid scopes to advanced video systems tailored for specific sectors, as you can see from the diverse applications highlighted in USA Borescopes’ industry overview.

From aviation to energy, from building inspection to manufacturing, borescopes are now part of the everyday toolkit for safety, quality control and preventative maintenance. Here’s a breakdown of where they’re used and why they matter.

Heavy industry and energy

Power generation and utilities

In power plants—whether gas, coal, nuclear, hydro or wind—unplanned downtime is incredibly expensive. Technicians use borescopes to carry out internal inspections on:

• Turbines and compressors
• Heat exchangers and boilers
• Pipes and welds in high-pressure systems

By guiding a borescope through existing access ports, inspectors can spot cracks, corrosion, foreign object damage and early signs of wear before they lead to failures. That means safer operations, fewer outages and more predictable maintenance planning.

Oil, gas and petrochemical

In the oil and gas sector, borescopes are used both onshore and offshore to inspect:

• Process piping and valves
• Storage tanks and pressure vessels
• Pipeline welds and internal coatings

This helps operators detect internal issues—like pitting, deposits or weld defects—without cutting into the system. Non-destructive visual inspection (NDVI) is an important part of asset integrity programmes, and borescopes play a central role in that.

To support these kinds of demanding environments, USA Borescopes offers rugged borescopes and inspection cameras designed to handle heat, vibration and challenging access points.

Aviation, aerospace and transportation

Civil and military aviation

In aviation, borescopes are practically mandatory. Aircraft engineers use them to inspect:

• Jet engines (compressors, turbines, combustion chambers)
• APU (auxiliary power unit) interiors
• Hard-to-reach airframe structures and control surfaces

Borescope inspections are built into scheduled maintenance checks because they allow technicians to verify engine health without costly, time-consuming teardowns. This improves safety while keeping aircraft available and in service.

Automotive and rail

Automotive workshops and fleet operators also rely on borescopes to inspect:

• Engine cylinders and valves
• Turbochargers and exhaust systems
• Gearboxes and transmissions

Instead of stripping down an engine to diagnose an issue, mechanics can use a borescope to visually confirm damage or wear, saving both time and parts. Rail operators use similar techniques for engines, brake systems and components hidden behind panels or housings.

Manufacturing and quality control

Precision engineering and machining

In precision manufacturing, borescopes are used to check:

• Internal bores and blind holes
• Complex machined parts and castings
• Welds and joints in fabricated assemblies

Being able to visually confirm internal quality without scrapping parts or cutting them open is a huge cost saver. Quality teams can validate dimensional accuracy and surface condition, while production teams can quickly investigate defects without interrupting the entire line.

Food, pharma and hygienic production

In regulated environments like food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, borescopes support hygiene and contamination control. They allow teams to inspect:

• Inside process lines and mixers
• Hard-to-clean corners and fittings
• CIP (Clean-in-Place) system coverage

This contributes to better compliance with strict cleanliness standards and helps identify hidden build-up that could lead to quality or safety issues.

For manufacturers that need more than just equipment, USA Borescopes also provides specialized inspection services and support that can be aligned with in-house QA and maintenance programmes.

Construction, building inspection and trades

Building inspection and maintenance

Surveyors, facility managers and building inspectors use borescopes to look behind surfaces without damaging them. Typical use cases include:

• Checking for water damage or mould inside walls and ceilings
• Inspecting cavity insulation and structural elements
• Verifying repairs in confined or sealed spaces

Because borescopes require only a very small access point, they help minimize disruption and repair costs while still giving a clear view of what’s going on inside the structure.

Plumbing, HVAC and electrical

Tradespeople also employ borescopes on a daily basis to:

• Locate blockages in drains and pipework
• Inspect ductwork for leaks or contamination
• Trace wiring or confirm connections in tight spaces

Using a borescope lets them diagnose problems accurately before opening up walls or floors, which means faster jobs and happier customers.

Security, defence and specialist applications

Borescopes also play a role in law enforcement, military and specialist security work. They can be used for search operations, EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) support, or inspecting areas that are unsafe or impractical to access directly.

In these scenarios, ruggedness, image quality and reliability are critical. That’s why organizations in sensitive sectors tend to work closely with trusted suppliers to specify the right system for their operational needs.

Choosing a partner for your industry’s borescope needs

Across all these industries, the pattern is the same: borescopes help professionals see more, do more and risk less. They reduce unnecessary teardowns, support better decision-making and underpin safer, more efficient operations.

USA Borescopes focuses specifically on remote visual inspection equipment, which means they understand how the demands of aviation differ from those of power generation, or how a building inspector’s needs contrast with those of a refinery maintenance team. Their experience, detailed product range and real-world understanding of different sectors are summed up on their About Us page, and reflected in the way they help organizations match the right tool to the job.

If your industry depends on getting eyes into tight, hazardous or inaccessible spaces, partnering with a specialist provider can make a real difference—whether you’re upgrading from older systems or investing in borescopes for the first time. To discuss your inspection challenges and get guidance on the most suitable equipment for your sector, contact USA Borescopes today.

About the Author

The author works across multiple industrial sectors, helping organizations apply borescopes for maintenance, diagnostics and quality control. With deep knowledge of remote visual inspection challenges, they translate technical concepts into practical insights for aviation, energy, manufacturing and building professionals who rely on accurate, non-destructive internal inspection tools every day.