Aircraft information retrieval using onboard RFID tags

A method for determining information about an aircraft may include receiving at a base station an RFID tag location map for the aircraft and transmitting to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) the RFID tag location map for the aircraft. The method may include generating navigation signals by the UAV based at least in part on the received RFID tag location map appropriate for controlling navigation of the UAV proximate to an RFID tag supported on the aircraft at an RFID tag location, the RFID tag having aircraft-related identifying data. The method may include receiving, by the base station, read-related data from the UAV. The read-related data may include aircraft-related identifying data when the RFID tag is at the RFID tag location. The method may include determining, at the base station from the received read-related data, information about the aircraft.