Abstract: Due the riveting errors and stress concentrations existing, fatigue cracks are easily generated under the fatigue loads, which can affect the flight safety of the aircraft. However, the hidden defects of the riveted structure are difficult to detect using the current technology. The far-field eddy detection technology is not influenced by the skin effect, and has potential advantages for the detection of riveted structural defects. In this paper, the far-field eddy current detection experimental research is carried out on the hidden defects of the riveted structure. Based on the far-field eddy current detection theory, the relationship between the excitation / detection coil distance, the number of turns, and the detection frequency and sensitivity is studied. Then the xcitation parameters of eddy current sensor are optimized. The test results show that when the number of turns of the excitation coil is 1 000, a strong eddy current field can be induced; because the detection coil uses a differential form, when the detection distance is 7 mm, the detection signal amplitude is the largest, and according to the amplitude Characteristics or phase characteristics, can accurately locate defects.