This paper discusses the acquisition and processing of experimental data collected using a low frequency eddy current sliding probe to inspect aluminum, simulated airframe structure for inner layer cracks. This effort is part of a model‐assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) study aimed at complex structure. Since the experimental data will be compared to idealized model‐generated data, an automated scanning setup in the laboratory was used to produce results with minimal human factor variables and low measurement uncertainty. While good reproducibility of the data was achieved, the inherent nature of the multilayer, riveted structure resulted in significant scatter in the data. This scatter required special statically processing techniques to produce a meaningful POD curve, which will be discussed in an accompanying paper.