Coordinate Measurement Machines (CMMs) have been extensively used in inspecting mechanical parts with higher accuracy. In order to enhance the efficiency and precision of the measurement of aviation engine blades, a sampling method of profile measurement of aviation engine blade based on the firefly algorithm is researched. Then, by comparing with the equal arc-length sampling algorithm (EAS) and the equi-parametric sampling algorithm (EPS) in one simulation, the proposed sampling algorithm shows its better sampling quality than the other two algorithms. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by an experimental example of blade profile. Both simulated and experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can ensure the measurement accuracy by measuring a smaller number of points.