A Peek Behind the Scenes of Repair Station Ops

A visit to Aircraft Accessories International provides insight into the process of returning an aircraft to service.

Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 03:16 PM ET

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Aircraft Accessories International (AAI) specializes in accessory repair and overhaul for King Air components. [Courtesy: AAI]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft maintenance, such as fixing a hydraulic leak on a King Air, requires specialized repair stations like Aircraft Accessories International (AAI), which handles component overhaul for various aircraft.
Before contacting a repair station, customers should prepare essential information including the aircraft's make, model, a descriptive "squawk" report, desired turnaround time, and whether their maintenance program allows for Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) or Designated Engineering Representative (DER) repairs.
The repair process at AAI involves visual inspection, disassembly, cleaning, and a detailed inspection that leads to a bill of material, with communication being key if additional repairs or items are needed, offering DER repairs as an option to salvage parts.
Upon return, it is critical to inspect the unit for shipping damage and meticulously follow all installation and testing procedures to ensure proper function, maintain warranty, and prevent further issues.

See a mistake? Contact us.

There is a time in every aircraft owner’s life when they hear an utterance that sends a chill through their entire body—and their checkbook. “Hey, boss. I think we have a problem with Four Six Echo.” Mechanics typically identify aircraft by the last three places of the N-number, and any A&P worth their salt will always use the phonetic alphabet.

In our example, Four Six Echo is the company’s Beechcraft King Air scheduled for a trip to close a big deal with a client in Oklahoma. Upon doing the walkaround, the copilot noticed a pool of hydraulic fluid on the ramp just next to one of the main tires. Not good. Hydraulic fluid belongs in the airplane’s actuators, reservoirs, and hydraulic lines, not on the ramp.