Tool Control: The Ground School of Aircraft Maintenance

Whether you care for one airplane or several, having the right tool at arm’s reach is important.

Richard Scarbrough

Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 10:28 AM ET

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Maintaining an aircraft goes far beyond gassing up and taking off. [Shark-Co]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft maintenance often requires specialized tools for challenging tasks, emphasizing the importance of building a practical and adaptable tool collection.
Developing an aviation tool inventory involves starting with essential sets and strategically expanding with specialty tools, often guided by professional recommendations and available resources.
A rigorous tool control program is paramount in aviation maintenance to ensure organization, accountability, and prevent costly or dangerous errors, aligning with FAA guidelines.
Effective tool control, like the "7S Program" using shadowboxing, is critical for fostering a safety-first culture and promoting continuous improvement to avoid complacency in the aviation industry.

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The trick was to balance on the nose wheel, at just the correct position, to access the backside of the bulkhead that held the canopy selector valve. This task was accomplished in the cold rain, with MIL-H-5606 dripping in your face, while your buddies punched your leg screaming, “Hurry up, we eat in 15 minutes.”

There is a reason why line maintenance is a younger person’s game. I was in my early 20s, somewhat limber, quite a bit thinner, and just cocky enough to think I could remove the faulty valve before the car left for lunch.