Top Six Tools Used in Aircraft Maintenance

Maintenance for aircraft is a very important aspect in the aviation industry as it ensures the safety of passengers, crew, and cargo. This explains why, in 2017, more than 131,500 aircraft mechanics and service technicians were employed in the United States’ aviation industry. Mechanics and technicians who provide various services such as repair and maintenance of aircraft need to have sufficient knowledge and experience as they are dealing with one of the most sensitive machines ever made. So what are the top aircraft maintenance tools?

However, it is important to highlight that aircraft maintenance does not only require training, knowledge, and experience. It also requires advanced tools and equipment. There needs to be advanced aviation equipment for technicians so that they can deliver quality repair and maintenance. Some of the most important tools and equipment used in aircraft maintenance are discussed below.

Top Aircraft Maintenance Tools

1. Speed Handle

Civilian aircraft mechanics don’t have enough time to move from one aircraft trying to solve the problem and then moving to another aircraft. There is a lot of work to be done within a short period. A speed handle is one of the most advanced tools in aircraft maintenance. It is a long screw that allows technicians to spin quickly and remove a screw head with one hand while the other hand is handling other repairs. This is a very important tool, especially when repairing a high-end engine with thousands of screws.

2. Torque Wrench

Most of the screws and fasteners on the helicopter rotor need to be installed to a specific tightness or torque. However, most of the spanners available for tightening a bolt or a nut are not very effective in fastening various screws. The only reliable method of tightening a nut into a specific torque is through the use of a calibrated torque wrench. Most of the torque wrenches are designed to be set at various torque amounts, which makes them very effective in aircraft maintenance and repair.

3. Vibration Meter

Vibration analysis in an aircraft is very important in ensuring that the aircraft is safe while in air. A vibration meter has the role of measuring vibration levels on the aircraft. A vibration meter measures in kilograms and highlights the maximum vibration that an aircraft can hold. A vibration meter will help the pilot to understand the magnitude of the vibrations on the aircraft so that he can act accordingly and maintain the safety and integrity of the aircraft. An aircraft that does not have a vibration meter is a disaster waiting to happen and is likely to experience rotor blade problems and other issues to do with structural integrity.

4. Safety Wire Pliers

Although a lot of effort is done to ensure that most of the fasteners are working as intended and using the right torque, safety wires are also included to ensure that at no time the nuts and bolts will loosen. A safety wire pliers are used in holding large aluminum wires and tying them together to form huge and strong braids. The wires are ‘tied’ strongly and using maximum toughness to ensure that there are no problems on the nuts and bolts.

5. Metal Working Tools

Airplanes are made of metal, especially in major frames and structures in the entire aircraft. Therefore, for any mechanical repair, there must be the necessary metal working tools. Most of the metal working tools are used in fastening metal, bending metals, and cutting metals. Some of the common metal working tools include rivet guns and drills, and they are mostly used in installing rivets which are essential in holding fundamental structures of the aircraft together.

6. Mirrors

This looks funny, but mirrors are essential tools in aircraft repair. In most cases, mechanics don’t see some parts of the aircraft. Technicians don’t have a direct line of sight in some critical parts that need to be checked regularly. Sometimes, the only way to see such an area is by using a mirror rather than dismantling the whole wing.

Where to Find the Top Aircraft Maintenance Tools

These are some of the commonly used tools and equipment in aircraft repair. However, airplanes have sophisticated parts such as flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. To analyze these parts, you need to get tools and equipment from a specialized and accredited dealer.