Action Steps
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Keep aircraft repair tools on hand

Specialized tools are needed to perform regular maintenance, repair, overhaul and inspect airplanes and helicopters. Keeping the supplies necessary to do any job on an aircraft is imperative since all work done must meet FAA standards and protocol. You need testers, lockwire twisters, hand tools, riveting supplies, power tools and specialized aircraft attachments for those tools.

I recommend: Brown Tool offers a varied selection of aircraft tools, including testers that meet or exceed FAA specifications. Spenro Aircraft Tool Supply sells aviation tools, including riveting supplies and aviation hand tools. You can even find some discontinued items at deeply discounted prices.

Purchase aircraft parts that meet all federal requirements

Any aircraft parts you replace, even bolts, must meet FAA standards. Purchasing these items from reputable companies ensures that the items meet or exceed all standards. Keep in mind that you should purchase only enough items to last roughly six months as the standards change often and you don't want to have surplus on hand that isn't suitable to use because of new standards.

I recommend: BPB Surplus offers a varied selection of used aircraft parts. TGH Aviation sells aircraft parts, including emergency supplies. This company has an online library of articles to help you determine what parts you need to complete many aviation MRO jobs.

Buy safety gear made for aviation maintenance

When you are doing aircraft MRO jobs, safety is a top priority. Having hydraulic jacks that meet federal safety standards, de-icing materials, safety cones and aircraft maintenance manuals ensures aircraft maintenance engineering professionals can safely complete every job.

I recommend: SkyGeek has a full line of hydraulic aircraft jacks that meet or exceed federal safety standards. You can also find other aerospace tools and safety products. Air Suppliers sells de-icing aerospace products and hydraulic aircraft jacks. This website has a search engine that allows you to search by aircraft make and model or part number to make finding the products you need easier.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that all employees you hire have the proper aircraft MRO certification for the job they are hired to do.

Action Steps
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Keep up with the maintenance-repair-overhaul (MRO) industry

Overhaul & Maintenance magazine helps you stay in the know about the aviation MRO field. Overhaul & Maintenance is a part of Aviation Week, one of the McGraw-Hill companies.

I recommend: Overhaul & Maintenance give you a whole section dedicated aircraft repair. They can also direct you to industry conferences as well as help you put a pulse on what airlines are making what upgrades and revisions to their fleets.

Find repair and overhaul (MRO) companies online

Companies like Robbins-Gioia, Derco Aerospace, King Aerospace, and AAR offer you a wide variety of aviation MRO services.

I recommend: Robbins-Gioia works with many government agencies to help aircraft maintenance planning to maximize equipment life. Derco Aerospace, a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company, gives you an 80,000 square foot facility specializing in cost-effective repairs. King Aerospace can offer you routine and non-routine maintenance. AAR has expanded it maintenance repair overhaul capabilities with the acquisition of Avborne Heavy Maintenance. They can now offer you 467 aviation maintenance technicians and Airbus capabilities.

Look at the aircraft MRO masters of the industry

Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, and Victorville Aerospace are all leaders of the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) field.

I recommend: Honeywell offers you global engineering support and a world-class reputation. Lockheed Martin specialize in military organizations. Victorville Aerospace gives you aircraft MRO services specializing in Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed and Martin, and they service both narrow and wide bodied aircrafts.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Commercial Computers Incorporated can offer you Repair and Overhaul (MRO) software to aid in your sales and customer, production, purchasing, managing and billing functions if you are a aircraft repair company.
• •  MRO Prospector is another piece of software that can be helpful to those of you in the MRO field. It offers you a business development and a benchmark module to provide your users with timely cost and production information.

Action Steps
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Locate accredited aviation MRO programs in your area

Many universities and technical schools have aviation technician programs. The FAA accredits and approves some of these programs, which means that people who successfully complete these programs can perform most maintenance, repair, overhaul and safety checks on an aircraft. Completing a program that's not FAA approved severely limits a person's job possibilities. In some cases, the person may only be able to work on non-flying aircraft, such as planes in museums.

I recommend: National Center for Aircraft Technician Training is an accreditation certification company that works with the FAA to ensure that all aviation maintenance training programs meet certain standards. This company has a list of NCATT accredited schools on its website. National Aviation Academy has an FAA approved training program for individuals who want to earn FAA certificates for specific aviation jobs.

Provide FAA required aircraft MRO supplemental courses

Periodically, the FAA issues new standards for training MRO aircraft personnel, such as the 'Human Error Factor' course that teaches aircraft maintenance engineering personnel how one small error or mistake on their part can lead to a fatal plane crash. You can complete most of these refresher courses or supplemental courses online. In some cases, it is a good idea to hire a trainer to come to your business and train all your employees at the same time.

I recommend: Transportation Systems Consulting Corporation offers online, off site and in house professional training refreshers for AMO professionals. Aviation Institute of Maintenance offers an online Human Factors in Aviation course that meets FAA requirements.

Keep aircraft maintenance manuals on site

Even the most experienced aviation MRO technician will have questions or need guidance concerning aircraft parts. Keeping the aircraft maintenance manuals on site for all of the aircraft you service gives these technicians a guide for proper procedures, parts placement and maintenance schedules.

I recommend: BPB Surplus has a varied selection of aircraft repair manuals for sale. All of the manuals are original manuals for the item listed. Some manuals are on CDs to help you save space. You can find a large selection of aircraft manuals at eFlightManuals.com. This company has manuals available in print or on CD or DVD.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep a copy of your employees aircraft MRO certificates in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box in case you ever need to show the certificates to authorities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

After-market services

After-market services include testing, parts restoration, spare parts management, aircraft on ground (AOG) services and programs for rotables.

I recommend: Find out more about after-market services from Expeditors International of Washington. Avionics Magazine also discusses after-market services.

Aircraft on ground (AOG)

Aircraft on ground (AOG) refers to a plane that is grounded due to repair or testing issues. Quick turnaround is key to most aircraft owners because time on the ground means lost revenue.

I recommend: Read an interesting discussion of AOG services at AV Buyer.

Service bulletins

Service bulletins (SBs) are releases by the manufacturer on issues regarding certain parts of the plane.

I recommend: Check out a sample service bulletin at PR Newswire.

Airworthiness directives

Airworthiness directives (ADs) are notifications to the owners and operators of certified aircrafts about known safety deficiencies regarding certain models of aircrafts. This could involve the engine, avionics or other systems in the craft and must be corrected in order for the aircraft to be considered airworthy.

I recommend: Look at the airworthiness directives issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Borescope inspections

Borescope inspections are aircraft inspections using an optical device made of a rigid or flexible tube with an eyepiece on one end and an objective lens on the other. The two ends are linked together by a relay optical system. Borescopes are used to inspect areas that cannot otherwise be seen.

I recommend: Find out more about Rolls Royce borescope inspections from Aircraft Maintenance Technology.

Engine condition monitoring

Engine condition monitoring (ECM) is when an aircraft service company monitors the performance of your engine. The company checks for deterioration and can recommend preventive actions, allowing you to be proactive with the care of your aircraft.

I recommend: Find out about the Rolls Royce ECM services for aircraft.