Who pays for tooling in your company?

[Tech-B]

Hi,

I was wondering how the tooling is organized in your company. Have you put together your own kit, or did you receive a basic kit from your company.
If it is your own kit, do you receive a fee to keep it updated or to replace worn items?

Cheers

[coax]

I recieved a tool kit when I was an apprentice the cost of which was deducted from salary and have just added to it over the last 18 years.

[The Dodger]

Hi there.

I have just started in the civilian Airline industry from being in the Military. From what I have found out, speaking to engineers. You need to have your own basic mechanics tool kit. There are lists on several websites. A friend of mine got me a list from Airmech.com. I managed to cobble together a selection of tools from that. I can only speak from a Military viewpoint, which buys there own tools. However from what I have been hearing, rumour wise, is that airlines are starting to invest more in getting thier own tooling as it reduces the risk of FOD and unregisterd tools getting lost. The amount of money you have to pay for your first tool kit varies, depending on what brands you buy. I go for Snap On, as they have a lifetime garentee on them. They are expensive but look on e-bay. I managed to get hold of a load of good Snap On tools from a retired engineer for a bargain. I don't know if you can charge a fee from your airline, for replacment tools though. I don't think you can, though I could be wrong.

[spannersatcx]

Airlines invest in maintenance, that'd be a first.:eek:

With most if not all cutting costs, can't see them buying tools for anyone:=

[stevef]

My company supply tools (very basic kit) if required but I prefer to use my own. In the UK you can claim tool purchases against tax to a certain amount, if I remember correctly. Don't think the annual allowance is a lot though.
Not enough to stick in my mind, anyway. :)

[Truck2005]

Dodger,

I spent a couple of weeks, whlist in the RAF, at Heathrow, with an aircraft. I admit that it was a while ago but a comment by one of 'The Worlds favourite airline' managers stopped me in my tracks.

In one of the canteens there was a tool setup for anyone to purchase tools from. I asked this guy about tool control if anyone bought their own from here. His reply was, "if you lose one of your own tools it hurts you in the pocket, not the companies"!

I spoke to one of the engineers later on a 747 and asked him the same question. He recalled a time when he was working in the bilges, so to speak, and found a hammer he had lost 2 years before!!!!!

Nuff said.

[IFIX]

At the company I currently work for all private tooling is banned, except for torches and screwdrivers.
We used to use "private" toolboxes issued by the company up to three years ago.

All our maintanance vehicles are equipes with a standardised toolbox bolted to the vehicle.
the vehicles are issued, per shift, individualy and signed for.
A simillar approach is used in the hangar.
Stores has approx 40 standardised toolboxes, which are issued individually to a specific person to be used on a specific a/c

Additionally all toolboxes have a logbook which is to be signed before and after use.
And ALL tooling is etched with the number of the toolbox.
As a last "line of defence" every a/c planned for maintenance in the hangar is issued with a toolbox list, thus providing traceability of toolboxes used on a particular a/c on a given date.
This list is an integral part of the workpackage for that a/c and is filed in the same manor.

And believe it or not; tools still get lost...:(

[The Dodger]

In one of the canteens there was a tool setup for anyone to purchase tools from. I asked this guy about tool control if anyone bought their own from here. His reply was, "if you lose one of your own tools it hurts you in the pocket, not the companies"!


That I can beleive. A long time ago at a large Oxfordshire airbase. I had to assist an engineer fix an APU on a 747. He was not allowed to use our highlift equipment, so I had to go out with him as trade assist. What I saw that night left a lasting impression. The highlift could not go all the way into the APU compartment, so he got a set of 'A' frame steps to go in the rest of the way. I was still a young and impresionable mechanic and had the ways of FOD and tool control drilled into me from day one in the RAF. The engineer opend up his tool kit which looked like something I would use in my garage. He only had to change an ignitor but I was also confused as to why he antiwirlocked the new ignitor to the APU. I nervously askead him if he was happy and askead if the wirelocking was ok? His reply was,' it will be ok, if it comes undone the wire will stop it, whatever way the wire is done':eek:. All the bollockings I have received over the years for antwirlocking something, that remarke will always be there in the back of my mind.

[Vortechs Jenerator]

Tool control in Civvy aviation is a joke.

In The RAF, we used to count in and out every split-pin and rivet required never mind very strict tool control.

I know of loads of events (2 severe) where lost personal tooling could have brought an aircraft down but for luck!

Never mind just tooling, what about lead lamps, aerosol cans, "Free issue" spares like paintbrushes/polishing discs etc ..the list goes on and on - only very strick zonal inspections prior to panel up is the best line of defense against FOD in the absence of strick tool control in most places.

I tried several suggested systems to improve things at my last place that were of minimal expense but lethergy seemed to prevail there:confused:

[Piper19]

We are forbidden to use personal tools (tools have to be aviation approved). Thus we get some kind of toolbox, but not a complete one. Now I have to open Airbus screws with phillips bits:=, I even dont have a flat screwdriver nor do I have pliers and a lockwiretool.
The only ratchet sockets I have are in mm, not used in western aviation...

[mrmagooo]

Where I work we all have our own tools for work, only when it is a specialist tool do work supply it.

Its just good working practices to look after all your tools, whether it be work issued or personal tools a lost tool is a lost tool and must be found. I know at the start of my shift all my tools are there, and check they are all there when I jump from aircraft to aircraft.