travel information

Tool Information
You are on your first contract......what tools do you take???
This is one area of great debate! What tools should you have in your tool box? First off find out if you can use your own tools on the contract. Many jobs now use a 'Tool Control' policy which could mean all tools are provided for you on site or, if you do take your own gear, it has to be inventoried and etched. A copy of the inventory must be provided to the employer.
So what to put in the tool box? Most of the spanners you already own for work on the car will be metric. Well not much use I'm afraid. Nearly all civil aviation uses A/F sizes so a new set of spanners and sockets will be required. But don't go mad. The weight of your tool box will soon rise and that's not good if you get stung for excess baggage. Most agencies will pay for up to 50kgs for tools. Check with them or it could get expensive! There are many different tools available but the list below just shows a recommended content to get you going on your first contract. Most of the larger items for use on aircraft such as large sockets and spanners for landing gear maintenance will be held on site.

**Tool Box Contents - Basic Mechanic (A sheet metal worker's box will be very different!)**
Suggested Tools	Spanners OE	Spanners Combo	Sockets Normal & D/D	Ratchet Handles	Hammers	Punch's	Screwdrivers & Bits & Braces	Files	Air Tools
Other Information	1/4" to 3/4"	1/4" to 3/4"	1/4" to 9/16 " 1/4" Drive	1/4" Drive	Small Ball Pain	Various Pin Punch's	Ratchet Screwdriver (Get a Snap-On) It gets used a lot!*	Small 1/2 Round	Pistol Windy
Other Information	A Good Range of Ratchet Ring Spanners		5/16" to 1" 3/8" Drive	3/8" Drive	Hide Face	Centre Punch	Normal G/S Screwdriver	Small Flat	Die-Grinder
I could go 'on and on' advising which tools to stock up with but I will refrain! It can get very expensive and some times frustrating when stocking up. It's also quite important to get a feel for each contract and to what you need to get by with. In the past I have been sent on a contract as an assembly mechanic only to find on arrival they had allocated me to a production 'sheet metal' job and I had all the wrong tools!!! The secret is to take the minimum you need. Some of the 'Old Sweats' can't do without a huge roller cab with enough tools to build an airframe from scratch and I suppose they are happy with that. It will take a few contracts under your belt to find your own 'happy medium' for contents in your own tool box. One tip I will pass on which many fellow contractors have stated. See which tools you use every day and make sure you purchase the best quality you can afford of those items. I use a 'Snap-On' ratchet screwdriver and a set of 'Snap-On' ratchet rings. Indispensable! There is also a cheaper alternative in the UK for a good quality range of tools, Halfords Professional Range. You will have to order or track down there A/F range of sizes for there spanners & sockets though.							Various Bit Holders	Small Round	Right Angle Drill
							A Range of Bits To Fit Holders & Snap-On Ratchet - Cross Point, Flat, Offset & Allen Bits		3x Rivet Gun (If Doing Sheet Metal Work)
									1/4" Drive Air Ratchet (So Useful!)
							3/8" Speed Brace		Snaps & Dollies for Rivet Gun
Links To Some Good Tool Sites Snap-On Tools aircraft-tool.com Bardolph Browntool YardStore Aetools		Don't Forget To Adopt Good Tool Control When Ever Working On Aircraft. A Lost Tool Should Be Reported Immediately. Don't Be Shy About Reporting It. You May Feel Stupid And Embarrassed But That's Better Than Your Lost Tool Being Responsible For The Aircraft Loosing Control Due To FOD (Foreign Object Damage) ----Your Spanner !!!! All Tools In Your Box Should Be Etched With An Identifying Mark 'Linking' It To You. This Will Deter The Unscrupulous Amongst Us Who Would Not Think Twice Of Having Your Tools Away!

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