Tools of the Trade – Aerospace

According to Superman, flying, statistically speaking, is the safest way to travel. Of course this isn’t just for the nigh invulnerable Superman, but common air travel for mere mortals like us. The reason flying is considered the safest way to travel is probably because it is incredibly well regulated and also made possible by incredible work on maintenance. Top notch maintenance is of course made possible by using high quality tools. Using the best tools to maintain and repair aircraft ensures that the tools are always available to use when needed and that they do the job they were designed for. This is one line of work where you don’t want to skimp on buying tools, failure to use the best tools possible can result in epic disasters. This might be why private plane related deaths are higher than commercial plane crashes – commercial aircraft are held to high standards and probably use the best tools which of course keeps them in the air. Let’s take a look at some of the tools that make air travel the safest way to move.

When shopping for high quality aircraft maintenance tools the first thing you probably want to get is one or several torque wrenches. Torque wrenches are absolutely essential for aviation maintenance and repair because they ensure that each fastener is tightened to the exact right level of tightness. Too much or too little torque, and that plane isn’t going to fly for long. Digital/mechanical torque wrenches are recommended for the best accuracy possible. Another specialized tool you might consider having on hand is an inspection magnifier. With aircraft you need to get in incredibly close to see minor dings and abrasions because as minor as they may appear, they may create a major problem while in the air. Aside from these special tools, you’ll need your standard and insulated tools and maybe an extending magnet to retrieve dropped fasteners.

When it comes to which brand makes the highest quality tools for aviation, there are probably a few different choices, however few toolmakers are as recognized as Stahlwille. Stahlwille is a brand favored by aviation professionals. Some of the things that set them apart from other brands are these special adaptations. Firstly, Stahlwille helped develop the TC System. The Tool Control System is basically a special tool box/chest with a unique foam insert that has a highly visible yellow portion that makes it obvious when a tool is missing. This is critical in aviation where a stray tool left in the aircraft engine or elsewhere might be catastrophic. This innovative system is so successful it’s been adopted by the automotive industry and other fields as it saves money on lost tools among other benefits.

Stahlwille also has several other innovative features for their aviation tools. Stahlwille’s Anti Slip Drive is a great feature for sockets as it allows a large amount of force to be used on nuts and bolts, but without damaging or stripping them. Their Spline-Drive also does something similar but by distributing the force onto several splines. Anyone who has ever stripped a nut or bolt knows that this is something worth having even for a layman. They also make HPQ (High Performance Quality) sockets that are free from cadmium and therefore safe to use with titanium. Lastly, Stahlwille’s QuickRelease ensures that ratchets and adapters stay locked while in use, again a feature meant to make sure there aren’t tools left in a sensitive spot after repairs are done. With these great features, it’s easy to see why Stahlwille is a name recognized throughout the aerospace industry.

High quality tools make the aerospace industry the safest and most reliable way to travel. Without them, aircraft maintenance and repair would be haphazard and air travel would be as dangerous as everyone thinks it is. If you work on aircraft, make sure to get the best tools available!