A&P Mechanic Tool List: What You Actually Need
Aircraft maintenance runs on good hand tools. This is the working list A&P mechanics and AMTs actually carry, organized by job. Each tool comes with a budget pick and a premium pick, so whether you are building your first kit for A&P school or upgrading for a new job, you can choose what fits.
Sockets and drive sets
A quality 3/8-inch drive socket set is the backbone of aircraft work. Add 1/4-inch drive for tight spots and 1/2-inch for the bigger fasteners.
3/8-inch drive socket set, deep and shallow
Get both metric and SAE or an aviation-specific set that covers common hardware.
1/4-inch drive socket set
For small hardware, fairings, and instrument panels.
Universal joint / swivel sockets
Reach fasteners at odd angles in cowlings and tight bays that a straight socket cannot square up to.
Wrenches
Combination wrenches (open end and box end) cover most aircraft work.
Combination wrench set, SAE and metric
A 3/8-inch to 3/4-inch range covers most general aviation fasteners.
Gear wrenches / ratcheting box-end wrenches
Speed up work in tight spots where a full swing is impossible.
Pliers and cutters
Aviation runs on lockwire and precision gripping. These are the non-negotiables.
Safety wire pliers (lockwire twisters)
The single most aviation-specific tool. Learn the double-twist lockwire method.
Diagonal cutters (dykes)
For safety wire and cotter pins. A good pair lasts a career.
Duck bill pliers
A daily aviation tool for safety wire, cotter pins, and reaching into tight spots. Flat, tapered jaws grip without marring.
Needle-nose pliers
Gripping, reaching, and general mechanical work.
Pliers wrench
Parallel jaws grip a fastener square without marring it. Replaces a full wrench set for soft or finished hardware.
Torque tools
Aircraft work lives on proper torque. Never guess, always torque.
Torque wrench (inch-pounds and foot-pounds)
Many aircraft fasteners are specd in inch-pounds, so get both ranges or a quality digital one.
Torque screwdriver
For screws and small fasteners where over-torqueing is a real risk.
Inch-pound torque wrench (dedicated low range)
Many aircraft fasteners are specd in inch-pounds, not foot-pounds. Using a big foot-pound wrench on a small fastener will snap the bolt, so keep a dedicated low-range 1/4-inch drive wrench in the kit.
Sheet metal and airframe
If you touch skins, fairings, or structure, these are the tools that separate airframe work from a general shop.
Cleco pliers and a set of Clecos
Temporary fasteners that hold sheet metal in position while you drill and rivet. Indispensable for any airframe work.
Deburring tool
Cleans the burr off drilled holes in aluminum before they become stress cracks. A few bucks that saves a panel.
Aviation snips (offset set)
Left, right, and straight cut through aluminum skin and soft sheet without cracking rivet lines.
Punches and chisels set
For driving pins, aligning holes, and cutting or splitting soft aluminum in panel work.
Dead-blow and soft-face hammers
Seat panels and buck sheet metal without marring or rebounding into the work.
Soft-face mallet
Non-marring struck tool for alignment work on finished aluminum where a steel face would leave a mark.
File set (flat, round, half-round) with handle
For cleaning up saw-cut edges and dressing aluminum and soft steel before deburring.
Electrical and avionics
Modern aircraft are wired and avionics-heavy. A few electrical tools round out the kit for troubleshooting and repair.
Digital multimeter
The baseline troubleshooting tool for any electrical fault. Look for one that measures AC/DC voltage, resistance, and continuity.
Precision wire strippers
Aircraft wire is thin and mil-spec. A precision stripper gets the insulation off without nicking the conductor.
Crimping tool
For aviation-grade terminals and connectors. A ratcheting crimper gives consistent, repeatable crimps.
Screwdrivers and small tools
Quality screwdrivers that fit properly prevent stripped hardware and damaged panels.
Flat-head and Phillips screwdriver set
Precision-ground tips fit properly and avoid cam-out.
Nut drivers / hex drivers
For fasteners a screwdriver just does not fit.
Measuring and inspection
Aircraft maintenance is precision work. These tools keep you honest.
Dial or digital caliper
For measuring wear, thickness, and clearances to spec.
Micrometer (0-1" and 1-2")
For measuring wear limits and tolerances on engine and landing gear components to spec. Most students start with a 0-1" and add the 1-2" as they take on bigger components.
Micrometer, 1-2" range
The second range you will reach for once you are measuring larger engine and landing gear parts.
Dial indicator with magnetic base
For checking run-out on shafts, gear play, and true position. A magnetic base lets you set it up hands-free.
Feeler gauges
For setting and checking gaps and clearances.
Flashlight / inspection light
Half of aircraft maintenance is looking carefully at what you cannot see well.
LED headlamp
For cowling and fuselage work where you need both hands free. A high-lumen, rechargeable headlamp beats a handheld in tight spaces.
Magnetic pickup tool
Rescue dropped screws, washers, and safety wire from cowlings and belly skins where you cannot reach. Always near the top of a mechanic kit.
Telescoping inspection mirror
For blind-area checks on wiring, fasteners, and fittings you cannot put your head into.
The one tool you should not skip
Safety wire pliers. Lockwiring fasteners is a daily, non-negotiable part of aircraft maintenance, and doing it by hand is slow and unreliable. A quality pair of safety wire pliers pays for itself the first week. If you only add one aviation-specific tool to a standard mechanic kit, make it this one.
Where to keep it all
Your tools need a home that matches how you work. If you are walking the line, a portable cart or stackable mobile box is the practical choice. For a dedicated bench, a classic chest or roll-away works better. See our best toolboxes for A&P mechanics guide for the picks.
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Written by David Westbrooks. I research aircraft maintenance tooling and equipment, and I check every price and specification on this page against the manufacturer's or retailer's own listing at the time of writing. More about AMT Toolbox.