EXERCISES

Exercise 1

For nouns in column B find suitable attributes in column A.

1. preventive a) mallets
2. avionics b) technician
3. pneumatic c) system
4. torque d) tools
5. sheet e) maintenance
6. experienced f) information
7. ball-peen g) metal
8. important h) hammers
9. rubber i) wrenches

Exercise 2

Complete the passage below with the words from the box.

test develop specialize in repair work on

inspect measure work through perform comply with

Aircraft Maintenance Technicians 1) ______________ maintenance, preventive maintenance, and

alteration of aircraft and its systems. Some mechanics may 2) _____________ one section of a particular
type of aircraft, such as the airframe, engine, hydraulic, or electrical system. In small repair shops,
mechanics usually 3) _____________ many types of aircraft. Mechanics also may be required to analyze
and 4) _______________ solutions to complex electronic problems. Many aircraft mechanics specialize
in preventive maintenance and 5) ____________ engines, landing gear, instruments, brakes, valves,
pumps, etc. To examine an engine, aircraft mechanics 6) _______________ specially designed
openings while standing on ladders or scaffolds, or use hoists or lifts to remove the entire engine from the
craft. After taking an engine apart, mechanics use precision instruments to 7) _____________ parts for
wear. Mechanics may also 8) ____________ sheet metal or composite surfaces. After completing all
repairs, they must 9) _____________ the equipment to ensure that it works properly. Aircraft
Maintenance Technicians in Europe must 10) _____________ Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC)
Part 66, Certifying Staff, issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Exercise 3
Read the text below and complete the following chart.

Tool Function

Knife

Hammer

Pliers

Drill bits

Rivet guns

Sensors

One can classify tools according to their basic functions. Cutting tools, such as the knife are wedge-
shaped implements that produce a shearing force along a narrow face. Ideally, the edge of the tool needs
to be harder than the material that is cut. But even resilient tools will require periodic sharpening, which is
the process of removing deformation wear from the edge. Other examples of cutting tools include gouges
and drill bits. Moving tools move huge and tiny things. For example, concentrating-force tools: the
hammer moves a nail, the maul moves a stake. These operate by applying physical compression to a
surface. Guiding, measuring and perception tools include the ruler, glasses, set square, sensors,
microscope, monitor, clock, phone, printer, etc. Shaping tools are moulds, jigs, trowels. Fastening tools
are welders, rivet guns, nail guns, or glue guns.
Exercise 4

Read and translate the instructions below. Make up a list of verbs used to describe the basic tasks of
aircraft mechanics.
 Assemble and install electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and
accessories, using hand tools and power tools.
 Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and
magnetic inspection equipment.
 Clean, refuel, and change oil in line service aircraft.
 Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
 Disassemble engines, and inspect parts such as turbine blades and cylinders for corrosion, wear,
warping, cracks, and leaks.
 Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems to locate cracks,
breaks, leaks, etc.
 Examine engines through specially designed openings while working from ladders or scaffolds.
 Prepare and paint aircraft surfaces.
 Remove, inspect, repair, and install in-flight refuelling stores and external fuel tanks.
 Remove or install aircraft engines.
 Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for
operation.
 Install and align repaired or replacement parts for subsequent riveting or welding, using clamps and
wrenches.
 Maintain, repair, and rebuild aircraft structures, functional components, and parts such as
wings and fuselage, rigging, hydraulic units, oxygen systems, fuel systems, etc.
 Measure parts for wear, using precision instruments.
 Reassemble engines following repair or inspection, and re-install engines in aircraft.
 Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing
equipment.
Exercise 5

Match the following terms with their definitions.

1. Pliers a) A socket wrench drive tool that is employed to

impart
a precise amount of torque to
a fastener, essential in many cases during the
assembly of precision mechanisms

2. Torque wrench b) One-piece wrench with a

U-shaped opening that grips two opposite faces of the
bolt or nut; it is often double-ended

3. Hammer c) A hand tool used to hold objects firmly, for

cutting, bending, or physical compression

4. Open-end wrench d) A tool used for driving nails, fitting parts, forging
metal and breaking up objects

5. Allen key e) Tools use to cut sheet metal that are best for straight
cut

6. Straight-pattern snips f) An L-shaped tool consisting of a rod having a

hexagonal cross section, used to turn a screw
Exercise 6

Read the text and define whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
Screws and bolts are made in a wide range of materials, including brass, bronze, aluminium and titanium
as well as steel. They consist of a shaft with a thread and a head that may come in a variety of shapes,
including round, flat, oval, button or cap. The vast majority of screws have a right-hand thread, which
means they are tightened by clockwise rotation. Occasionally, screws have a left-hand thread, such as the
left-hand pedal on a bicycle. Rivet is defined as a headed shank for making a permanent joint between two
or more pieces of metal. It is inserted in a hole which is made through the pieces, and “closed” by
forming a head on the projecting part of the shank by hammering or other means. The head may be rounded,
flat, pan-shaped, or countersunk. Special machines for closing, clinching, or setting rivets are called
hydraulic, or pneumatic aviation riveters. Machine screws come in a range of sizes, and around 85% of all
screws and bolts are designed to unified thread dimensions. They are categorised according to their
diameter and pitch, or number of threads per inch. ISO metric screw thread is the most popular standard and
has displaced previous systems, but there are other common systems, including
the British Standard Whitworth, BA system (British Association) and the SAE Unified Thread Standard.

a. ____ Screws are nearly always made from steel.

b. ____ Screw heads come in many shapes and sizes.

c. ____ All screws need to be turned clockwise when they are tightened.

d. ____ The dimensions of most screws and bolts are standardised.

e. ____ Rivets are permanent fasteners and cannot be unscrewed.