Prince Aviation bought nine mobile stations from the Level 5 Tool Access Control System by US company Snap-on / Photo: Dušan Atlagić, Tango Six
Prince Aviation is the first in the region to introduce the Level 5 Tool Control System by Snap-on
Prince Aviation recently became the first company in the Balkans to use the Level 5 Tool Control System by US company Snap-on to manage the tools it uses to maintain aircraft.
After investing in a new hanger and continuing its partnerships with Garmin, Pratt & Whitney, and Collins, Prince Aviation chose to adopt the most innovative and intuitive system for the management and control of aviation mechanical tools available, Level 5.
As Srđan Kragojević, Chief Executive Officer of Prince Aviation told Tango Six, the company decided to take its partnership with Snap-on to the next level due to the impressive capabilities of the Level 5 Tool Control System and the prestige associated with embracing this leading technology.
“Our new hanger was the largest investment we’ve made to improve our services so far, but we decided to make another considerable investment shortly after by purchasing the Level 5 Tool Control System from Snap-on.
“For now, we’ve purchased 9 workstations. Each is far more than just a box for storing tools, they have an in-built system that scans every tool in real-time, no matter its shape or size.
“This means we can control and manage our entire tool inventory; at any time, we can instantly find out which mechanic took which tool, when they took it and when it was returned, if it has been returned.
“The system also allows us to mark whether a tool is damaged, needs inspection, or has been lost, and can even issue a reminder when it’s time to calibrate each tool.
Cesar Afonso from Snap-on (left) with the Technical Director of Prince Aviation (right). Each drawer of the workstation has foam pockets with the shape of the corresponding tool, which is scanned each time a particular door is opened and closed / Photo: Dušan Atlagić, Tango Six
“Both domestic and foreign aviation regulators require each aircraft maintenance organisation to have complete control of the tools used by its aircraft mechanics. The company or MRO owns the tools, and they are then assigned to individual mechanics.
“Each tool, from the smallest to the largest, has its own identification number and must always be placed in a specific spot in a specific toolbox. Several tools also need to be calibrated at regular six-month or annual intervals. It’s also important to consider Foreign Object Damage (FOD); the tool must not get lost in the hangar, on the floor, or somewhere inside the aircraft when repairs are being made.
“Before now, all these tasks were completed manually. Each individual mechanic was responsible for his own tools and had to take care of them using his own systems and protocols.
“We’ve now solved all these challenges with a single fully automated system. This represents a quantum leap forward in safety, optimisation, and efficiency for our MRO operation,” explains Kragojević.
As Cesar Afonso, Snap-on’s business segment manager, tells Tango Six, the Level 5 system combines both hardware and Snap-on’s proprietary software solution.
“Each mobile toolbox or workstation with drawers for storing tools has several cameras installed, which take photographs of each drawer multiple times a second. A photo is also taken each time a drawer is opened or closed.
“Our software records these events in real-time, registering whether a tool has been issued or returned to its pocket place and if that tool has been incorrectly returned or not returned at all. Users can also use the system to record when a tool is damaged, needs inspection, or has been lost.
Cezar Afonso: “Snap-on has been producing tools for several industries since 1920 and has over 3,000 patents to date” / Photo: Dušan Atlagić, Tango Six
“Each mechanic has his own login and badge, which grants appropriate access. The system can track which mechanic borrowed each tool, how long they were using it, and whether they returned it to the correct place. If the tool isn’t returned, the system can issue a warming. It can even log unauthorised attempts to access the tool storage unit.
“Our system provides an MRO with a comprehensive inventor, listing all the tools in all the workstations at all times. It can also be programmed to issue an advance warning when it’s time to calibrate a tool and track when a tool has been damaged or needs to be inspected.
“In addition to inventory management, perhaps the most important thing to note is that the system practically eliminates FOD, preventing tools from being lost anywhere they shouldn’t be,” emphasises Afonso.
Snap-on’s Level 5 system can also issue reports and provide insights on how the workstations and tools are being used. This information can help companies optimise their tool inventory and pre-order in-demand tools to minimise any impact on work.
The display of each workstation shows the arrangement of tools for each drawer, identifies missing tools, and provides various levels of access. / Photo: Dušan Atlagić, Tango Six
Prince Aviation’s Chief Operating Officer, Đorđe Petrović, tells Tango Six that the system allows for an extremely high level of monitoring and optimisation:
“Our company recently invested in the Quantum Control aircraft management system. With Snap-on Level 5, the tools we’ve now acquired connect to our central server via wireless internet and are also integrated into Quantum. We now have an unprecedented level of tool monitoring so we can optimise processes as well as comply with regulatory frameworks.
“Aviation authority inspectors can now access our flawlessly managed inventory during their regular inspections. The Snap-on system means we don’t have any concerns about being flagged for improperly managed tools. The integration between Snap-on and Quantum also ensures we always know if a tool is missing before work on an aircraft is declared complete.”
Each Snap-on workstation has its own internal battery that powers the software, the cameras, and the display. The cabinet is mobile so it can be moved wherever it’s needed inside or outside the hangar. The battery provides an hour of power, and you can use an external battery to extend the use time.
Automated tracking of tool usage and placement improves safety standards inside the hangar / Photo: Dušan Atlagić, Tango Six
Kragojević emphasises that Snap-on tools are considered the gold standard for the MRO industry. This investment will support Prince Aviation with securing new clients and maintaining the quality of the work it provides.
“A few months ago, I met with the Vice President of Customer Support at Cessna, and he was surprised when I told him that Prince Aviation was investing in the Snap-on Level 5 system. He told me that, as an OEM, they were also thinking of adopting the system to control FOD in their plants but that it’s currently beyond their budget to implement on such a large scale.
“In addition to the Snap-on system, we have started to apply similar controls to other materials we use in the maintenance process, from cleaning cloths to clothing. With every aspect of aircraft maintenance in the hanger monitored, we can improve our overall quality of work, optimise our operations and, most importantly, guarantee the highest level of safety with regards to FOD,” concludes Kragojević.
