CHAPTER 3
TECHNICAL PUBLICATION LIBRARY
As an AZ striker or AZ3 newly assigned to duties
in a technical library, you may be impressed by the
large amount of technical data that is received for the
library. Many people grossly underestimate the
volume and complexity of work involved in
maintaining a NAVAIR Technical Publications
Library. Nearly every mail call brings several packages
or envelopes of publications that must be incorporated
into the library files. Automatic distribution accounts
for the bulk of the day-to-day publication receipts.
The technical publication library serves two
important purposes. It provides a central source of
up-to-date information for use by all aviation
maintenance personnel in the performance of their
work, and it is also an excellent source of reference
information to improve personnel training and
individual development. To perform these functions,
the technical publication library must maintain at least
one copy of every publication that pertains to assigned
aircraft and related equipment.
TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the
types of maintenance and operational
publications.
To attain a satisfactory state of readiness, technical
manuals are developed, published, (in paper and, more
recently, in compact disk read only memory [CD
ROM] format) and distributed concurrently with
aircraft and aircraft systems. Periodic changes and
revisions are issued to ensure that manuals reflect
equipment configuration and current operational and
support concepts and procedures.
Technical manuals that are issued for aircraft and
related systems are released under the authority of the
Commander, Naval Air Systems Command
(NAVAIR). Technical manuals that are concerned
with flight personnel and training are issued under the
authority of the Chief of Naval Operations and under
the direction of NAVAIR. Technical manuals are also
prepared and issued by other services, such as the U.S.
Army and the U.S. Air Force. Technical manuals are
divided into two major types—maintenance and
operational.
MAINTENANCE MANUALS
Maintenance manuals contain a description of the
weapon system from a viewpoint of upkeep and repair.
Maintenance manuals include the following types of
manuals:
Maintenance instruction manuals (MIMs)
Component and equipment manuals
Work Unit Code (WUC) manuals
Planned Maintenance System (PMS) publica-
tions
Structural repair manuals
Illustrated parts breakdown (IPB) listings
Weight and balance manuals
The information provided by maintenance manuals
include operation, troubleshooting, installation,
removal, repair, and IPB.
Maintenance Instruction Manuals (MIMs)
Each MIM usually consists of a series of volumes
specifically numbered for identification of a given
aircraft or weapons system. These manuals provide
both general and specific instructions required for
maintenance of organizational, intermediate, or depot
levels of maintenance on aircraft, weapons systems,
equipment, and components.
Component and Equipment Manuals
Component and equipment manuals cover all types
of aircraft accessories and related equipment. Some of
the most common are accessory, instrument, armament
and ordnance, electronics and avionics, tools, test
equipment, and support equipment such as test and
shop equipment and ground handling equipment.
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