Airbus Proprietary Tools sourcing

Providing exclusive access to Airbus Proprietary Tools

Satair is the only approved source for the acquisition of Airbus genuine tools, also called Airbus Proprietary Tools.

To ensure safety and quality, Airbus Proprietary Tools are differentiated from imitations by the Airbus marking plate which is attached to the tools and their delivery cases. 

As the only approved source for Airbus Proprietary Tools, we provide you with: 

  • Aircraft and personnel safety

  • 24/7/365 Airbus support and guarantee

  • Defined lead-times & competitive pricing

  • Full compliance with authorities’ requirements 

  • Tools inspected and delivered by Airbus 

Explore more about the benefits of using Airbus Proprietary Tools, the risk of using non-Airbus approved sources, and how to recognise an Airbus Proprietary Tool. If you have questions or want to know more, you can also reach out to our team via the form below.

Core benefits

  • Airbus as the sole source: approved quality meets the latest technical standards and market-leading innovation from 1,600 OEM partners. 

  • Best-in-class after sales support: dedicated Airbus engineering support including AOG support*, repair services, lease options and a three-year warranty for all GSE & tools. 

  • Customised tool services: cost-effective and accurate tool planning based on your aircraft usage and maintenance programme.

*AOG Support guarantee as per Airbus GTCS (General Terms and Conditions).

Beware of "equivalent" Airbus tools

Since 2012, Satair, an Airbus Services Company, has been the only source for Airbus Proprietary Tools. Using tools from unapproved sources may result in the loss of Airbus warranty and Airbus support and could lead to unexpected damage to your aircraft.

Approved GSE & special tools are designed so that they can precisely fit and sustain the loads they will be exposed when used. Specific materials, dimensions and manufacturing processes ensure that when used correctly, they will not fail in service and cause damage to the aircraft.

Be vigilant when searching for GSE & tools online. Here are some tips on what to look for:

  • Imitations of Airbus or vendor proprietary GSE & tools: These may carry the same part numbers as Airbus approved items, but may differ in materials, dimensions, and manufacturing quality.

  • Alternate tool designs sold as so-called equivalents: These have different part numbers from the approved items, and their suitability and quality cannot be guaranteed by Airbus.

  • Out of date, second-hand market tools: These may originate from an approved supplier and then be sold on the second-hand market. They may be of an older standard that does not comply with the latest specifications, therefore, making this GSE or tool not fit for the purpose.


Again, the sourcing of tools from unapproved suppliers could lead to the risk of serious aircraft damage and financial loss. Recent customer examples include:

  • The wrong-sized pin or faulty material led to the collapse of protection systems for a nose landing gear.

  • The wrong material and obsolete drawings resulted in an engine bootstrap collapse and the partial replacement of a pylon.

How to recognize an Airbus proprietary tool

A quick check of the marking plate by your tooling experts will confirm whether or not the tool is Airbus certified. To facilitate the identification of the tool, all Airbus Proprietary Tools have been linked to an Airbus ID-plate.