A detailed explanation of the purpose, format and types of each type of technical order can be found in a textbook intended for Reserve Officers' Training Corps students from 1949:
5. AIR FORCE TECHNICAL
PUBLICATIONSGeneral When a person buys a new commercial ap-
pliance, car, or other mechanical contrivance,
a little folder of operating and maintenance
instructions is usually furnished by the man-
ufacturer. These instructions are supplied in
order that the user may obtain the greatest
possible satisfaction from his purchase. The
manufacturer goes to considerable work and
expense to provide the user with printed in-
formation about his product.
In the same way, the Air Force is vitally
interested in seeing that its equipment func-
tions properly and is maintained as efficiently
as possible. It is a tremendous task to see that
all of the various types of Air Force equip-
ment, including the new gigantic aircraft, the
engines, the radio and radar equipment, and
all the other types of items necessary for the
successful operation of a world-wide air force,
are operated and maintained efficiently and
economically.
The Air Force, like the manufacturer of a
commercial appliance, provides printed in-
structions for use in connection with its equip-
ment. These printed instructions, i.e., man-
uals, handbooks, sheets, charts, etc., which
provide technical instructions and informa-
tion pertaining to the operation and mainte-
nance of Air Force aircraft and equipment,
are referred to as "technical publications."
They are published and distributed by the Air
Materiel Command for and in the name of the
Secretary of the Air Force, in accordance with
AF Regulations 5-1, 5-10, and 20-1.
With so many types of equipment affected,
it can be readily understood why there must
be a technical publications sistem, a well or-
ganized and planned procedure whereby in-
formation is obtained, compiled, published,
and distributed to the particular Air Force
activity which needs it. Years of experience
have resulted in the adoption of the standard
system outlined below (See Figure 2-6).
Attachment:
File comment: Major Groups and Types of Publications
Major Groups and Types of Publications (Cropped, Reduced, Converted).png [ 564.21 KiB | Viewed 4954 times ]
Major Groups Three major groups, comprising appropri-
ate types of publications, form the standard
Air Force technical publications system. (See
Figure 2-6):
Technical Orders (including applicable Air
Force-Navy [AN] publications).
Supply catalog (stock list) publications.
Special publications.
Technical Orders, including Air Force-
Navy (AN) publications and supply catalogs,
normally are issued on loose leaf pages of
standard size (8½ x 11 inches) to permit con-
venient assembly in uniform binders and
placement in the prescribed technical publica-
tion files.
Special publications are issued in varied
forms and sizes, depending on the intended
usage. These technical publications normally
supplement or implement the information and
instructions. Typical examples of publications
belonging to this group are the aircrew check
lists and Air Force maintenance charts.
6. TECHNICAL ORDERS The first of the three groups of technical
publications includes Air Force technical or-
ders, including Air Force-Navy (AN) publica-
tions which comprise a comprehensive group
of publications issued to furnish Air Force
personnel with general technical information
on the use and operation of Air Force aircraft,
equipment and accessories, and specific oper-
ating, maintenance, overhaul, repair, modifi-
cation, storage, issue and inspection informa-
tion on particular items of aircraft and equip-
ment.
Instructions and procedures contained in
Technical Orders are official Air Force direc-
tives and must be complied with as prescribed
therein. Technical Order publications are
readily identified by the prefix "T.O. No." to
the assigned publication number.
Note: For purposes of uniformity and
clarification, the term "technical order" when
used in this publication embraces all publica-
tions bearing the aforementioned "T.O. No."
prefix.
Air Force-Navy (AN) publications are
published by joint agreement of the Air Force
and the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics. The
prefix "AN" indicates that the publication
was prepared in accordance with Air Force-
Navy aeronautical specifications. When ap-
plicable to Air Force aircraft or equipment,
AN publications will be regarded as being
identical in purpose with AF Technical Order
publications.
Types of Technical Orders The Technical Order group of publications
consists of the following four general types:
Time-compliance Technical Orders.
Standard handbooks.
Miscellaneous Technical Orders.
Parts catalog (including spare parts lists).
A specific numbering system is employed
to identify all publications belonging to the
Technical Order group. The numbering sys-
tem used is illustrated in the Table of Con-
tents of T.O. 00-1-1, "Numerical Index of
Technical Publications."
When only small quantities of equipment
are purchased for Air Force use, commercial
publications issued by the manufacturers
sometimes are accepted in lieu of standard
handbooks and parts catalogs. These commer-
cial publications are given Technical Order
numbers and are available only to activities
operating or maintaining the equipment in-
volved.
Time-compliance Technical Orders Purpose. Publications of this type require
compliance within specified time limits and
provide for modifications of Air Force air-
craft and equipment or furnish supplemen-
tary instructions covering inspection and op-
erating procedures. In many cases time-com-
pliance technical orders contain specific in-
structions for operating personnel; in such
cases, commanders will be responsible for in-
suring that operating personnel become famil-
iar with the contents of publications of this
nature.
Types. Time-compliance Technical Orders
are grouped according to the importance and
urgency of the instructions contained therein.
Notes are employed immediately preceding
the text to specify when and by whom compli-
ance will be effected and the degree of ur-
gency. Time-compliance Technical Orders in-
clude the following types:
Immediate action Technical Orders.
Immediate attention Technical Orders.
As soon as possible Technical Orders.
As soon as practicable Technical Orders.
Format. Time-compliance Technical Orders
are published without a title page under the
heading "Department of the Air Force, Head-
quarters, United States Air Force, Washing-
ton," and bear the closing phrase "By Order
of the Secretary of the Air Force." Borders
or identification notes printed in red are used
to focus attention on the more urgent time-
compliance publications.
Immediate-action Technical Orders. Imme-
diate-action Technical Orders are identified
by the use of a border of red "X's" and the
words "Immediate Action" printed in red. The
border indicates that a red "X" must be en-
tered in the "status today" columns on AF
Forms 1-A, 1-AG and 41B. Immediate-action
Technical Orders contain emergency instruc-
tions applicable only to aircraft and aircraft
components, the urgency of which is such as
to require the immediate grounding of the
aircraft pending compliance. They specify
that the work outlined therein is to be accom-
plished immediately. Such Technical Orders
do not contain instructions of a continuing
nature, such as a requirement for subsequent
periodic inspection. The publication of imme-
diate-action Technical Orders is expedited by
HQ AMC as the instructions contained there-
in are of vital importance. Such Technical
Orders will be disseminated to all affected
personnel without delay.
Immediate-attention Technical Orders. Im-
mediate-attention Technical Orders are read-
ily identified by the words "Immediate Atten-
tion" printed in red at the top and bottom of
the first page. They are similar to immediate-
action Technical Orders except that they nor-
mally do not require work, except placarding
for the pilot's information or marking of
flight instruments. When applicable to air-
craft, these Technical Orders contain impor-
tant informational, operational, precaution-
ary, and restrictive instructions on conditions
which seriously affect the safety of flight of
the aircraft involved, but which do not require
its grounding.
Immediate-attention Technical Orders are
also used for extremely urgent modifications
or inspection instructions pertinent to per-
sonal equipment, chemicals, vehicles and
other items of ground and communications
equipment, as an immediate action category
bears no "grounding" significance when ap-
plied to such equipment. The publication of
immediate-attention Technical Orders is ex-
pedited by HQ AMC as the instructions con-
tained therein are of vital importance. Such
publications must be disseminated to all af-
fected personnel without delay.
As-soon-as-possible Technical Orders. As-
soon-as-possible Technical Orders are printed
with a border of diagonal red lines which in-
dicates that a red diagonal must be entered
and carried in the "status today" columns on
AF Forms 1A or 1AG and 41B until com-
pliance has been effected. These Technical Or-
ders provide instructions pertaining to air-
craft and components and specify compliance
as soon as possible but not later than a speci-
fied inspection period. Such Technical Orders
normally require correction of defects affect-
ing the flying efficiency of aircraft which are
not sufficiently urgent or dangerous as to war-
rant grounding the affected aircraft. Compli-
ance with this type of Technical Order is nec-
essary before the aircraft can be considered
to be in first class mechanical condition. Pend-
ing compliance with such Technical Orders,
an "exceptional release" is required to clear
the aircraft for flight. Such publications must
be disseminated to all affected personnel with-
out delay.
As-soon-as-practicable Technical Orders.As-soon-as-practicable Technical Orders con-
tain instructions which specify that the work
to be accomplished may be performed within
broader time limits than those specified for
the more urgent classes of time-compliance
publications. They require compliance when
accomplishment will not interfere with flying
schedules, unless local conditions necessitate
more urgent action, or when the affected air-
craft or equipment is undergoing overhaul or
other repairs. This type of Technical Order
contains instructions to remedy defects that
are not necessarily serious, but which must be
corrected to forestall possible future malfunc-
tioning or failure. They currently bear no dis-
tinguishing format or symbols to afford ready
identification and can be identified only by
reading the compliance requirements appear-
ing beneath the titles.
Other Types. In some instances, Technical
Orders are published to provide instructions
for modification of equipment; they may
cover the installation of special equipment;
they may deal with equipment for the per-
formance of special duties and missions which
are not normally made by all aircraft or equip-
ment of the same model or series. Compliance,
in such instances, is effected only upon issu-
ance by Hq., Air Materiel Command, of addi-
tional instructions directing the work to be
accomplished on specific aircraft or equip-
ment. Such Technical Orders can be identified
only by reading the compliance requirement
beneath the title (Figure 2-7).
Standard Handbooks Purpose. Publications in this group contain
basic instructions and information relating
to operation, service, repair, and overhaul of
Air Force aircraft and equipment.
Format. Standard handbooks are usually
prepared by the equipment manufacturer in
accordance with Air Force-Navy (AN) or AF
specifications. These handbooks normally are
issued with a full size title page bearing the
assigned "AN" or "T.O." publication number,
with the word "HANDBOOK" preceding the
title. When a full size title page is used on a
standard handbook, it is backed with a basic
"A" page, followed by a series of pages num-
bered in lower case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii,
etc.) containing the table of contents and il-
lustrations of the equipment covered in the
publication. In cases where the material in a
Attachment:
File comment: Time Compliance Technical Orders
Time Compliance Technical Orders (Cropped, Reduced, Converted).png [ 396.97 KiB | Viewed 4954 times ]
standard handbook covers only one or two
pages, the "A" page is omitted and a reduced
size title page containing identical informa-
tion is used preceding the text.
Types. Standard handbooks fall in one of
the following two categories (aircraft hand-
books and equipment handbooks):
Aircraft Handbooks. Aircraft handbooks
are issued for each series of standard A air-
craft to meet the needs of operating and serv-
ice personnel. Every effort is made to publish
these handbooks concurrently with the deliv-
ery of the aircraft to the service. Aircraft
handbooks consist of the following types of
publications:
a) Flight operating instructions contain all
essential information required by the pilot
and flight crew to operate the airplane, includ-
ing all accessories and equipment, under all
operating conditions. However, instructions
pertaining to the basic technique of flying, or
the detailed operation of armament, commu-
nicating or other operational equipment are
omitted. Any unconventional characteristics
which the airplane may possess are clearly
described, together with the appropriate
countermeasures.
b) Erection and maintenance handbooks
contain all essential information required by
service personnel for field maintenance pur-
poses to service and maintain complete air-
planes. They also deal with such service and
maintenance as can be accomplished by oper-
ating activities on engines, accessories, in-
struments and associated equipment while
installed in the aircraft. These handbooks
contain all maintenance instructions from
minor adjustments, tests, and inspections to
major disassembly and repair of the airframes
and controls with the exception of structural
repair, which is included in handbooks on
structural repair.
c) Structural repair handbooks contain all
essential information required for determin-
ing the extent of any damage to the aircraft
and for its repair.
d) Inspection and maintenance require-
ments handbooks for use by inspectors, crew
chiefs, mechanics, and other concerned per-
sonnel, are issued to insure that periodic in-
spections performed by such individuals meet
14 established standards of thoroughness. These
handbooks, which are being issued as rapidly
as possible to replace the present aircraft
inspection and maintenance guides, contain
brief, concise lists of aircraft, engine and as-
sociated equipment items which are to be
inspected at designated periods. They also
contain information pertaining to the accom-
plishment of minor maintenance work. The
information contained in these handbooks
will replace that contained in the inspection
section of the aircraft erection and mainte-
nance handbooks and the equipment opera-
tion and service instructions handbooks.
e) Basic weight check list and loading data
handbooks contain detailed weight and bal-
ance data for specific models of aircraft for
use in the Handbook of Weight and Balance
Data, AN 01-1B-40. General information per-
taining to the AF system of weight and bal-
ance control of aircraft is outlined in Techni-
cal Orders of the 01-1B series.
Equipment Handbooks. Equipment hand-
books, covering specific items of airborne and
ground equipment, are issued to cover over-
haul procedures and, when necessary, to pro-
vide operating and service instructions for
these items of equipment. Equipment hand-
books include the following types of publica-
tions:
a) Operation and service instruction hand-
books provide instructions for operating, stor-
age, service, routine maintenance and trouble
shooting data of items of AF equipment.
Complete handbooks of this type are issued
for items of ground equipment, and for the
more complicated airborne accessories and
systems, such as remote control turret sys-
tems, which cannot be adequately covered in
the standard handbooks for aircraft.
b) Overhaul instruction handbooks contain
information for the disassembly, inspection,
repair, reassembly, and testing after overhaul
of AF equipment other than aircraft.
Miscellaneous Technical Orders General. Publications of this type are is-
sued for specific purposes to disseminate in-
formation and instructions not provided for
in standard handbooks. Generally speaking,
these Technical Orders cover a wide range of
subjects which, in some instances, cannot be
readily grouped into distinct classes. Miscel-
laneous Technical Orders include indexes of
various kinds, lists of applicable publications
for individual aircraft models, kits and sets
of equipment publications, radio facility pub-
lications, parts interchangeability publica-
tions, engineering manuals, and technical or-
ders which explain systems and procedures
governing technical publications, classifica-
tion of equipment, maintenance, overhaul and
supply of AF equipment.
Format. Miscellaneous Technical Orders
are issued with full size title pages and “A”
pages, except when the material in such pub-
lications is limited to a few pages and when a
reduced size title page may be advantageously
used. Arrangement of data in such Technical
Orders varies in accordance with the intended
purpose of each publication and usually does
not follow any prescribed specifications such
as those established for standard handbooks.
Indexes. Indexes are issued to familiarize
AF personnel with the availability and status
of technical publications. The basic index, cov-
ering the entire technical publications system
covered herein, is T.O. 00-1-1, Numerical In-
dex of Technical Publications, more fully de-
scribed later in this section, and referred to
hereinafter as the "numerical index." Sepa-
rate indexes or lists are issued to cover publi-
cations relating to specific types of equipment
such as communications, armament, vehicles,
marine, and motorized equipment.
Lists of Applicable Publications. Lists of
applicable publications for individual aircraft
series are issued and augmented by cumula-
tive supplements to enable AF personnel to
select and become familiar with technical pub-
lications pertinent to assigned aircraft. The
applicable publications indicated in these lists
are arranged numerically with important sup-
plementary data denoting the type of each
publication, time and place for any required
compliance action, the forms on which entries
are required, periodic inspection periods, and
the serial numbers of aircraft affected. Lists
of applicable publications are effectively em-
ployed as check lists for compliance with
Technical Orders and also assist in determin-
ing publications required for limited technical
publication files.
Kit Publications. Kits and sets of equip-
ment Technical Orders, commonly known as
the "00-30" series, itemize components of kits
and sets of equipment which are prescribed
in equipment authorization tables (Tables of
Organizational Equipment and Tables of Al-
lowances).
U.R. Digest (T.O. 00-10-1). The U.R. Digest
contains data regarding corrective actions for
unsatisfactory conditions reported by service
activities when such actions are not manda-
tory but are of value to the service. The infor-
mation is arranged under appropriate sub-
jects with brief explanations of the difficulty,
its cause, and the recommended corrective
action.
Radio Facility Publications. Radio facility
publications are issued primarily to make
available to pilots, navigators, and radio oper-
ators, current information on radio aids to
navigation. This type includes the AF Radio
Facility Charts, T.O. 08-15-1, and AF Radio
Data and Flight Information, T.O. 08-15-2.
Microfilm Drawings. T.O. 00-5-4, "Explana-
tion of the Distribution and Numbering Sys-
tem for Microfilm Indexes," is a miscellaneous
Technical Order. The indexes referred to
therein, however, are special publications
(Figure 2-8).
Parts Catalogs and Spare Parts Lists Purpose. Parts catalogs are issued for the
primary purpose of identifying parts and to
act as aids in the requisitioning of parts for
AF aircraft and equipment. A similar purpose
is served by spare parts lists which are issued,
in most instances, to cover communications
equipment.
Contents. Parts catalogs usually contain a
section providing a numerical parts list and
another section outlining these data by group
assemblies with illustrations of such assem-
blies. Complete nomenclature and part num-
bers are provided in these catalogs. In most
instances the part numbers shown are those
of the manufacturers. Spare parts lists are
less comprehensive publications containing
a detailed listing of items with assembly
designations, descriptions, and manufactur-
er's part numbers.
Attachment:
File comment: Miscellaneous Technical Orders
Miscellaneous Technical Orders (Cropped, Reduced, Converted).png [ 470.39 KiB | Viewed 4954 times ]
Format. Parts catalogs and spare parts
lists are published with title pages and "A"
pages similar in design to those employed for
standard handbooks, except that the words
"Parts Catalog" or "Spare Part List" precede
the names of the equipment covered by these
publications. Data contained in these publica-
tions are arranged in tabular form.
Supply Catalogs (Stock Lists) The purpose, contents, and use of Air Force
supply catalog will be discussed in the section
titled "Armament Supply."
7. SPECIAL PUBLICATIONSGeneral Publications in this group are issued to im-
plement or sometimes supplement informa-
tion or procedures contained in technical or-
ders. In most instances, a special publication
is a more convenient medium for usage on the
job, as it is designed in a size and form to
serve best the intended purpose.
Principal Types Air Crew Check Lists. Air crew check lists,
printed on 5 inch x 8 inch cards for convenient
usage, are issued primarily for transition
training purposes. Separate check lists of this
type are issued for pilots and other crew mem-
bers. All such check lists are published under
the authority of AF Regulation 62-2.
Indexes of Microfilm Drawings. Original
engineering drawings of aircraft, engines and
accessories are reproduced on microfilm for
limited distribution to USAF activities. In-
dexes are published and are made available
only with sets of microfilm drawings in ac-
cordance with AF Regulation 5-17. Instruc-
tions on the use of microfilms and microfilm
equipment are contained in T.O. 10-1-135. An
explanation of the methods used for indexing,
requisitioning, and distributing microfilm
drawings is contained in T.O. 0-5-4.
Printed Drawing Books. Printed drawing
books are bound reproductions of engineering
drawings in 22 x 34 inches and 17 x 32 inches
size, covering certain types of aircraft or air-
craft accessories manufactured by a specific
contractor. Procurement and distribution of
new printed drawing books and revisions
thereto is no longer being made.
AF Maintenance Charts. Maintenance in-
struction charts and engine limits and lubri-
cation charts are charts 22 x 34 inches and
20 x 30 inches respectively, for use by main-
tenance personnel in the maintenance of AF
equipment and for instructional purposes.
They are available upon requisition only. Pro-
curement of new engine limits and lubrication
charts is no longer being made.
Changes to Publications Methods Employed. Changes to existing
Technical Orders and special publications are
made either by means of revisions, reissues,
supplements, appendixes or addenda. Use of
loose-leaf format permits efficient, econom-
ical, and speedy revision of many types of
technical publications within the system. Re-
moval of publications from active status is
accomplished by rescission or replacement.
Indexing and Numbering Indexing. General. Official listing of active
Technical Orders, supply catalogs (stock
lists) and special publications is accomplished
in the numerical index, which is issued at ex-
tended intervals and augmented every two
weeks by a cumulative supplement. The nu-
merical index and supplements thereto pro-
vide a ready reference to existing publications
and are used in maintaining publication files
in current status.
Note: To determine what publications are
active and available, it is necessary to use only
the current cumulative supplement in con-
junction with the basic numerical index.
Basic Numerical Index (T.O. 00-1-1). The
basic numerical index lists all active publica-
tions within the system which have been dis-
tributed to AF activities prior to the publica-
tion date shown on the title page of the index.
When reissued, the basic numerical index is
revised to delete listings of rescinded or re-
placed publications and to incorporate data
concerning publications distributed since the
previous issue of the basic index.
Supplements. Supplements of the numerical
index contain lists of newly issued, revised,
reissued, superseded, replaced, and rescinded
publications. All such supplements are cumu-
lative and are numbered T.O. 00-1-1A, -1B,
etc. Cumulative supplements also list all pub-
lications, including revisions and reissues,
scheduled for future distribution.
Numbering General. Numbers are assigned to Techni-
cal Orders, supply catalogs (stock lists), and
some categories of special publications for
purposes of ready identification, indexing,
referencing, and filing. The assigned numbers
follow the appropriate identifying prefix,
such as "T.O. No." for technical orders, "S"
for supply catalogs (stock lists), "C" for AF
maintenance charts, and "MF" for microfilm
drawing indexes.
Technical Orders. Technical Orders, includ-
ing AN publications, are assigned numbers of
two or more parts (usually three parts), sepa-
rated by dashes. The first part of the number
identifies a particular section of publications
in the numerical index, i.e., "01" indicates
Technical Orders in Section 01, "Aircraft
Publications." The second part of the number
is related to the series and subseries to which
a Technical Order is assigned for proper
grouping of equipment by type, system,
model, or manufacturer. Alphabetical letters
are added to the second part of the number to
segregate further the equipment covered. The
final part of the number is employed to list
numerically, Technical Orders within a given
series or subseries, i.e., -1, -2, -3, etc. A suffix
letter is added to this part of the number
when supplementary information is issued as
a separate publication.
Aircraft Inspection and Maintenance Pub-
lications. Guides. Existing aircraft inspection
and maintenance guides are basically num-
bered "00-20A" to indicate the relationship
of these publications to T.O. 00-20A, "USAF
Aircraft and Related Airborne Equipment In-
spection and Maintenance System." This
basic number is followed by the aircraft series
number applicable to each guide. For example,
the inspection guide for B-29 aircraft is num-
bered "00-20A-B-29." A prefix is not em-
ployed for these publications.
Inspection Handbooks. In the future, in-
spection and maintenance requirements will
be published in the form of standard hand-
books in the applicable aircraft Technical
Order series. The number to be assigned will
normally be the "-6"; for example, the in-
spection and maintenance requirements hand-
book for the B-36 aircraft is numbered "T.O.
01-5FUA-6."
AF Maintenance Charts. Maintenance
charts are numbered in a manner similar to
Technical Orders, except that the prefix "C"
is used instead of "T.O. No."
Indexes of Microfilm Drawings. Microfilm
drawing indexes are numbered in the same
manner as Technical Orders, except that the
prefix "MF" is used to distinguish this type
of publication from standard Technical Or-
ders.
Security Classification Technical Orders, supply catalogs (stock
lists), and special publications are published
as unclassified, restricted, or confidential doc-
uments. The classified publications (restricted
and confidential) are appropriately marked on
their title pages and, when required, on all
subsequent pages of such publications. Pub-
lications listed in the numerical index, and
supplements thereto, are unclassified except
when the word "RESTRICTED" or "CON-
FIDENTIAL" appears in bold face type imme-
diately following the title of the publication.
Classified publications in file which have
been downgraded are not reprinted and dis-
tributed merely to reflect a change in classi-
fication. Revisions or reissues to such publica-
tions, however, will reflect the current classi-
fications. Confidential publications must be
maintained in separate file and safeguarded in
accordance with the provisions of AR 380-5.
Rescinded and replaced (or superseded)
publications, which are no longer required,
will be removed from the file and disposed of
as follows:
If unclassified, dispose of in accordance with
instructions of the local salvage officer.
If classified, destroy in accordance with the
provisions of Army Regulation 380-5.
Note: Additional information on technical
publications can be found in T.O. 00-5-1.
The Air Force technical publications are
listed numerically in T.O. 00-1-1.
The alphabetical Index of Technical Pub-
lications is T.O. 00-1-2.
, vol. 1, ConAC Manual 50-1 (Mitchel Air Force Base, New York: Headquarters, Continental Air Command, 31 May 1949), 2-5-2-14.)
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
