Reference & AI

DAFI 21-101

Air Force

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFI 21-101, "AIRCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated December 20, 2023.

Published

December 20, 2023

OPR

AF/A4

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

Open the PDF

on static.e-publishing.af.mil

DAFI 21-101 — index record

NumberDAFI 21-101
TitleAIRCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT
PublishedDecember 20, 2023
Certified currentDecember 20, 2023
Guidance memorandumMarch 16, 2026
Office of primary responsibilityAF/A4
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionGM, March 16, 2026
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (185 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 21-1, Maintenance of Military Materiel. It is the basic Department of Air Force Instruction (DAFI) for all weapon system and support equipment maintenance management guidance. It provides the minimum essential guidance and procedures to safely and effectively maintain, service, and repair weapon systems and support equipment. This publication applies to all military and civilian members of the United States Air Force (USAF), United States Space Force (USSF), Air Force Reserve (AFR), and Air National Guard (ANG) as well as those with contractual obligation to comply with Air Force publications. Supplements and addendums are written in accordance with (IAW) Department of the Air Force Manual (DAFMAN) 90-161, Publishing Processes and Procedures. Supplements must identify and document major command (MAJCOM), AFR, and ANG required deviations (applicability, variance, exception, and differences in organizational placement of

Summary of changes, as printed

This corrective action revises the following paragraphs: 10.3.1.; 10.3.3.3.3.; 10.11.1.; 10.11.2.1.1.; 10.12.; 10.13.1.; 10.13.1.1., 10.13.6.1 and 11.8.3.15. Additionally, this corrective action deletes para 6.10.1.3.3.1. Significant changes include the addition of Maintenance Cyber Discipline requirements, Decentralized Materiel Support, incorporation of four AFIs superseded above and establishes a Wing Avionics Manager Position requirement. Additionally, eTool and Worldwide Identification (WWID) management procedures were expanded to provide standardized enterprise requirements. MAJCOMs/ANG designated to establish Special Certification Roster (SCR) prerequisites to optimize workforce alignment to mission requirements. SUMMARY OF CHANGES This publication has been substantially revised and must be completely reviewed in its entirety. Significant changes include the addition of Maintenance Cyber Discipline requirements, Decentralized Materiel Support, incorporation of four AFIs superseded above and establishes a Wing Avionics Manager Position requirement. Additionally, eTool and Worldwide Identification (WWID) management procedures were expanded to provide standardized enterprise requirements. MAJCOMs/ANG designated to establish Special Certification Roster (SCR) prerequisites to optimize workforce alignment to mission requirements. This publication has been revised and includes published guidance implemented under DAFI 21-101_DAFGM2022-01;

Contents

  1. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 25
  2. Chapter 4—MAINTENANCE SQUADRON (MXS)/GENERATION SQUADRONp. 56
  3. Chapter 5—MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS (MXO)p. 81
  4. Chapter 6—QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA)p. 94
  5. Chapter 7—IMPOUNDMENT PROCEDURESp. 118
  6. Chapter 8—TOOL AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENTp. 123
  7. Chapter 9—MATERIEL MANAGEMENT SUPPORTp. 136
  8. Chapter 10—MUNITIONS POLICY AND WEAPONS LOAD CREW PROGRAMp. 144
  9. Chapter 11—ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAMSp. 145
  10. Chapter 12—MAINTAINING COMMERCIAL DERIVATIVE AIRCRAFT (CDA)p. 217
  11. Chapter 13—CENTRALIZED REPAIR FACILITIES (CRF)p. 221
  12. Chapter 15—AIRCRAFT SUNSHADE MANAGEMENTp. 259
  13. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 270
  14. Attachment 2—AIRCRAFT COMMANDER FEEDBACK ON FCCp. 301
  15. Attachment 3—QUARTERLY FCC REPORT FORMATp. 302
  16. Attachment 4—ANNUAL FCC REPORTp. 303
  17. Attachment 5—FCC SDAP REQUESTp. 304
  18. Attachment 6—FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE (FOD) REPORTp. 305
  19. Attachment 7—CRITICAL APPLICATION ITEMS & CRITICAL SAFETY ITEMSp. 306
All 120 contents entries
  1. 1.1. Introductionp. 10
  2. 1.2. Organizationp. 10
  3. 1.3. Maintenance Conceptp. 10
  4. 1.4. Aircraft Maintenance Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP)p. 11
  5. 1.5. Aircraft and Equipment Readinessp. 11
  6. 1.6. Maintenance Disciplinep. 12
  7. 1.7. Communications Security (COMSEC)/Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI)p. 13
  8. 1.8. Environmental Compliancep. 15
  9. 1.9. Publicationsp. 16
  10. 1.10. Maintenance Trainingp. 16
  11. 1.11. Modification Managementp. 16
  12. 1.12. Maintenance Information System (MIS)p. 16
  13. 1.13. General Safety Guidancep. 17
  14. 1.14. Duty Shifts and Rest Periodsp. 17
  15. 1.15. Communicationsp. 18
  16. 1.16. Maintenance Repair Prioritiesp. 18
  17. 1.17. Associate Unit Program/Total Force Integration (TFI)p. 23
  18. 1.18. Performance-Based Activitiesp. 23
  19. 1.19. Changes to Technical Ordersp. 24
  20. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 25
  21. 2.1. Generalp. 25
  22. 2.2. Wing Commander (WG/CC) Responsibilitiesp. 25
  23. 2.3. Wing Vice Commander (WG/CD) Responsibilitiesp. 26
  24. 2.4. Maintenance Group Commander (MXG/CC) Responsibilitiesp. 27
  25. 2.5. Deputy Maintenance Group Commander (MXG/CD)p. 35
  26. 2.6. MXG Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) Responsibilitiesp. 35
  27. 2.7. Wing Weapons Managerp. 36
  28. 2.8. Squadron Commander (SQ/CC) Responsibilitiesp. 36
  29. 2.9. Maintenance Supervision Responsibilitiesp. 37
  30. 2.10. Flight Supervisionp. 39
  31. 2.11. Production Superintendent (Pro Super)p. 42
  32. 2.12. Section NCOIC/Chiefp. 42
  33. 3.1. Generalp. 46
  34. 3.2. Maintenance Supervision Responsibilitiesp. 46
  35. 3.3. Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU)p. 46
  36. 3.4. AMU OIC/SUPT Responsibilitiesp. 46
  37. 3.5. Production Superintendent (Pro Super)p. 47
  38. 3.6. Flightline Expediterp. 47
  39. 3.7. Aircrew and Maintenance Debrief Sectionp. 48
  40. 3.8. Aircraft Sectionp. 52
  41. 3.9. Specialist Sectionp. 53
  42. 3.11. Support Sectionp. 54
  43. 3.12. Unit Decentralized Materiel Support (DMS)p. 55
  44. Chapter 4—MAINTENANCE SQUADRON (MXS)/GENERATION SQUADRONp. 56
  45. 4.1. Generalp. 56
  46. 4.2. Maintenance Supervision Responsibilitiesp. 56
  47. 4.3. MXS Production Superintendent (Pro Super)p. 56
  48. 4.4. Accessories Flightp. 57
  49. 4.5. Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) Flightp. 62
  50. 4.6. Armament Flightp. 64
  51. 4.7. Avionics Flightp. 64
  52. 4.8. Fabrication Flightp. 66
  53. 4.9. Maintenance Flightp. 68
  54. 4.10. Munitions Flightp. 71
  55. 4.11. Propulsion Flightp. 72
  56. 4.12. Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE) Flightp. 80
  57. Chapter 5—MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS (MXO)p. 81
  58. 5.1. Generalp. 81
  59. 5.2. Maintenance Operationsp. 81
  60. 5.3. Maintenance Training (MT)p. 92
  61. 5.4. Programs and Resources (P&R)p. 92
  62. Chapter 6—QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA)p. 94
  63. 6.1. Generalp. 94
  64. 6.2. Responsibilitiesp. 94
  65. 6.3. QA Superintendent (QA SUPT) Responsibilitiesp. 95
  66. 6.4. Chief Inspector Responsibilitiesp. 96
  67. 6.5. Quality Assurance Inspector Responsibilitiesp. 98
  68. 6.6. Quality Assurance Inspector Trainingp. 98
  69. 6.7. Maintenance Standardization and Evaluation Program (MSEP)p. 99
  70. 6.8. LEAP QA Databasep. 109
  71. 6.9. QA Product Improvement Programs (PIP)p. 110
  72. 6.10. Technical Order Distribution Office (TODO)p. 112
  73. 6.11. One-Time Inspections (OTI) programp. 114
  74. 6.12. Functional Check Flights (FCFs) to include Operational Check Flights (OCFs)p. 114
  75. 6.13. Inflight Operational Checksp. 116
  76. 6.14. High Speed Taxi Checksp. 116
  77. 6.15. Weight and Balance (W&B) Programp. 116
  78. Chapter 7—IMPOUNDMENT PROCEDURESp. 118
  79. 7.1. Aircraft and Equipment Impoundmentp. 118
  80. 7.2. Specific Guidancep. 118
  81. 7.3. Impoundment Authoritiesp. 118
  82. 7.4. Impoundment Official Responsibilitiesp. 118
  83. 7.5. Mandatory Impoundmentsp. 119
  84. 7.6. Impoundment Proceduresp. 119
  85. 7.7. Rules of Impoundment Specifically for Explosive-Related Events/Mishapsp. 121
  86. Chapter 8—TOOL AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENTp. 123
  87. 8.1. Tool and Equipment Managementp. 123
  88. 8.2. Guidelines for Program Managementp. 123
  89. 8.3. General Program Guidelinesp. 124
  90. 8.4. TMDE Management Guidelinesp. 127
  91. 8.5. Tool Accountability and Serviceabilityp. 128
  92. 8.6. Tool and Equipment Marking and Identificationp. 130
  93. 8.7. Locally Manufactured, Developed, or Modified Tools and Equipmentp. 132
  94. 8.8. Tool Room Operations and Tool Securityp. 133
  95. 8.9. Lost Item/Tool Proceduresp. 134
  96. Chapter 9—MATERIEL MANAGEMENT SUPPORTp. 136
  97. 9.1. Generalp. 136
  98. 9.2. Decentralized Materiel Supportp. 136
  99. 9.3. Supply Disciplinep. 137
  100. 9.4. Readiness Spares Package Reviewp. 137
  101. 9.5. Bench Stockp. 137
  102. 9.6. Consumable Readiness Spares Packagep. 137
  103. 9.7. Shop Stockp. 138
  104. 9.8. Operating Stockp. 138
  105. 9.9. Work Order Residuep. 138
  106. 9.10. Adjusted Stock Levelsp. 138
  107. 9.11. Shelf-life Itemsp. 138
  108. 9.12. Equipment Itemsp. 139
  109. Chapter 10—MUNITIONS POLICY AND WEAPONS LOAD CREW PROGRAMp. 144
  110. Chapter 11—ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAMSp. 145
  111. Chapter 12—MAINTAINING COMMERCIAL DERIVATIVE AIRCRAFT (CDA)p. 217
  112. Chapter 13—CENTRALIZED REPAIR FACILITIES (CRF)p. 221
  113. Chapter 15—AIRCRAFT SUNSHADE MANAGEMENTp. 259
  114. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 270
  115. Attachment 2—AIRCRAFT COMMANDER FEEDBACK ON FCCp. 301
  116. Attachment 3—QUARTERLY FCC REPORT FORMATp. 302
  117. Attachment 4—ANNUAL FCC REPORTp. 303
  118. Attachment 5—FCC SDAP REQUESTp. 304
  119. Attachment 6—FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE (FOD) REPORTp. 305
  120. Attachment 7—CRITICAL APPLICATION ITEMS & CRITICAL SAFETY ITEMSp. 306

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

500 DAFI records on the Air Force index. Search the full index.

Works of the United States Government are not subject to copyright (17 U.S.C. § 105). This site is not affiliated with the Department of the Air Force or any government agency.

Air Force index

REF: DAFI 21-101, effective December 20, 2023

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFI 21-101

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

Open the official PDF