Definition
Hand-operated cutting tools, similar to heavy-duty scissors, used in aviation sheet metal work to cut thin metal stock such as aluminum sheet. Aviation snips are commonly color-coded by handle: yellow for straight cuts, green for right-curving cuts, and red for left-curving cuts.
Plain English
Strong scissors made for cutting thin metal by hand. The colored handles tell you whether they cut straight, curve right, or curve left.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance, especially when cutting or trimming thin metal panels, patches, or small repair pieces.
Derivation
From the English word 'snip,' meaning a small, quick cut. The tool is named for the short, controlled cuts it makes through metal.
Why Pilots Care
Using the right cutting tool helps avoid rough edges, bent material, or damage to a part being repaired.
Analogy
Snips are to thin metal what scissors are to paper, but they are stronger and shaped for cutting harder material.
Intuition Check
“Snips” does not mean the small pieces left over after cutting here. In this context, snips are the cutting tool itself.
Example Sentence 1
The technician used a pair of red-handled snips to cut a curved patch from a sheet of aluminum.
Example Sentence 2
Straight snips made clean, long cuts along the fuselage patch.