Final answer:
Aircraft equipment and spare parts are managed by regional supply centers, which are critical for maintaining an efficient supply chain for maintenance and repair activities in the aviation industry, avoiding inaction and equipment shortages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inventory control point that manages aircraft equipment and spare parts is typically a regional supply center or facility. These regional supply centers are responsible for the storage, management, and distribution of aircraft parts and equipment to ensure that maintenance and repair activities can be conducted without substantial delays due to inaction and equipment shortages. By maintaining an efficient supply chain, these centers play a critical role in the operational readiness and effectiveness of an airline or air force.
For instance, during historical operations like the Berlin Airlift, as depicted in Figure 28.6, transport planes such as American C-47s were loaded with supplies at a French airport to sustain operations in Berlin. Such a large-scale logistic undertaking would have relied heavily on well-organized regional supply centers.
In modern times, these centers utilize advanced inventory control systems to monitor stock levels and forecast future demand, thus ensuring that the right parts are available where and when they are needed, minimizing the risk of aircraft being grounded due to the lack of available parts.