Aircraft airframe assembly

Apparatus for producing an assembly tool (60), the assembly tool (60) being for assembling an assembly (6) comprising one or more components (8-20), the apparatus comprising:

• a first fixture configured to fix one or more support plates (65) to a provided at least a portion of a jig frame (62);
• a first machining apparatus configured to machine the one or more support plates (65) such that a surface of each of the support plates (65) lies in a common plane (130);
• a support structure (138) configured to receive the surfaces of the support plates (65) that lie in the common plane (130);
• a second fixture configured to fix one or more pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) to the at least a portion of the jig frame (62);
• a second machining apparatus configured to machine, with respect to the supporting surface (138), each of the pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) such that a pickup device receiving surface of that pickup device mounting plate (140a, 140b) has a respective predetermined position and orientation with respect to the supporting surface (138);
• and
• a third fixture configured to fix, to the pickup device receiving surface of each of the pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b), a respective pickup device (66-72), each pickup device (66-72) having a receiving element (74-80) for receiving a component (8-20) of the assembly (6).