Which component should be checked before drilling to ensure pilot holes are in the correct location?

The correct choice emphasizes the importance of consulting the engineering drawing before drilling pilot holes. Engineering drawings provide critical information about the dimensions, tolerances, and specific locations for all components in an assembly. They include detailed layouts that indicate where holes should be drilled, ensuring that all assembly parts fit together correctly and are positioned as per design specifications.

Checking the engineering drawing ensures that you are accurately following the design intent, which is essential in aerospace applications where precision is paramount. It allows for verification of hole sizes, orientations, and relationships with adjacent components. This practice helps prevent errors that could lead to misalignment during assembly, potential structural issues, or safety hazards.

Other materials, such as the assembly jig, material catalog, or previous assembly records, may provide helpful information but are secondary to the engineering drawing for verifying the placement of pilot holes. The assembly jig aids in the physical process of drilling, while the material catalog pertains to specifications of materials used. Previous assembly records might indicate past practices but do not provide the definitive information focused on the current design specifications found in the engineering drawing.