Pilots and navigators perhaps packing small items for flight? (9)
I believe the answer is:
airscrews
'pilots and navigators perhaps packing small' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'items for flight?' is the wordplay.
'items' becomes 'screws' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'for' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'flight?' becomes 'air' (flight is a kind of air).
'screws' put after 'air' is 'AIRSCREWS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for airscrews that I've seen is " pushers".)