<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, on behalf of Aviall,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints
Jeffrey J. Murphy, Jacqueline K. Collier, James E. O'Bannon and Heather J.
Haase and each of them, the true and lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Company, to sign on
behalf of the Company and on behalf of the undersigned in his or her capacity
as an officer and/or a director of the Company, the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and to sign any or all
amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, to or with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, granting unto said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them with or without the others, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, or any of them or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney effective as of March 17, 1998.



/s/ Bruce N. Whitman
---------------------------
Bruce N. Whitman





<PAGE>   2
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, on behalf of Aviall,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints
Jeffrey J. Murphy, Jacqueline K. Collier, James E. O'Bannon and Heather J.
Haase and each of them, the true and lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Company, to sign on
behalf of the Company and on behalf of the undersigned in his or her capacity
as an officer and/or a director of the Company, the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and to sign any or all
amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, to or with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, granting unto said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them with or without the others, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, or any of them or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney effective as of March 17, 1998.



/s/ Donald R. Muzyka
---------------------------
Donald R. Muzyka





<PAGE>   3
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, on behalf of Aviall,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints
Jeffrey J. Murphy, Jacqueline K. Collier, James E. O'Bannon and Heather J.
Haase and each of them, the true and lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Company, to sign on
behalf of the Company and on behalf of the undersigned in his or her capacity
as an officer and/or a director of the Company, the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and to sign any or all
amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, to or with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, granting unto said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them with or without the others, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, or any of them or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney effective as of March 17, 1998.



/s/ Henry A. McKinnell
---------------------------
Henry A. McKinnell





<PAGE>   4
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, on behalf of Aviall,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints
Jeffrey J. Murphy, Jacqueline K. Collier, James E. O'Bannon and Heather J.
Haase and each of them, the true and lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Company, to sign on
behalf of the Company and on behalf of the undersigned in his or her capacity
as an officer and/or a director of the Company, the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and to sign any or all
amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, to or with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, granting unto said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them with or without the others, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, or any of them or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney effective as of March 17, 1998.



/s/ Robert G. Lambert
---------------------------
Robert G. Lambert





<PAGE>   5
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, on behalf of Aviall,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints
Jeffrey J. Murphy, Jacqueline K. Collier, James E. O'Bannon and Heather J.
Haase and each of them, the true and lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Company, to sign on
behalf of the Company and on behalf of the undersigned in his or her capacity
as an officer and/or a director of the Company, the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and to sign any or all
amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, to or with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, granting unto said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them with or without the others, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney or
attorneys-in-fact, or any of them or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney effective as of March 17, 1998.



/s/ Richard J. Schnieders
---------------------------
Richard J. Schnieders