An important aircraft document should be easy to find. Yet for many airline teams, the real challenge is knowing which system, folder, or inbox contains it.
Technical records are the backbone of aircraft asset management. Maintenance histories, inspections, certifications and other documents follow an aircraft throughout its life. But in many operations, that information can still be spread across different systems, email inboxes, spreadsheets and shared folders.
That creates a surprisingly expensive problem.
AirFleet Managers and Aviatrics Global are betting there is a better way. The companies have launched an integrated software suite designed to bring aircraft records, maintenance, compliance and asset management into a more connected environment. They also announced a partnership with JMB Aircraft aimed at expanding the offering in India.
The suite includes five products: WingsVault, AFM DARTS, TRACK, SmartAviaHub and AirRack.
WingsVault is technical records focused, establishing a centralised repository to store and search huge quantities of aircraft documentation. Further dealing with another common thorn in the head issue that AFM DARTS is addressing – the aircraft delivery, redelivery, heavy maintenance and the differences that may accumulate in the course of any of these events.
When it comes to going down to the shop with the question of leasing or hiring an aircraft, this is not just a matter of paperwork.
The inability to access or find a record, or when a record is lost, can delay a maintenance decision. Lease returns or aircraft transactions can result in delays if documentation is missing and will impact several teams and the value of the asset, too.
It certainly makes for interesting timing for the launch especially in India.
The aviation industry is growing by leaps and bounds and airlines are increasing aircraft and new routes. The more aircraft the more activity in maintain, records and people having to access the same information.
The alliance with JMB Aircraft paves the way across that expanding market to AirFleet Managers and Aviatrics Global.
However, the test will come when it launches. MROs and airlines are already running systems that they rely on, and switching to a new one is no easy task. New platforms need to complement the existing processes so that it does not add to the burden.
This is the reason why the idea is worth monitoring.
Aviation is putting significant efforts into making aircraft smarter. The next challenge could be tackling the information that’s surrounding those aircraft.
