‘ARDocuExpert’ – A game-changer in maintaining aircraft technical records

The aviation industry is standing on the cusp of a digital revolution, with almost all process like maintenance, cleaning, aircraft inspection etc being operated on cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics. Although digitisation has taken hold of almost all aspects of aviation, the department of technical records keeping is still lagging behind in term of technology with many airline operators and lessors still lagging in efficiency due to manual record storage, retrieval and review process, mostly out of habit more than anything else. But, as we stand on the threshold of 2024, the picture is changing rapidly. More and more airlines are opting for software solutions for records keeping and semi-automating records retrieval and collation processes which form the backbone of aircraft lease transactions (transitions/redeliveries). Although manual record builds and reviews have been followed since the inception of aviation, its numerous drawbacks are becoming a major pain-point for operators, MROs and lessors. This is due to the recent developments in the aviation sector where more operators are preferring leasing over owning aircrafts as economic uncertainties, geopolitical risks are all the more prevalent.

Manually processing technical records results in the following:

  • Missed or delayed maintenance activities pose major safety hazards
  • Non-compliance in technical records results in financial and legal penalties
  • Unnecessary repairs due to missing records add to maintenance costs and end of lease costs for an airline
  • All the above can cause extended turnaround times compromising an airline’s brand name, end-of-lease costs and future lease terms from lessors.

As a solution to the above, next-generation cutting edge software solutions have evolved which supports robust record storage, retrieval, record-builds and semi-automated reviews thereby helping the operators and lessors to mitigate their risks, optimise efficiency and save excess costs, providing real-time access to data 24/7.

One such next-generation aircraft records processing system which solves major problems impacting all 3 major verticals in aircraft leasing is ‘ARDocuExpert’ (“Air Docu Expert”). Let us understand ARDocuExpert in detail.

Benefits of ARDocuExpert

ARDocuExpert brings enormous efficiency in CAMO (Continuous Airworthiness Management Organization) operations by delivering 10X efficiency through the complete automation of records review processes.

It also solves major problems that are impacting all 3 major verticals in aircraft leasing.

– Eliminates unnecessary delays in lease-returns
In today’s age of technology and automation, many CAMO departments do not have access to digitized process for managing their technical records. Hence it is impossible for them to get a real-time oversight of aircrafts’ condition resulting in last-minute scramble for spares during lease-return maintenance. This leads to unnecessary delays in returning the aircraft back to lessors adding up to airline’s costs. ARDocuExpert is the perfect solution to this challenge as it provides detailed and perfect real-time tracking of all aircraft technical parts making the life of aircraft engineers so much easier.

– Cost-saver for MROs and Airlines
Due to lack of digitized record-keeping technology, CAMO teams manually review and edit the physical as well as digital records to keep them abreast as per IATA norms while returning the aircraft back to the lessor.
Even periodic mid-lease inspections involve hugely time-intensive manual verification of records.
The cost incurred during this process is approximately 60% of the total CAMO project cost (typically $150,000 -$300,000). ARDocuExpert helps reduce this cost by providing complete digitised technical records helping operators carry-on the lease return activities more swiftly and efficiently.

– Minimises errors
An aircraft technical document is one of the most critical aircraft documents as it acts as a deciding factor in the airworthiness of an aeroplane. If such a document carries missing information or has human errors, the consequences can be fatal. Many times, the AMEs have to redo engineering jobs to fill the missing gaps in technical record documents or rectify the errors leading to loss of valuable man-hours and increasing AOG time. In such cases, ARDocuExpert comes in handy as it completely eliminates all chances of any such errors or missing information and offers a comprehensive set of fool-proof documents, thus saving valuable time and avoiding errors.

What does ARDocuExpert do?

ARDocuExpert can store technical records digitally and automate the laborious retrieval and review processes.

  1. Real-Time Overview – With ARDocuExpert the supply chain partners can now have accurate and complete technical records of the components they provide – including information on the manufacturer, part number, serial number, and installation and removal dates with a complete real-time overview of an aircraft’s condition.
  2. Automated back to birth builds – You heard it right! ARDocuExpert AUTOMATICALLY builds back to birth records for engines and landing gears.
  3. Simplified process – ARDocuExpert gives the complete history of components, including any repairs, overhauls, or other maintenance that has been performed simply at the click of a button
  4. Regulatory compliance – ARDocuExpert comes with full and systematic regulatory and standard compliance from global regulators like European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Federal Aviation Administration and many more…
  5. Easy access – With ARDocuExpert authorized personnel can have complete access of all the technical records anywhere, anytime without any hindrance.
  6. Safety – ARDocuExpert boasts of complete and total guarantee and security of all confidential and sensitive information of the technical and lease records
  7. Efficient recovery – In case of an unlikely event like the loss or damage of technical records, ARDocuExpert provides a foolproof disaster recovery plan

How does ARDocuExpert Work?

ARDocuExpert uses document intelligence and a level of automation of technical records that was previously unavailable. Hence it is viewed as a game-changer in technical records keeping. Feedback from many airlines, CAMO transit companies has been encouraging and motivating the team to develop ARDocuExpert further.

 

Conclusion

All-in-all, we have already entered the age of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and digitization is the only way for airlines, lessors and MROs to move forward. Recently, more and more airlines are coming forward and implementing the newer and more innovative technologies for efficient lease transactions and reduced lease costs. Such airlines and lessors can gain visibility into the scheduling needs and compliance of maintenance requirements, maximize aircraft maintenance yields, improve agility to adapt to operational business process changes, increase the productivity and job satisfaction of their workforces, and offer a superior experience for passengers by reducing aircraft delays.