Digitise your aircraft records to boost financial savings & increase efficiency

John Robinson, VP Business Development (APAC) shares his insight in this latest blog on the benefits of moving from paper to digital.

The move from a paper to a digital process, irrespective of the context, is fairly natural and even expected in the digital age that we live in. However, the technical and MRO world of aviation insists on desperately clinging on to paper documents! In 2020, there is no rational reason for this really, other than habit.

The aviation industry has already taken significant strides in using technology to enhance the passenger experience. Many processes are now managed through simply using a mobile phone together with an appropriate application. So why then do we not enjoy the same convenience when managing technical records and compliance for an aircraft or engine? There are probably a few reasons for this; one may be the traditional thin veil of an excuse that the airworthiness authorities insist on paper records. This attitude and requirement is changing with multiple authorities, including EASA and FAA, now issuing circulars and advisories regarding digital records and data management. Another reason may be just the usual human resistance to change. People resist change generally speaking unless they can see an obvious and immediate benefit.

In the case of aircraft technical records, the obvious benefit would be having all archived records and information available at your fingertips 24/7 and accessible via any browsing device connected to the internet. However, the love of paper still persists. Whether it’s the day-to-day record-keeping or even the gargantuan task of preparing records for an end of lease aircraft transition, paper somehow currently seems to still win the day. This is despite, more often than not, paper archives being stored off-site, often miles away from the aircraft operation.

This has to change! If, as is the very real situation the industry is facing today, an operator had to reduce its’ fleet rapidly, surely having digital records would enable that process to begin immediately?

Digital access to aircraft records is also a core part of business continuity planning,  especially in the current global situation where travel has been severely impacted by restrictions on travel for COVID-19 related issues. The days of flying halfway around the world to look through boxes of paper are well and truly over. The present travel restrictions have reinforced the advantages and benefits of having a digital records management system. Not only is there a huge financial cost-saving, but there is also the ongoing and ever urgent need to reduce carbon footprints globally. And finally, of course, the environmental argument is not limited to just travel, it is also based upon the reduction in paper consumption itself. These issues alone should be enough to convince most organisations, whether operators or owners, to change.

So why wait? The implementation of a digital records management system can be achieved within weeks of scanning of records being completed. With an unusually high percentage of aircraft currently grounded and engineering/technical resources being stood down from daily operations, now is the perfect time to take advantage of these unusually low levels of activity and embrace the digital revolution. Use that under-utilised resource for scanning existing paper records. flydocs® is a premier digital records management platform that will enable this to happen very efficiently, very cost-effectively and very smoothly. So why wait?!

Contact flydocs now for an introductory discussion and demonstration.

Our VP Business Development (APAC) is currently at MRO Australasia in Brisbane from 10-12 March so be sure to connect with him to discuss your needs at [email protected]