Since the past couple of years, the aviation software industry has grown at a great pace. There was a time when the only handful of software products were available for aviation maintenance solutions. However, now there are a plethora of companies that are providing aviation maintenance solutions at competitive prices.
Although the choice of among the maintenance software has increased, still the question of choosing the right aviation maintenance software for your needs remains very important.
In this blog, I’ve narrowed down some of the very important things that you need to look into a software product that you are going to get for aviation maintenance.
Here you go:
1. Maintenance Tracking is Important
It is a general opinion that maintenance tracking is the most important feature that you should be looking at in software. If you look at it from a mechanic’s point of view, then it is probably the right thing to look for in software. It is important because you obviously need to track the maintenance of the aircraft while it is flying.
However, you need to know that now, most products are offering more than just maintenance tracking in the same amount of money. So, you need to know what else the product that you are buying has that suits the needs of your organization the best.
2. Look for Electronic Signatures
If you have a maintenance operation for the aircraft of your organization, then you’ll know that it is quite a big desire of the companies that the software they are buying has the ability of electronic signatures. However, don’t forget that you need to check with your local FSDO before you plan to implement an electronic signature system.
It is important because, more often than not, they have certain requirements like traceability and password protection to make sure that they eliminate all the possibilities of fraudulent entries.
3. Wireless Applications is Always a Plus
One of the very important features that these new software products have is their ability to be used in a wireless environment. The good news is that there is a large variety of wireless possibilities from rugged laptops to smaller PDA units. However, it is very important that you carefully consider every aspect of the environment in which this system is going to be used.
For example, if you are going to use them on the line, you need to make sure that the hardware you buy stands up to the rugged environment.
4. Know Everything about Training
Now, this is perhaps the most important factor that most organizations tend to overlook when they are buying an aviation maintenance software product. You need to consider the time it requires for your staff to get familiar with the product. Most products come with a dedicated staff training time that makes sure that your staff knows how to use the product before incorporating it into the system.
So, you need to make sure if it’s on-site training or how much time it will take for your staff to be completely trained about the use of the software.
5. What is the Best Fit for You?
Lastly, it all boils down to one simple question, is the product the best fit for your organization? If it meets all the criteria that your organization has set, then you should go with it without overthinking it. However, you need to make sure that you don’t end up making the wrong decision. So, always go with trusted companies like Aviation InterTec that have years of experience in the field.
