Maintenance Program

[RobertFL]

Hello
I developed aircraft tracking maintenance program, I would like to know if there would be market for such a tool in UK or Europe, or you are dominated by some large software?
If someone is interested please let me know we can discuss further

[jay_hl]

Please expand on what your software actually does.

Ie what does it track etc.

Jay

[RobertFL]

Jay
This is basically what program does:
"Easy Track" maintenance tracking software gives an aircraft owner or FBO the ability to track all life limited components and recurring inspections on one aircraft or a fleet of aircraft. The program will handle one or more aircraft. Templates allow quick aircraft setup, and the assurance that all inspection and life-limited components are tracked.

[ColeFace]

I recently received my copy of the U.S. publication AMT Magazine and it had a list of such software available.

AMT is available online, have you had a look at it, I believe it is a competative market out there for your product.

[Blacksheep]

There are hundreds of programs available that look after the total maintenance package - they control and call up all scheduled maintenance tasks including ADs and do all the record keeping, including tracking and controlling life limited parts down to the sub-assembly level.

Tracking life limited parts is just a tiny, tiny part of what's included in most of them. I'm sorry, but it is as ColeFace says, a very competitive market. Try looking up Cimber Data or Trax just to see what is available at the low end. Then think about SAP, Oracle and the other big boys at the top end.

[RobertFL]

Blacksheep, what you talking about what database engine has to do with software application,looks like you dont know what you talking about. On a different note there are few programs that do that, mine app is very cheap comparing to other ones, I also move back to europe soon and plan to market there if possible

[corporate kid]

Along similar lines what progrmas do people out there use and how do you rate them.

I have Two CRJ's for which the planning\tracking is very disjointed. (Which is an inheritance from the previous engineer)

The manit schedules is being hanldled by flight docs online which is great when you are being bounced around all over the place plus any in the engineering deptcan look at it online.and be fully up to date.

The AD's are being looked after by TDATA which is a little hard work but works ok. and the SBs are being taken care of on an inhouse excel spreadsheet. Again not the best way to do it but with two similar types and a good listing and update system from the manufacturer it works.

Im not so sre id want everything done by one company anyway as this can lead to them having you by the privates if they realy wanted.

So what do you guys use?????

[Blacksheep]

I'm afraid that the role I fill in the maintenance business means that I do know what I'm talking about Robert FL. If you want to do any kind of business it is a good idea to check out the market first and see if there is a niche for your product and you've made a start by asking on this forum. Now check out the other free market information on Google - try aircraft maintenance software. You'll soon see that Cheap simply isn't enough. You need to offer functionality to compete, even at the lowest level.
There's no profit at the bottom of the pool.

Though it is true that larger airlines and MROs use expensive maintenance systems (http://www.atwonline.com/channels/maintenance/article.html?articleID=1109) produced by the large database companies such as Oracle and SAP, simpler and affordable systems are already available for smaller airlines and general aviation outfits like corporate kid's CRJ operation - and they all do much more than tracking Life Limited Parts and scheduled inspections. I'm simply pointing out that there is already a complete range of software available right across the aircraft maintenance business from the largest to the smallest outfit. It is a very competitive and tight market that will be hard to penetrate unless you have some really spectacular advantage.

Another bit of business advice - if you want to fit into a little niche of your own, you might like to try and develop a smooth line in sales patter. You wouldn't want to accidentally insult a potential software customer when they give you a bit of free feedback, now would you? ;)

[corporate kid]

Sales my be your key. We arranged a meeting with a software manufacturer a while ago. The program seemed ok but nothing special however we probably would have gone with it. But the owner was there along with a sales rep and wrecked his chances.

Each time the boss opened his mouth you could see the rep cringe. I think this was maybe a regular thing. needless to say we didnt want to deal with the guy.

Maybe if you have things set up so that a demo could be viewed i might be interested. Just make it a good pitch.

Robert FL. PM me if you have something for me to look at. what do you have to loose?

[cirrus01]

You could try selling it to BA...................their huge investment in EWS, a application by SAP ( thought to be over 250 MILLION ,and 5 years of trying), is still not working as advertised.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Tq2Jetman3]

Do you have a beta version that can be viewed on line? Or is there some way of seeing what it can do in some detail some other way?

Can you list in this forum in bullet form what your software does?

ie: Tracks AD's; tracks lifed components; stores; services; ordering etc etc

Cost?

If its any good I might be interested in being your Australiasian agent. ;)

[RobertFL]

Tq2Jetman3 check your PM

[Nopax,thanx]

looks like you dont know what you talking about.

You really don't want to be saying that to Blacksheep.......:rolleyes:

We've just invested a million quid in a new system that the provider said does the lot - Maintenance, AD's, Spares, Tech Records, etc, etc.....it was supposedly a mature system ready to go but there are so many hiccups along the way that it's well over 18 months late and still no end in sight. Always looks easy when you start at it!

[GotTheTshirt]

Girls !:D

It is really to do with what you want to track !!

If you have a fleet of Fifty aircraft flying 300 hours a month that is a totally different requirement than if you have a couple of bizz jets flying 100 hours a month.
It also depends on how much manpower you have

You can certainly manage tech data for several aircraft ( and we do!) with MS Excel.

The spares side is a little more complicated !

;)

[Tq2Jetman3]

I checked my PM's and sent you an email. No feedback to date.:{

[Saintsman]

I doubt any major player will want another separate IT system. They all want a fully integrated system that does everything.

If you are keeping track of the maintenance you need something that is going to print the jobplans for the individual check, taking account of all the individual requirements (mod states etc). You want to order all the spares for the check and record all the manhours expended for starters. Then if you are changing lifed components you will need a tech records add on too. The list goes on and it is why the systems such as SAP, Visair, Russell Adams etc are so expensive.

To be honest, if you you are just tracking maintenance, its fairly easy to knock something up on an Access database that will do the same sort of thing.