The Problem with Paper in the Business Aviation Industry
by Mark Lowe
So Larry, based on yours years of experience, how would you describe the current state of business aircraft records management?
It’s pretty appalling. If you look at aircraft record management today, you find logbooks in numerous different formats. Sometimes logbooks lack critical information that is required by the FAA. And the problem is nearly universal. Most business aircraft based in North America have some degree of inconsistency in their records
What are the limitations and risks associated with paper-only aircraft records?
Aircraft records are important and valuable. Without proper records, an aircraft may be in violation of its Standard Airworthiness Certificate. Also, the industry standard is that an aircraft’s records are worth between 33% – 50% of the aircraft’s total market value. Today, we insure or back-up valuable assets. With aircraft records, we generally don’t do either! The central problem is that paper records are easily damaged or destroyed – by water, fire, sunlight and many other risk factors.
And, of course, paper records are not remotely accessible. This can be a serious limitation when multiple people in multiple places are managing an aircraft in real time. Obviously, paper was the best available option for most of the 20th century, but today with the internet, cloud-based storage and sophisticated software, there’s just no good reason to be using paper-only records.
What do you identify as the main benefits of digital record-keeping?
It solves almost every problem associated with paper records. For starters, digital records may be viewed, searched, printed and updated by multiple people in multiple locations in real time. Furthermore, the information in a digital record can be located in seconds. Think of a Google search versus leafing though hardcopy set of encyclopedias.
In 2016, the FAA issued an Advisory Circular (AC) providing standards and guidance for electronic signatures, record-keeping, etc. Can you explain its requirements?
The key requirements are about security and encourage aircraft operators to move to electronic record-keeping. FAA ACs are non-binding and merely suggestions. However, complying with ACs certainly creates goodwill and accelerates FAA approval of subsequent changes made by operators.
Many operators fail to understand when FAA approval of electronic record-keeping is required. Generally, it’s the distinction between Part 91 operators and other operators (Parts 125, 129, 135 and 145). We use a compliance matrix illustrating AC suggestions and how we comply with each. We are happy to share this information. Also, we can supply generic terms to any operator wanting to integrate Vision’s Electronic Recordkeeping System to digitize its records.
For more information on Vision Aircraft Records, please visit www.visionaircraftrecords.com
