Fear: There’s a belief that changing systems might negatively impact the value of the aircraft. Users worry that the new system could affect the perceived value or create issues with documentation.
Debunked: Complete, well-documented, and accurate records that show prompt responses to Airworthiness Directives and other maintenance needs can enhance aircraft value rather than the other way around. If a user has been relying on an ineffective tracking system, the data may already be unusable, or the software may no longer be suitable for its intended purpose, which could negatively impact the value of the aircraft.
Justin Linscomb: “There are many conformities and pre-buys I would’ve never made it through without a good, reported tracking system. Rather than sitting at a table in a conference room covered in paper and trying to weed through that, it’s always been a seamless process that has helped tremendously with purchasing an aircraft as a new buyer, new operator who’s trying to bring that aircraft onto their OpSpec or their certificate and having to go through those conformity processes and increases the value of the aircraft.”
Kim Watne: “I think a well-documented aircraft does increase the value of your aircraft. I have seen aircraft being sold where the cockpit is full of aircraft records that go with the aircraft. I have seen them without it, and there’s a difference in the price.”
Peter Mortimer: “The other way of thinking about it is if you’re using a tracking system that isn’t working for you or is an Excel-based system or whatever it is you’re coming from, if that data is no good or the software is not fit for purpose, then the value of the aircraft is going to be affected by that anyway. So, switching to a new system that solves that problem for you will only have a positive effect.