Aviation technology has developed considerably to meet the unique needs of the aviation industry. A variety of software solutions that automate the well-known Part 139 requirements have come to the forefront. Airports should take advantage of the opportunity to be innovative in their approach to Part 139 requirements by using these types of software. They should pay particular attention to systems that can automate their Part 139 airfield self-inspections.
This opportunity begs the question – what should a great Part 139 airfield self-inspection software solution accomplish for an airport? Airports should expect nothing less than an intuitive system that can fully automate their daily and supplemental inspections. A proper airfield self-inspection system should dramatically increase efficiency, eliminate manual paper processes, and, in turn, increase safety.
Efficiency gains in airport operations are common through the use of software. Take daily inspections as an example: Unsatisfactory conditions and work orders can be generated, documented, and addressed far more rapidly with a software driven process rather than a paper process. Real-time communication between the inspector and their supervisors ensures compliance and follow through. This streamlined contact allows airport personnel to be immediately aware of the condition of the airfield and facilitates the process between inspectors and maintenance or operations staff.
The elimination of the paper process may be the most visible change that airfield self-inspection software brings. By converting all forms and records to a digital format that can be accessed on all devices, the paperwork for daily inspections becomes unnecessary. This is a key feature to utilize for an annual FAA inspection or for generating reports for staff meetings. Organizing and accessing this information will no longer require staff to search through file cabinets to find records. Eliminating paperwork from this process is cost effective and saves a great deal of time.
Airports increase the safety of their operations with these gains in efficiency and organization. Airport managers can find value in more than just automating their inspection process and tracking the relevant data. Analyzing this data with software can allow airport managers to make more informed decisions regarding the maintenance and operations of their airport. This can give them the ability to proactively adjust processes as needed to avoid difficult recurring issues. Software driven approaches to airfield inspections not only save time and money, they can effectively increase safety at the airport.
Airfield self-inspection is a critical component of Part 139 requirements. It is clear that utilizing an innovative, clearly defined, and intuitive software solution for airfield self-inspection can greatly benefit an airport in a number of ways.