Aviation MRO software enables companies to streamline and optimize their aircraft maintenance operations. We used our review methodology to review and rank our favorites.
- Ramco: Best Overall
- Veryon: Best for OEMs
- Traxxall: Best for Business Jet Operators
- Component Control: Best for Air Carriers
- Smart145: Strong Mobile Support
- OASES: Best for CAMOs
- Aircraft Maintenance Systems: Best for Military Aviation
- CORRIDOR: Best for FBOs
Ramco - Best Overall
Why we chose it: We ranked Ramco as the best overall because it offers a suite of modules that cover all aspects of MRO operations, including maintenance planning, execution, engineering, supply chain management, financial control, and compliance tracking. This approach provides end-to-end visibility across the entire MRO lifecycle.
We gave Ramco an 8.9 rating because the software is also designed to help aviation companies comply with industry standards, such as tracking continuous airworthiness, managing technical records, and allowing digital collaboration with regulatory bodies. The software also has pre-built APIs and collaboration capabilities to integrate with third-party systems like flight operations, vendors and customers, and HR, enabling collaboration and data exchange across the MRO system.
However, some reviewers believe that Ramco has a steeper learning curve due to its strong features and capabilities.
Veryon - Best for OEMs
Why we chose it: Veryon made our list of top choices due to its integration with OEM documentation, troubleshooting, and partnership opportunities. The software allows easy access to aircraft technical and regulatory publications, which can streamline maintenance processes for OEMs and their customers.
We gave Veryon an 8.7 rating because it also offers a fault isolation solution with interactive aircraft troubleshooting that captures new field experience allowing OEMs to grow and improve first-time fix rates. The software also partners with OEMs, allowing them to focus on their core operations and increase their customer satisfaction. However, a potential drawback of Veryon is that pricing details require a consultation call.
Traxxall - Best for Business Jet Operators
Why we chose it: We included Traxxall as a top choice for business jet operators because of its advanced tracking capabilities. The software features built-in templates for over 400 models of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft from manufacturers like Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Hawker. It also offers customizable dashboards and screens for users to personalize the system to meet their operational needs.
We gave Traxxall an 8.8 rating because it also provides peer-to-peer support from analysts who are A&P mechanics and have worked on aircraft. These analysts perform aircraft enrollment, ensuring that all data is accurate from the start. This can help minimize aircraft downtime and contribute to operational savings and efficiency. However, Traxxall wouldn’t be a great fit for commercial airline operations. Its capabilities and support are geared specifically towards private and corporate aircraft.
Component Control - Best for Air Carriers
Why we chose it: We believe Component Control’s core product, Quantum Control, is a good choice for air carriers due to its impressive features and compliance management. The system provides features that manage the entire MRO process, including shop control, repair order management, publications tracking, barcoding, and mobile technician access, which can help air carriers streamline their operations.
We also like that the software is regulatory compliant and provides visibility into exceptions, such as part shortages, cost overruns, and schedule slips. This helps carriers maintain regulatory compliance and ensure quality management. Quantum Control is also installed in over 60 countries and can be deployed as a single-site or multi-national solution, making it a suitable choice for aviation companies with global operations.
However, some users have mentioned that although Component Control has impressive capabilities, it may have some unnecessary features, and new users face a steep learning curve.
Smart145 - Strong Mobile Support
Why we chose it: We picked Smart145 because it offers strong mobile support, a customer portal, and a wide range of features. Smart145 has a mobile app that’s available for iOS and Android, allowing aviation technicians to manage their operations seamlessly when on the go or working in the hangar.
We like that the software offers a customer portal where clients can view service details, invoices, and quotes with just a click. Smart145 also incorporates advanced capabilities like automated task scheduling, real-time collaboration, and intelligent data analysis. These features enable data-driven decision-making and optimize workflows. However, users have mentioned that Smart145 can be costly to purchase, customize, and maintain.
OASES - Best for CAMOs
Why we chose it: We like OASES for its functionality, compliance support, and integrations. OASES offers a suite of modules that cover different aspects of MRO operations, such as maintenance planning, scheduling, inventory management, and warranty management. There is also a dedicated airworthiness module that maintains detailed data on aircraft configurations, airworthiness directives, service bulletins, and component life cycles.
OASES has a cloud-based repository for storing and managing aircraft technical records digitally. This can ensure compliance with regulatory requirements by maintaining up-to-date records. The software also manages issues related to repetitive defects, reliability, and trends for a compliant maintenance program.
The software can integrate with flight schedules, electronic flight bags, electronic tech logs, and e-enabled aircraft data feeds for short-term maintenance planning. However, given the number of features OASES offers, new users may require significant training.
Aircraft Maintenance Systems - Best for Military Aviation
Why we chose it: Aircraft Maintenance Systems (AMS) made our top choice list for military aviation due to its compliance management, inventory control, and service bulletins. We like that the software ensures compliance with military regulations, such as those set by the FAA and DoD.
We also like that the system can track parts and tools, which can minimize downtime and maintain readiness in military aviation. The software also automates tasks like tracking service bulletins and airworthiness directives and generates compliance reports to ensure that military aircraft are maintained to the latest guidelines.
However, due to the highly regulated nature of the aviation industry, the software’s agility and development opportunities may be limited. Ensuring compliance with the evolving regulations can slow down software updates and improvements of AMS.
CORRIDOR - Best for FBOs
Why we chose it: We found CORRIDOR suitable for FBOs. The software can manage the full range of FBO processes, from amenities to fuel sales and concierge services. The system also features time-tracking capabilities, as well as quoting, invoicing, and compliance for aircraft serviced at the FBO.
We also like that CORRIDOR provides paperless e-signature support to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. It also offers specific configuration forms, such as FAA and EASA, to comply with aircraft maintenance standards. The system features a bi-directional data flow between maintenance providers and aircraft operators to maintain compliance.
We also like that CORRIDOR allows service centers to accurately track who uses specific repair and maintenance tools for each task. This can help with labor cost tracking and billing for maintenance work and aid in managing personal qualification records to ensure techs are properly certified and trained for their work. However, CORRIDOR may have a steep learning curve for new users and smaller organizations. Proper training and support are required to navigate the system confidently.
What Is Aviation MRO Software?
Aviation MRO software is an aircraft maintenance, repair, and operation solution. It provides maintenance tracking, inventory management, and flight operation functionalities for a fully integrated flight department management option. This type of aircraft maintenance software is used by any business involved in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul field. These MRO companies streamline airplane fleets’ maintenance, engineering, and logistics and can be used by maintenance directors, inventory parts managers, flight schedulers and dispatchers, and even C-level executives.
Aviation MRO software is responsible for aircraft airworthiness. Engineering directors must ensure compliance with maintenance activities, while logistic managers need to source the right spare parts. Advanced forecasting features can plan maintenance, manage work orders, carry out material management, create and distribute purchase orders, and manage warranty replacement.
Any company implementing an aviation MRO solution will aim to improve its organization’s logistics, engineering and planning, maintenance, production, and quality assurance control.
Key Features
- Inventory Management: Manage your needed parts for maintenance purposes and monitor inventory costs to stay within budget. View available parts in a catalog, put in requests for items, create purchase orders, monitor prices between vendors, record physical inventory counts, and handle cycle counts.
- Maintenance Tracking: Handle the predictive and preventative maintenance of the aviation business. With maintenance tracking, you can scan equipment data for performance trends and use condition-based monitoring to alert the appropriate staff of potential issues. Key features include: creating schedules, tracking procedures, setting maintenance routines, and balancing workloads. Includes line maintenance, hangar maintenance, shop maintenance, engine maintenance, tool management, dent and buckle work, and employee time tracking. Supply Chain Management:** Optimize and view a product’s entire lifecycle. Key features include parts administration, supplier management, warehouse management, procurement, material planning, repairs and exchanges, scrap management, and receiving goods.
- Work Order Management: Create a trackable document identifying what aircraft maintenance work needs to be done and how it should be accomplished. Key features include rules-based approval management, scheduling management, change orders, and reporting.
Benefits
Some of the top benefits of aviation MRO software include:
Ensure Aircraft Reliability, Durability, and Safety
Whether commercial or military, maintaining the safety and reliability of an airline fleet depends on a product’s availability, reliability, and quality. When these new parts, materials, and structural concepts are implemented via maintenance programs, safety and reliability measures should be taken care of. Proper preventive maintenance ensures no deterioration process occurs and can provide your business with the needed information for when a design modification needs to happen when inventory is not available.
Proper MRO software will provide both structural and component maintenance. Structural maintenance for aircraft will assess fatigue and damage tolerance. Component maintenance will take care of hardware items that wear out, meaning parts will be removed from service once they reach a certain level of use or a period of time has passed. Many components will have this measure of deterioration and be removed for periodic maintenance.
Shorten the Planning of Maintenance
If an airline can better plan its maintenance, its aircraft will be out of commission for a shorter amount of time. For a commercial airline, this can be the difference between handling more flights for paying customers and ultimately creating more revenue.
Aviation MRO software can help your business plan maintenance better and shorten the time needed for any needed work. Some aviation MRO solutions have been known to reduce the time it takes to produce a yearly production plan from three days to three hours.
MRO Cost Tracking For Accurate Quotations
Providing accurate quotes starts with proper cost tracking. When trying to win business with a customer, you’ll want to ensure any figures you give them or any bid you may be submitting clearly states the cost of each service. These costs are determined through processes your business can standardize.
Outside of winning maintenance contracts, cost management is important for efficiently maintaining equipment and facilities. Most MRO software will integrate scheduled maintenance capabilities into your master production calendar.
You’ll want to ensure your business can cover the cost of each scheduled maintenance job, which starts with knowing how much it costs to provide routine maintenance. This includes the cost of any labor, utility costs for running power on machines, depreciation on machines, materials used during maintenance, and new parts that need to be ordered.
Billable Time and Expenses
During maintenance, shop staff must record their time worked and log it with the appropriate project/job. They’ll also record any inventory items used and any expenses incurred during the maintenance work (an example is the transportation costs to get to the job site). These hours will be used to calculate the cost being billed to the customer.
Time-tracking MRO tools will let all aviation MRO divisions record and analyze their workforce. Managers will monitor the time employees spend on productive work versus non-production time and be able to make better decisions about the best personnel fit for specific jobs.
MRO Invoicing
Invoicing is about labor tracking, production management, managing pricing structures, cost management, and providing real-time results.
Many invoices include charges for time spent working on various tasks. A proper invoice for maintenance, repair, and overhaul work will detail each maintenance activity. It will clearly describe the work completed and the hourly rate being charged for labor.
Some services may have variable labor rates if agreed upon during contract negotiations. This usually happens when certain maintenance work requires different skills, such as work that needs to be handled by both junior-level and senior-level staff members. Work involving a distinct classification of parts will also have different markups.
Modern aviation maintenance software will provide real-time invoicing, allowing the customer to see up-to-date changes to their account, including new charges that may have been added on.
The Rise of Mobile MRO Solutions
Depending on the size of the operation, going mobile can be an extremely cost-effective way of running your aviation MRO software. These solutions let maintenance workers use mobile devices (such as iPads) to monitor upcoming flight plans, the vehicles involved, pilot notifications and messages about issues, and schedules for planned maintenance.
Mechanics can anticipate defects, which allows them to gather the necessary tools and parts ahead of schedule and be ready when the aircraft rolls into the shop. Mobile solutions also let the business go completely paperless, as it does not have to print documents, manuals, or procedures. They can even allow job completion to be noted via electronic signatures and notifications sent back to pilots.
