Thursday, December 15, 2011
Spotlight on The Aircraft Group Services
One of the key services The Aircraft Group offers is the preparation of basic aircraft specifications, airframe maintenance status and accident/incident reports. If you're looking for a status on an American Airlines 757 or 767, Contact us today!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Navigating the American Bankruptcy
With American Airlines filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on November 29, 2011, thoughts immediately turn to wading through the records and assets of such a large company. This is where The Aircraft Group (TAG) comes in.
TAG has been involved in every major airline bankruptcy over the past 25 years and we are recognized as being the very best at it. During the Delta filing, The Aircraft Group was able to post and distribute technical data on 184 aircraft, specs and historical information in less than a week, 100% searchable! We have proven time and again that we have the ability to effectively manage, analyze and distribute technical data over the web for thousands of aircraft simultaneously.
Plus, we have worked with American Airline’s maintenance and recordkeeping systems for the past two decades. We are familiar with their processes, procedures and recordkeeping. In fact, we currently are working for several lessors and note holders and already have clearance for access to AA facilities.
Our vast airline expertise and specialized products make us the perfect solution. TAG’s patented products, TAG Fleet Online and DocuSearch, allow users to access aircraft portfolios over the Internet from anywhere in the world. While TAG’s document retrieval software is the only leading document management product designed specifically for aircraft maintenance records and is fully searchable returning documents in seconds given any search parameters.
If help is needed navigating through the AA bankruptcy waters, contact The Aircraft Group for information on our products and services.
TAG has been involved in every major airline bankruptcy over the past 25 years and we are recognized as being the very best at it. During the Delta filing, The Aircraft Group was able to post and distribute technical data on 184 aircraft, specs and historical information in less than a week, 100% searchable! We have proven time and again that we have the ability to effectively manage, analyze and distribute technical data over the web for thousands of aircraft simultaneously.
Plus, we have worked with American Airline’s maintenance and recordkeeping systems for the past two decades. We are familiar with their processes, procedures and recordkeeping. In fact, we currently are working for several lessors and note holders and already have clearance for access to AA facilities.
Our vast airline expertise and specialized products make us the perfect solution. TAG’s patented products, TAG Fleet Online and DocuSearch, allow users to access aircraft portfolios over the Internet from anywhere in the world. While TAG’s document retrieval software is the only leading document management product designed specifically for aircraft maintenance records and is fully searchable returning documents in seconds given any search parameters.
If help is needed navigating through the AA bankruptcy waters, contact The Aircraft Group for information on our products and services.
Monday, November 7, 2011
TAG Fleet Online Version 3
TAG Fleet Online Version 3 is currently in BETA testing phase and will be made available in late November.
Here are some of the most important features of our new and improved system where we have taken into consideration what we have learned during many years of experience in the industry.
• Redesigned user interface that improves ease of use combined with a set of new tools that dramatically speed up research, maintenance and administration tasks.
1. Aircraft Portfolio
1.1 Ability to see a snapshot of the documents based on serial number just by looking at the spec-sheet of the Aircraft*
1.2 Lockdown Aircraft (aircraft information becomes read-only) **
2. User Management
2.1 Simplified user management interface with hierarchical permissions assignment.
Users with ability to create other users can only transfer permissions assigned to them.
In other words, you have a more granular level of control to restrict access to sensitive information of all your assets.
3. Engine Portfolio
3.1 This new module allows clients to manage stand-alone engines as separate entities.
3.2 Lockdown Engine (Same as 1.2 but in regards to stand-alone engines)
4. Document Archive
4.1 You can search across hundreds of thousands of documents using our patented index and storage search engine and get results in a matter of seconds.
No need for special indexes or constraints just accurate results.
4.2 Ability to run searches within multiple aircraft or engines.
4.3 Save your search results!
Let’s suppose you’re in the middle of something browsing hundreds of documents for one aircraft or engine. You can save your search results and go back to them later.
• Compatible with all modern browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari)
• Developed using cutting edge technology that ensures reliability, scalability, security and performance.
• 100% compatible with the previous version. All existing aircraft and engine portfolio information for current clients is available in the new system.
*Subject to availability of the documents
**Requires users with special permissions to lock/unlock and view
Here are some of the most important features of our new and improved system where we have taken into consideration what we have learned during many years of experience in the industry.
• Redesigned user interface that improves ease of use combined with a set of new tools that dramatically speed up research, maintenance and administration tasks.
1. Aircraft Portfolio
1.1 Ability to see a snapshot of the documents based on serial number just by looking at the spec-sheet of the Aircraft*
1.2 Lockdown Aircraft (aircraft information becomes read-only) **
2. User Management
2.1 Simplified user management interface with hierarchical permissions assignment.
Users with ability to create other users can only transfer permissions assigned to them.
In other words, you have a more granular level of control to restrict access to sensitive information of all your assets.
3. Engine Portfolio
3.1 This new module allows clients to manage stand-alone engines as separate entities.
3.2 Lockdown Engine (Same as 1.2 but in regards to stand-alone engines)
4. Document Archive
4.1 You can search across hundreds of thousands of documents using our patented index and storage search engine and get results in a matter of seconds.
No need for special indexes or constraints just accurate results.
4.2 Ability to run searches within multiple aircraft or engines.
4.3 Save your search results!
Let’s suppose you’re in the middle of something browsing hundreds of documents for one aircraft or engine. You can save your search results and go back to them later.
• Compatible with all modern browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari)
• Developed using cutting edge technology that ensures reliability, scalability, security and performance.
• 100% compatible with the previous version. All existing aircraft and engine portfolio information for current clients is available in the new system.
*Subject to availability of the documents
**Requires users with special permissions to lock/unlock and view
Thursday, December 9, 2010
New FAR Coming Soon
A new development aircraft owners should be aware of is a new FAR expected to become effective in early 2011. Designated as FAR 121.1115 it will effectively establish a life limit on airframes. To protect against widespread fatigue damage, once the threshold is reached, the subject aircraft will either have to be permanently removed from service or undergo extensive structural modifications. In the case of the 757, the limit, called a Limit of Validity (LOV), is 50,000 flight cycles and comes into effect 60 months after publication of the FAR. The LOV will vary from model to model. The Aircraft Group can help you ascertain the specifics for your aircraft.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Aircraft Re-Registration and Renewal
On October 1, 2010 the FAA's Rule for Re-Registration and Renewal of Aircraft Registration became effective. This new regulation mandates that each registered owner re-register their aircraft every 3 years. Missing the window may result in aircraft grounding.
Aircraft owners must re-register their aircraft during filing windows detailed in the Final Rule but not less than 6 months before expiration of the certificate. Owners who do not file within the filing window will not be able to file online and will have to submit the 8050-1A paper form to the FAA. Failure to file within the filing window may risk having their current certificate expires before their re-registration has been processed which could lead to the grounding of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the new FAA rule will result in cancellation of the aircraft registration and loss of the registration number. This grounds the aircraft, can affect insurance coverage, if the aircraft is leased or financed could violate the terms and conditions of the financing or lease agreements, and the lost registration numbers will be unavailable for assignment for a period of five years.
Although seemingly straight forward, administration of the registration renewal process can be complicated by leasing or titles held in a trust, in each case potentially resulting in unwanted grounding. As a result, The Aircraft Group has implemented a program to manage these tasks on behalf of owners. Please call us for details
Aircraft owners must re-register their aircraft during filing windows detailed in the Final Rule but not less than 6 months before expiration of the certificate. Owners who do not file within the filing window will not be able to file online and will have to submit the 8050-1A paper form to the FAA. Failure to file within the filing window may risk having their current certificate expires before their re-registration has been processed which could lead to the grounding of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the new FAA rule will result in cancellation of the aircraft registration and loss of the registration number. This grounds the aircraft, can affect insurance coverage, if the aircraft is leased or financed could violate the terms and conditions of the financing or lease agreements, and the lost registration numbers will be unavailable for assignment for a period of five years.
Although seemingly straight forward, administration of the registration renewal process can be complicated by leasing or titles held in a trust, in each case potentially resulting in unwanted grounding. As a result, The Aircraft Group has implemented a program to manage these tasks on behalf of owners. Please call us for details
Friday, December 18, 2009
No Paper...No Plane!
When an airline leases aircraft, the documentation is as significant as the equipment. Financial and maintenance records tell the complete story of an aircraft’s condition, airworthiness, history and more. As an aircraft changes hands, the documentation must follow. Without this documentation, a plane is grounded.
In Spring 2009, on behalf of a client, The Aircraft Group delivered two leased aircraft to SkyEurope Airlines, based in Slovakia. SkyEurope was building its fleet to open more routes and expand its operations. The airline went on to lease several more aircraft from other financial institutions. The planes were to be flown throughout Europe for this commercial carrier but a few months later it was obvious that SkyEurope was in financial trouble. In September 2009, the airline declared bankruptcy and ceased operations. All the planes were grounded.
Although The Aircraft Group couldn’t predict the future when it delivered the aircraft to SkyEurope, the firm knew from its years of experience that keeping all aircraft documentation on a centralized server would ensure document integrity and offer more flexibility for transferring the aircraft in the future, if necessary. In the case with SkyEurope, repossession of the two aircraft that The Aircraft Group supplied was as easy as arranging for a crew to fly the aircraft out of the country. Unfortunately, the other aircraft Lessors were not as fortunate.
Several others of SkyEurope’s Lessors are now burdened with the additional task of researching and recreating the necessary documentation history. Without SkyEurope’s staff on hand, the costly task is left for a hired team to go onsite and reassemble the documentation. Oftentimes there are 200,000 to 400,000 documents per aircraft making research and recreation a herculean effort. Making matters worse, the aircraft are sitting idle and incurring storage fees while not producing any revenue.
The Aircraft Group created the optimum system for SkyEurope by supplying the planes and providing secure access to all necessary documentation. This allowed SkyEurope personnel to operate maintenance checks, airworthiness records, flight histories and more while the original hard copy documents remained with the Lessor. Not only was this convenient during operations giving instantaneous access to any document, it allowed for immediate removal of the aircraft when SkyEurope became insolvent, saving everyone time, money and aggravation.
“Technology now offers us incredible flexibility and convenience while still providing security. Unfortunately, many companies do not take advantage of automation on the front-end and end up paying dearly for it on the back-end. We see this scenario time and time again and are hoping that in the future online recordkeeping will be as commonplace as it is in other industries,” commented Walter Andrushenko, president of The Aircraft Group.
In Spring 2009, on behalf of a client, The Aircraft Group delivered two leased aircraft to SkyEurope Airlines, based in Slovakia. SkyEurope was building its fleet to open more routes and expand its operations. The airline went on to lease several more aircraft from other financial institutions. The planes were to be flown throughout Europe for this commercial carrier but a few months later it was obvious that SkyEurope was in financial trouble. In September 2009, the airline declared bankruptcy and ceased operations. All the planes were grounded.
Although The Aircraft Group couldn’t predict the future when it delivered the aircraft to SkyEurope, the firm knew from its years of experience that keeping all aircraft documentation on a centralized server would ensure document integrity and offer more flexibility for transferring the aircraft in the future, if necessary. In the case with SkyEurope, repossession of the two aircraft that The Aircraft Group supplied was as easy as arranging for a crew to fly the aircraft out of the country. Unfortunately, the other aircraft Lessors were not as fortunate.
Several others of SkyEurope’s Lessors are now burdened with the additional task of researching and recreating the necessary documentation history. Without SkyEurope’s staff on hand, the costly task is left for a hired team to go onsite and reassemble the documentation. Oftentimes there are 200,000 to 400,000 documents per aircraft making research and recreation a herculean effort. Making matters worse, the aircraft are sitting idle and incurring storage fees while not producing any revenue.
The Aircraft Group created the optimum system for SkyEurope by supplying the planes and providing secure access to all necessary documentation. This allowed SkyEurope personnel to operate maintenance checks, airworthiness records, flight histories and more while the original hard copy documents remained with the Lessor. Not only was this convenient during operations giving instantaneous access to any document, it allowed for immediate removal of the aircraft when SkyEurope became insolvent, saving everyone time, money and aggravation.
“Technology now offers us incredible flexibility and convenience while still providing security. Unfortunately, many companies do not take advantage of automation on the front-end and end up paying dearly for it on the back-end. We see this scenario time and time again and are hoping that in the future online recordkeeping will be as commonplace as it is in other industries,” commented Walter Andrushenko, president of The Aircraft Group.
Good Recordkeeping Makes a Strong Case
In November 2009 the courts resolved a return condition dispute between U.S. Bank National Association and Southwest Airlines. At the center of this dispute was the provision of the lease that permitted the lessee to substitute engines and parts with those of “equivalent value and utility,” a common clause in agreements in the ‘80s and ‘90s. At question were three Boeing aircraft leased to Southwest Airlines by U.S. Bank National Association. The argument centered on the interpretation of ‘value and utility’ and whether the modifications to the aircraft were inferior and ultimately devalued the aircraft upon return. Key to the case was the aircraft records as well as an overall knowledge of aircraft maintenance and operations. The Aircraft Group was able to assist in both these areas.
The Aircraft Group had the original records on the Boeing aircraft and was able to supply accurate and detailed documentation on the condition of the plane from the beginning of the lease to its return. These records were important to determine if the replacement parts were inferior to their originals. In addition, The Aircraft Group personnel were brought in as expert witnesses due to their extensive knowledge in aircraft operations and maintenance. Their knowledge of what is customary and what is not was significant to the case. Ultimately, the court found in favor of U.S. Bank National Association.
This case proved pivotal in how lessors and lessees interpret aircraft maintenance clauses going forward. Quality recordkeeping is necessary in ensuring that the equipment is maintained properly and replacement parts are appropriate throughout the life of the aircraft.
If you’d like to learn more about this case you’ll find a comprehensive article at http://www.vedderprice.com/docs/pub/23fcc1e6-b861-4462-b70f-fd60a505ccb1_document.pdf
The Aircraft Group had the original records on the Boeing aircraft and was able to supply accurate and detailed documentation on the condition of the plane from the beginning of the lease to its return. These records were important to determine if the replacement parts were inferior to their originals. In addition, The Aircraft Group personnel were brought in as expert witnesses due to their extensive knowledge in aircraft operations and maintenance. Their knowledge of what is customary and what is not was significant to the case. Ultimately, the court found in favor of U.S. Bank National Association.
This case proved pivotal in how lessors and lessees interpret aircraft maintenance clauses going forward. Quality recordkeeping is necessary in ensuring that the equipment is maintained properly and replacement parts are appropriate throughout the life of the aircraft.
If you’d like to learn more about this case you’ll find a comprehensive article at http://www.vedderprice.com/docs/pub/23fcc1e6-b861-4462-b70f-fd60a505ccb1_document.pdf
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