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AMS III Clients go Online

AMS III Clients go Online

Clients start conversion

Avdex first AMS clients have moved over to the new web based AMS III.  It is with great excitement that the Avdex staff gave training and watched anxiously as the first clients converted.  Conversion of the old data went smoothly, and the new clients were quickly up and running.

Adapting to the new interface

The basic program flow remained the same and this is valuable for users to understand the structure of new AMSIII.  The user interface is different, and we were surprised to see how quickly new users adapted to the new interface.  Avdex focused on user interaction during the new design through the various web pages.  This has the advantage that the learning experience is much quicker.

AMS as industry standard

AMS has become an industry standard over the years.  The industry has change, and new requirements were regularly implemented.  Over time it was evident that the original AMS32 structure requires some redesign to accommodate new features and requirements.  The new AMSlll is a product of a 4-year development process to incorporate the latest programming trends as well as new features to improve the user experience and support AMO’s in their goals.

Conversion process

The conversion process starts with cleaning up of the existing AMS database.  This is followed by a trial conversion and staff training.  Staff are then able to work on actual data in a test environment to become familiar with the new version.  This is then followed by a final conversion to live AMS III.  The old data is still available in old AMS32 as reference, but this database is now static.  All historical data is accessible in AMS III after the conversion and users can continue where they left off.

How to proceed

A conversion schedule has been implemented by Avdex due to the training time required.

Contact Avdex to schedule your conversion.

 

AMR – Aircraft Maintenance & Reliability Implemented

AMR – Aircraft Maintenance & Reliability Implemented

Overview

Avdex is implementing a system to keep track of aircraft reliability in order to assist clients with better information to manage their aircraft fleet.  Aircraft Maintenance & Reliability (AMR) is defined by a number of factors related to the aircraft usage and scheduled as well as unscheduled maintenance.  Most of the information required is already captured in the two main Avdex packages; AMP (Aircraft Maintenance Planning) and AMS (Aircraft Maintenance Software) and it makes sense to combine the information for the clients.

User Interface

Minor changes in the existing programs are already incorporated into AMP and AMS to share data between the programs.  This is done by linking aircraft components between AMP and AMS.  The component linking allows the sharing of task scheduling and maintenance tasks.

Existing AMP users will notice that aircraft usage now has an optional new field to identify maintenance as “In” or “Out” of service.  Users can record the usage as “Out of Service” when maintenance starts and then record another usage as “In Service” when the aircraft is returned to service.   This will provide statistics on the “Out of Service” times.  Users can go back historically and record “Out of Service” usage dates as all existing AMP usage defaulted to “In Service” usage.

Although this field is available to all clients, it is not compulsory and the information in this new field has no influence on the existing AMP maintenance planning functionality.  The default is set as “In Service”

Implementation

AMP and AMS clients can select to include this service as an additional option.  To use Aircraft Reliability (AMR) users must be an AMP client, being an AMS client would provide addition detail information to the reliability statistics of the aircraft.

AMR will be gradually implemented following this first phase to record “Out of Service” times.  User input is welcomed at this stage.

AMS Redesigned for the cloud

Motivation to redesign

The Avdex Aircraft Maintenance Software (AMS) program has long been the standard in AMO management in Southern Africa. Although the program has been stable and mature for a number of years, the database platform is somewhat outdated and limiting for any new developments. Avdex took the decision to rewrite the application in 2016 to make use of the latest technologies available. This was driven by concerns and the need to implement new features while keeping up with industry requirements and expectations. Development was completed at the end of 2018 and extensive testing and fine tuning has been done in 2019. It is with great excitement that we are now ready to roll this out live.

New Features

The main difference is that the program is now web based on central servers. This allows the utilization of powerful SQL database engines with regular backups at 15 minutes intervals. All data storage and archive materials are stored in a secure cloud storage facility. The cloud-based application removes the dependence on user maintenance of the program and database. Users are also not limited to on site access of AMS as log in can be done from anywhere, if they have access to the internet. The cloud-based data also allows for the incorporation of mobile phones with internet access. Users can for example book in and out of tasks with their mobile phone, scan inventory bar codes to check stock or issue parts to a Task Card.
Work pack (job) history is now maintained, even if the aircraft hours and cycles increased since the completion of the Work pack. Recording of workers time has been greatly improved with additional functionality. A number of new levels of control have been implemented to make AMS more flexible to for different requirements.
The new AMS interface is modern with various cross-linking options where the work-flow requires users to jump from purchase orders to stores, task cards or back. Avdex have maintained the same AMO management concepts as the previous version.

Migration to the new system

It is recommended that the AMS data is moved in two phases, firstly to allow users to test the new interface and get familiar with the new environment, while maintaining the old program use and data. Once users are ready, the latest data can be converted to make the new AMS live. Please contact Avdex if you are interested testing and evaluation.
Development has stopped on the old AMS and support as well as access to old AMS will be discontinued by end 2023.  This gives all customers enough time to plan the conversion and associated training.

AMP Compliance Certification Archive

AMP – Aircraft Compliance Certification Archive Service

The Avdex Aircraft Maintenance Planning (AMP) system recently added a facility to allow the online archiving of aircraft related documents from within the application.  This is a unique service and users quickly started to realize the value of such an archive service.

The logical next step is to keep individual task card compliance certificates also in the archive.  Users can upload proof of compliance to the archive from within the program.  These documents can then be downloaded at any time when the certificate is required.

Record keeping is often a problem when an aircraft changes owner or AMO.  The ability to track a specific compliance certificate is a capability that will be difficult to achieve with any manual archive system.  When an aircraft changes hands this archive history can be transferred with the aircraft to the new owners.  As tasks are linked to the individual components, the certificates remain linked to the component, even if it is moved to another aircraft.

The certificate uploading and downloading is maintained by the AMP user directly and documents can be added at any time.  The certificate will automatically expire when new compliance is recorded, but the document will be maintained as an older revision of the relevant task.  Older documents will be available on request.

Due to the critical nature of these documents, a secure cloud server has been selected for storage of this data.  Although the upload process has a practical size restriction, the total available space for the aircraft archive is unlimited.   The archive facility is immediately available to all existing users.

Contact Avdex at amp@avdex.co.za to get more information on the implementation of an aircraft archive.

AMP – Aircraft Document Archive Service

The Avdex Aircraft Maintenance Planning (AMP) system has grown to become a South African Aviation industry standard.  This system is widely used by AMO’s and Operators to track and manage aircraft maintenance.  The Avdex team realized that documentation of aircraft history is critical to ensure an accurate reflection of the status of maintenance.

Record keeping is often a problem when an aircraft changes owner or AMO.  As many aircraft remain on the AMP system when owner or AMO changes, it would be ideal to keep records in a common cloud archive linked to the aircraft through the AMP system.  This central archive has huge benefits to the responsible person involved.   Answering audit queries or verifying maintenance becomes much easier.

The cloud archives are maintained by the AMP users directly and documents, logbooks, work packs, certificates etc. can be added at any time.  An aircraft report is available showing all documents in the archive with a direct link for downloading of the documents at a later stage.

Due to the critical nature of these documents, a secure cloud server has been selected for storage of this data.  Although uploading large files could slow the system down, the total available space for the aircraft archive is unlimited.  Storage space is based on a fair use policy and has no additional cost to the client.  The archive facility is immediately available to all existing users.  Contact Avdex at amp@avdex.co.za to activate your account per user login and more detailed instructions for the implementation of an aircraft archive.