Maintenance Innovations at EAA AirVenture 2019

Pratt & Whitney Canada has just launched an app called Know My PT6 geared toward connecting PT6 engine customers with customized, curated content to better understand their aircraft’s engine. The company says the app is a “digital gateway to maintenance recommendations and to the services and facilities that P&W offers through its global customer service network for engine maintainers, owners, operators and pilots.”

In addition to engine information, notifications about relevant service bulletins, and a map to help customers easily find authorized service centers and parts distributors, Know My PT6 even curates how-to articles for engine maintenance within a newsfeed.

SharkTank-funded Grypmat is a flexible, aircraft-safe solution to keep track of tools while performing aircraft maintenance. The non-magnetic tool mat flexes around curved surfaces and keeps tools in place thanks to its high-grip material.

According to the company, the product is chemical and heat resistant up to 500F, protects aircraft from scratches and can be easily cleaned with soap and water. Grypmat says the product, which comes in a variety of sizes for various aircraft types, is used at a number of commercial and regional airlines.

Making its first public debut at EAA AirVenture, Crewchief Systems is a new app to manage maintenance, operations and compliance within the general aviation space. The app allows users to see when maintenance will be due, receive personalized alerts about airworthiness directives and service bulletins, digitalize maintenance history and logbooks, and review analytics and reports specific to the aircraft’s usage.

The company is working on starting its maintenance facility network and building a version of the app called Crewchief MX geared more toward maintenance staff rather than pilots.

Launching at EAA AirVenture, X-naut’s iPad Cooling Case hopes to solve the problem of tablet overheating in the field. The product, which was tested in the heat of the Australian Outback, uses temperature sensing technology and low noise fans powered by rechargeable lithium batteries to prevent overheating of tablets in the aviation industry.

The newly developed Flexgrip Series product line features additional accessories such as a kickstand and a rotating hand strap for better grip. The product can also comes with a Magpower Grip and Receiver for docking and charging.

iaero’s APIBox is a solid-state digital flight data monitoring system for general, business and military aviation customers. According to the company, the system can be leveraged for predictive maintenance benefits through maintenance trend monitoring and failure analysis, which it says reduces overall maintenance costs.

iaero says APIBOX can be installed easily on both rotary and fixed wing aircraft models due to its small size, light weight and modularity. Customers can download flight data to their personal computer after each flight via SD card and review it using the system’s accompanying Analysis Software.