Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Montreal-based Traxxall Technologies launched its business aircraft maintenance-tracking service just two years ago and has grown from having nine aircraft enrolled early last year to more than 300 aircraft now. “We continue to have lots of interest,” said Traxxall president Mark Steinbeck, “and we’re growing every month. By the end of the year, based on our projections, we should be approaching 500 aircraft.”

 


Here at EBACE, Traxxall (Booth S093) is demonstrating its unique holding area feature, which is tailored for operators in EASA countries under continuing airworthiness management organization (CAMO) programs. In the U.S., new airworthiness directives, service bulletins and inspection program changes get pushed immediately into the maintenance program, but EASA operators need these items to be reviewed and accepted by their CAMO before adding them to the “maintenance due” list. “This solves a major frustration,” Steinbeck said, “and it’s been live since Day One.”

 


Traxxall operates on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. “We’re the only cloud-based [maintenance-tracking system],” Steinbeck said, “which makes it much more secure and allows us to keep overhead costs down. We can pass the savings on to customers, and we tend to be 20- to 30 percent cheaper than our competition.”

 


Customers can access Traxxall online from any computing device and customize dashboards and reports to suit their operation. Commercial operators can easily allow regulators to access applicable sections of their Traxxall accounts to verify regulatory compliance. “It’s so intuitive,” he said, “like every other system I use in everyday life.”

 


For companies that run operations software, Traxxall can integrate with a variety of products such as RocketRoute, Rockwell Collins’s Flight Operations System (FOS) and Avianis. Others such as Seagil Software’s BART and BoldIQ’s Astro are being added. “A lot of times people try to buy one software program to solve all their needs,” Steinbeck explained, “but they end up with one that does 30 percent of the job and the rest is a compromise.” Buyers have shifted to purchasing best-of-breed programs that can work together, he added. For example, FOS users can set up their systems so that flight times are automatically updated, and this data feeds into Traxxall to keep maintenance schedules up to date. “Flight operations can see when maintenance items are due,” he said. “This opens up communication with the flight department.”

 


Traxxall users can also generate logbook entries and for digital signatures. The company’s analysts are all A&amp;P mechanics, and they are directly involved in the enrollment process when new aircraft are added to the Traxxall system. “They have more than 350 years of aviation experience,” Steinbeck said.

 


Traxxall is now developing an inventory control module, which should be released on August 1. Five customers have been beta testing the module, which will help those operators who store parts to keep track of their inventory’s value and also the expiration dates on life-limited parts. “It even goes into purchasing and shipping,” he said, so it’s an ordering module as well.”

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Traxxall Growing Into Maintenance-tracking Market

Traxxall’s maintenance-tracking service now serves more than 300 aircraft.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

Executives share their experience with system

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Executives share their experience with system

Australian Regulator Approves Textron Service Centers

Textron operates service centers in Melbourne, Perth, and Gold Coast

C&L Aerospace Tapped for Challenger Flutter Damper Mx

The company was selected by OEM Héroux-Devtek

Avcon Delivers Aerial Weapon in Florida Mosquito Fight

The Kansas-based company specializes in modifying airframes

Duncan Aviation Authorized for Honeywell APU Repairs

MRO’s Lincoln facility expects to bring work online in early 2027

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN