A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

Web Manuals (Booth C8709), developer of digital documentation services for the aviation industry, is here at NBAA 2017 highlighting the benefits of digital document management. The subscription service solves the vexing problem of managing the ever-changing library of documents that aviation requires to operate safely and meet regulatory compliance—whether for pilots, maintenance or other operational personnel. With the constant revision and updating of regulatory and procedural information, simply knowing whether the version in hand is current, or what has changed in it, can be difficult. Web Manuals tracks all relevant aviation information sources and publications, and continuously updates its electronic library, informing clients when revisions occur and what has changed. Martin Lidgard, the company’s founder and CEO, calls Web Manuals “basically Google Docs on steroids.”

 


The Swedish firm arrives here in Las Vegas following a growth spurt that has seen its U.S. customer base—which includes Tradewind Aviation—double to 20 in the last six months. “During last year’s conference, we forecasted 2017 to be a very strong year for us,” said Lidgard, noting the most recent customers include five Fortune 500 companies with Part 91 flight operations.

 


Here at the show, the company is debuting Web Manuals 6.2 and a new version of its iPad app, both with a number of features the company is eager to show attendees. Lidgard believes “any operator that is striving to work actively on improving safety knowledge and compliance will see very clearly the benefits in using our tools.”

 


Indeed, half its clients are registered to the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), a voluntary code of best practices developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and its member associations, emphasizing high levels of safety and professionalism. IS-BAO operators—numbering more than 700 worldwide—establish their own aviation manuals and operational documentation, making Web Manuals an ideal solution to their document management needs, Lidgard said. “Our software application significantly reduces the associated conformance workload by easing the digitization, authoring and distribution of documents, and automatically cross-referencing them against the standard.”

 


IBAC’s IS-BAO and IS-BAH standards are available to Web Manuals’ customers as integrated Compliance Libraries within the Web Manuals application. Like Web Manuals’ EASA and FAA Compliance Libraries, these resources automatically alert subscribing users to the sections of their manuals that require amendment to maintain compliance with IBAC standards. Following a review of document digitization services, IBAC itself became a Web Manuals customer. The organization selected Web Manuals, said Kurt Edwards, IBAC director general, “for its version control, revision management, approval workflows and unique operational adaptability.”

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.

Web Manuals Touts Digitized Doc Management 

Norwegian firm’s electronic libraries track all aviation publication revisions, keeping clients up to date and compliant

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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

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Kerry Lynch

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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.

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