Software

MTrax: Maintenance Tracking Made Simple

TData's MTrax maintenance-tracking software is extremely simple to set up and use and is ideal for tracking multiple-aircraft fleets and for tracking customer aircraft. MTrax can also be used by aircraft owners for maintenance tracking, if they're willing to spend $1,498 to computerize their maintenance schedule.

For a maintenance shop, MTrax provides an opportunity to sell maintenance-tracking services. MTrax can handle an almost unlimited number of customer or fleet aircraft, limited only by the size of the hard drive on which it is installed. For operators, MTrax offers a reasonably priced maintenance tracking system that replaces the traditional flight operation whiteboard or a more expensive service from an OEM or other provider.

MTrax installs quickly. While there is a help menu, I was able to avoid having to consult it and was able to add my airplane and almost a dozen trackable items to the program in about 10 minutes. One important note: make sure to have the current tach or Hobbs time available to input when setting up each aircraft.

For a simple airplane, setting up MTrax doesn't take long. Each new item can be split among five categories: AD, service info, inspection, component, and publication. After selecting the category, the user selects how to track that item, whether by hours, cycles, RIN (retirement index number), or "Date ONLY." The annual inspection, for example, is calendar time, so I input the date of the last annual and when it is due next.

There is no specific category for certain items, such as static/transponder tests due every two years, but it's easy to use the inspection category then write the items in the description. The same can be done for life-limited parts, parts like air filters that need to be changed on a regular basis, and any other item that needs tracking. Anything can be tracked, including tool calibration, pilot training events, medical exam dates, mechanic training, etc.

Tabs are used for each major portion of an aircraft, such as airframe, engine, propeller, APU. TData plans to offer user-customizable tabs in a future version, according to Bob Maroldy, TData tech support and staff IA.

Whenever the current flight hour number is input into MTrax, the program automatically flows the hours down to the airframe, engine/s, propellers, etc. so their times are current. But the APU time is kept separate, because it doesn't always run when the aircraft is logging flight time. Some helicopter operators use the APU tab to track time on other intermittently operated equipment such as winches, and TData plans to offer user-customizable tabs for those kinds of items. Another useful feature is that each engine or propeller has its own hour meter, so they can be tracked separately.

After everything is input, click on the "due list" button, and the "refresh" button and everything is listed in descending order of either days, hours, or cycles left until due. The due list can be printed as a report. Many other reports are available, too, such as summary lists, maintenance status, and a full detail report, plus users can create their own special reports. Reports can also be exported in a variety of formats such as Excel, database, Adobe pdf, and others, and they can be sent via email, too. This is handy when the data is needed by another entity, perhaps an avionics or mod shop that is different than the aircraft's normal maintenance facility.

The component-tracking category is a little confusing at first, because it doesn't track by actual hours or calendar time. For components, you have to enter the expected average flight time based on the operating history of the aircraft. If the aircraft averages three hours a day, then the component time remaining will be calculated based on that average. Component tracking is useful for forecasting purposes. Simply change the average hours to see how that affects the remaining life on the component.

Setting up a new aircraft is easy because TData offers templates for some common aircraft. TData can also build custom templates for specific aircraft. For a multiengine aircraft, once the data is entered for one engine, the user can simply copy that data for the other engine instead of re-inputting all the information, then make any necessary changes. The same can be done for a fleet of the same type of aircraft. "It really saves a lot of time," Maroldy said.

The latest version of MTrax color codes due-list items so the user can quickly see what is coming due soon (yellow) and what is due now (red). Users can also insert their company logo in MTrax, so that their logo will appear on reports printed out for customers.

Maroldy said that MTrax users vary from owners of one aircraft to helicopter operators and even some small airlines. "The whole premise," he said, "is to try and keep it simple." Some maintenance shops are using MTrax to offer maintenance tracking services to their customers. By obtaining a current tach or Hobbs time, the shop can update the information in MTrax then keep the owner apprised of coming-due items such as recurring airworthiness directives, inspections, life-limited parts, oil changes, etc. "They won't have to worry," he said, "that if they get ramp-checked [by the FAA] that they'll be busted."

MTrax, which runs on Windows PCs, costs $1,498, which includes two user licenses and two years of unlimited support. After that, continued support is available for $199 a year. Buyers can opt to pay $749 for the first year and $749 for the second year, and then they own the program. The only limitation with this plan is that the first payment includes only one user license, although it does include full support for the first year. The second payment of $749 includes the second license and full ownership of MTrax and the second year of support. If the buyer doesn't pay for the second year, then the program stops working after the first year is over. Buyers can also purchase additional user licenses for $199 each. -- By Matt Thurber