Unique service helps you maintain logs, but also offers much more!

By ANN Reporter Juan Jimenez

Short of the shock of suddenly hearing silence where there was previously the sound of a running engine while the wheels are still well off the ground, most aircraft owners would agree that there are few things scarier than the thought of losing your aircraft logbooks and not having a backup, somewhere, to replace them. This one event can create an impressive amount of grief, not only because of the instant devaluation of the aircraft by as much as twenty percent or more due to incomplete logs, but also because of issues such as insurance documentation requirements, liability, and the potential inability to prove that required work was done to the aircraft.

It is obvious that people who own aircraft are aware of the importance of their logs. However, most aircraft owners don't realize how much information can be gleaned from the books. It is into this niche that Mr. Thomas Goodwin, president of PlaneLog.Com, decided to enter with a vision of a service that focuses on those all-important logbooks.

At its core, PlaneLog.Com uses the power of the World Wide Web to simplify the task of keeping aircraft logbooks up to date. Its software is designed to ensure that all FAA required maintenance is performed so your insurance remains in effect when you need it the most. This includes all AD's as well as all mandatory factory Service Bulletins for all components of your aircraft. The software also tracks TBO's for critical items and contains alerts to let you know when a component is due for replacement. The data for your logs is backed up continuously, but it should be noted that it is not meant to be used as a replacement for your regular logs and the normal care of these documents.

In addition, the service can also identify trends for you. For example, one of PlaneLog's customers was not aware that the vacuum pump on the aircraft was failing more or less about the same time every time it stopped working - approximately every four years. Identifying this trend helps him avoid a potential vacuum failure situation. Normally this wouldn't be such a big deal - except this customer flies heavy IMC on a regular basis. Log analyses can help you extract information from the history of your aircraft, everything from instrument errors to the average life of important components, such as your engine mags.

PlaneLog can also scan your logs and enter them into the computer for you. This service is not for everyone - if the aircraft is older there are several logbooks, the work can take some time to complete. However, once the work is done, you can go to the PlaneLog.Com website, login and view any and all pages of your logbooks. This means that you can print out critical pages, or simply look for information without having to retrieve the logbooks from their safe storage location.

Finally, for those interested in the service, PlaneLog includes a tour of its services on its website. You will also find that the service is offered on a 30-day free trial basis.

FMI: www.planelog.com