Fly Safe, Fly Smart: Digital Transformation of Maintenance Tracking for Enhanced Aviation Safety

The aviation industry is evolving faster than ever, with technology at the forefront of maintaining and operating aircraft. Safety and efficiency aren't just buzzwords—they're critical factors directly affecting the bottom line and operational success.

This year's NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE) showcased this transformation, where Veryon took center stage. Hosting a session titled Fly Safe, Fly Smart: Digital Transformation of Maintenance Tracking for Enhanced Aviation Safety, Veryon brought together seasoned professionals to discuss how digital innovations are reshaping how we approach aircraft maintenance. 

Led by Kris Volrath, Senior Vice President of Product for Veryon, the panel featured insights from:

• Brad Ongna, Senior Manager of Maintenance and Ground Operations, Stryker
• John Carter, Jet Director of Maintenance, Reynolds
• Alex Talarczyk, Vice President of Maintenance, Four Corners Aviation

Together, they painted a vivid picture of how the industry changes—from paper logbooks and spreadsheets to fully digital, data-driven maintenance environments.

The shift to digital maintenance tracking: why this matters now more than ever

For decades, maintenance teams relied heavily on paper-based processes, manually filling out logbooks, tracking maintenance tasks on spreadsheets, and sorting through piles of documentation. This approach often led to bottlenecks, inaccuracies, and unnecessary downtime. It's no wonder that companies that embraced digital maintenance tracking are seeing substantial gains in productivity and safety.

The reality is apparent: sticking with outdated, manual methods is no longer viable in an industry that thrives on precision and speed. 

Veryon's role in this transformation

Veryon is at the forefront of this digital shift, offering solutions like Veryon Tracking that help operators move from cumbersome paperwork to streamlined, real-time maintenance management. Here's how:

• Automated tracking and alerts keep maintenance tasks from slipping through the cracks.
• Real-time updates allow maintenance teams to work from anywhere, accessing essential data right on the flight line.
• Integrated work order systems cut down on repetitive data entry, freeing up time for critical tasks. 

John Carter shared his experience on the benefits of transitioning to a digital system:

"One of the first organizations where I saw the need for software, there were planners, mechanics, and finance people all in a repair station documenting and writing almost the same thing over and over again just to get through the process of maintaining an aircraft to the building of it. It was a total waste of headcount and time."  

The problem isn't just inefficiency—the increased risk of errors, delays, and non-compliance with FAA and EASA regulations. Many operators have recently moved to digital maintenance tracking systems, but integration remains a challenge.

Brad Ongna pointed out the need for more cohesive systems: 

"No matter what tracking system you have—Veryon, CAMP, whatever you're using—just a better integration within the tracking system is what we need." 

How is Veryon solving these challenges

Veryon Tracking is designed to eliminate inefficiencies and improve integration, allowing maintenance teams to:

• Track maintenance in real-time, reducing delays and human error.
• Access up-to-date aircraft status from anywhere with cloud-based tracking.
• Automate compliance workflows, keeping everything organized and audit-ready.
• Integrate work orders with tracking systems, streamlining data across platforms

John Carter shared how going digital changed everything for his team: 

"When I joined the company I'm with now, there was no maintenance, no tools, nothing. The Director of Maintenance before me would call a vendor to come to do maintenance, and that wasn't very efficient or timely because we were always waiting on someone else. So, we started our maintenance organization within the past year, and I immediately implemented software. With a very small team, our fleet doubled within a few months, so I brought in all these mechanics. Had we not implemented software, I think we would be drowning in work right now." 

Veryon Tracking provides seamless integration across maintenance tracking, work orders, and inventory, helping operators scale efficiently without getting buried in manual processes.

Data-driven decision making: turning information into action

One of the most significant advantages of digital maintenance tracking is the ability to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Instead of reacting to problems after they occur, operators can identify trends, predict failures, and take action early.

John Carter described a situation where leveraging data changed the game for his team: 

"As far as mining data, when I was at one of the larger operators with a ton of airplanes, a certain engine manufacturer was having issues with fuel control—a certain part was wearing out. We collected the information internally from our company and our airplanes to make a calculated decision on replacing those fuel control units at this threshold faster earlier than the manufacturer. So that was just one of probably many scenarios where data mining or collecting data from digital software is beneficial." 

How Veryon Tracking powers data-driven maintenance

Veryon Tracking gives maintenance teams the visibility, automation, and intelligence to make informed decisions and keep aircraft flying safely and efficiently.

• Real-time aircraft status provides up-to-the-minute tracking of maintenance events, ensuring teams always know the current condition of their aircraft.
• Automated compliance management helps operators stay ahead of airworthiness directives (ADs), service bulletins (SBs), and scheduled maintenance tasks.
• Fleet-wide data analysis captures maintenance history and trends across multiple aircraft, allowing operators to make data-driven decisions about fleet performance.
• Cloud-based accessibility enables maintenance teams to access records, update logs, and coordinate repairs from anywhere—reducing delays and improving coordination.

Alex Talarczyk shared a real-world example of how digital tracking helped his team avoid an unnecessary engineering expense: 

"I had a Lear 45. Let's call it the 2002 or an earlier model. The first operator that had that airplane did a minor modification to the wirings of the galley drain system, and it was in cursive—old-school log entry. You wouldn't think the optical character recognition would pick that up, but sure enough, their system picked it up. Everybody's like, 'Where's the A110? Why is this not wired the way it should be?' We were about to spend another $10,000 to $15,000 getting an engineer involved to reinvent the wheel. Instead, I typed it into Bluetail, and it popped up instantly, explaining that they had isolated the solenoid out of the circuit as a minor modification." 

Veryon's advanced data retrieval and analytics allow maintenance teams to cut unnecessary costs, improve accuracy, and make informed decisions faster.

Navigating workforce challenges: technology as the key to efficiency

The aviation industry is in the midst of a labor crunch, with a shortage of skilled technicians posing a significant challenge. Training new personnel while maintaining operational efficiency is a balancing act—and this is where technology makes a real difference.

John Carter emphasized the importance of having the right tools for his team: 

"I have a core group of guys with a lot of history and experience, but they're all learning all of this different software. The training is almost on the fly. But finding the right individuals in the organization who can pick it up quickly and can help manage the software, make sure they're talking to each other, and make sure we're not overflying stuff. I don't know how I would possibly sit with an Excel spreadsheet and do what we're doing. It's not even possible."  

How Veryon supports technicians and teams

• Veryon Publications provides instant access to updated manuals, eliminating wasted time searching for maintenance data.
• Mobile-friendly solutions allow technicians to view work orders and track maintenance from anywhere.
• User-friendly dashboards help new team members onboard quickly and work efficiently

Alex Talarczyk emphasized how organizations need to create a culture of technology adoption: 

"You create the culture that everybody has to figure out, including how we do things, what software, and what tools we're using. If you look back to the days of Excel spreadsheets or even people using whiteboards to track their maintenance, that was a huge undertaking when all the early maintenance tracking providers came out. But now, maintenance tracking is already the norm." 

As the industry evolves, organizations must foster a culture of continuous learning and technology adoption. Early resistance to digital tools often gives way to increased efficiency and job satisfaction as teams experience firsthand the benefits of streamlined workflows. 

The future of aviation maintenance is digital

The shift to digital isn't just about improving efficiency—it's about transforming aviation maintenance at its core. Operators who embrace digital solutions will minimize downtime, reduce costs, and keep their aircraft flying longer.

With Veryon, operators gain access to integrated digital tracking, predictive analytics, and automation tools that reduce the burden on maintenance teams while improving overall safety and efficiency.

👉 Contact us today for a free demo and see how Veryon can take your maintenance operations to the next level.