Page 50 - World Airnews News July 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

FLIGHTDOCS MERGES WITH

AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL

PUBLISHERS

by Jerry Siebenmark

Cloud-based maintenance-tracking
company Flightdocs has merged with
Aircraft Technical Publishers (ATP) in a
move aimed at creating a comprehensive
provider of software and information ways, even though when the discussions having it in the ATP fold also presents op-
services to the business, commercial, and with ATP started three months ago, a portunities for expanded or new products
military aviation sectors. merger was the last thing he was planning. and services, Noble explained. “It’s not just
Under the ATP umbrella, the combined “We originally were in the market to raise sort of putting the two companies together
offerings of each company include aircraft additional capital and move the company and leaving it at that.”
maintenance tracking, troubleshooting, forward to…ultimately to try to get to the At that top of the post-merger to-do list is
recurring defect analysis, inventory top spot [in maintenance tracking market enabling Flightdocs’ maintenance custom-
management, and flight scheduling, as well share],” Heine said. But when they began ers access to ATP’s Aviation Hub’s technical
as a library of technical publications and talking, Heine said with ATP’s footprint documents. Also, a third of ATP’s Aviation
regulatory content. in the market, as well as its depth, size, Hub revenue comes from international
ATP CEO Rick Noble said that his company scope, and products, “there were so many customers. Noble said his company will use
experimented with the maintenance synergies there that coming together really those relationships to expand Flightdocs’
tracking business but was “late to the made a lot of sense.” It was also a deal that market share overseas, where it will face
game” and “couldn’t gain any traction,” so he claimed benefits Flightdocs’ customers competition from existing products. “I’m
“for ATP it really was an easy decision” to and employees. “It was a win, win, win really confident we’re going to have the
merge. across the board,” he said. same success there that Flightdocs has had
ATP’s Aviation Hub, offered under “When you put all those things together in the U.S.,” he said.
ATP Information Services, supplies OEM and you look at the future, we’re pretty Noble added that the merged company
technical and regulatory publications that much in the business aviation world,” Heine also will look at the feasibility of offering
are updated in real-time, while its Software explained. versions of SpotLight and ChronicX to
Solutions division in Canada provides “But the ATP combination allows us to corporate flight departments. “I only
defect management and interactive go through commercial, military, and back half-jokingly said the other day that there’s
troubleshooting software under the brands again, bringing their products and services so many opportunities here that we run the
of ChronicX and SpotLight. into business aviation. It also really brings risk of trying to do everything and accom-
With the merger, ATP serves 75,000 the products and services [customers of plish nothing,” Noble said. “So we’re going
maintenance personnel at 7,500 MROs and Flightdocs] wanted to their flight depart- to have to figure out pretty early on what
flight departments in 137 countries. ments and makes their experiences better.” the top two or three things are and really
According to Flightdocs CEO Rick Heine, While Flightdocs products and services focus on those before we start moving on
the merger makes sense in a variety of expand and round out ATP’s offerings, to the next. Q

WOMEN IN
AVIATION
GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY

female pilots and aviation charge. Many organizations including
enthusiasts. The 2019 Girls Starting September 26, girls AOPA are doing their part to
Women in Aviation in Aviation Day was a huge around the world between the introduce more women and
International announced that success with more than 20,000 ages of 8 and 17 will be able to minorities to opportunities
its annual Girls in Aviation Day attendees participating in access exclusive content such in aviation. In the 2019-2020
event will take place virtually. 119 events in 18 countries. as career panel videos, hands- school year, 22 percent of the
In its sixth year, Girls in This year the virtual event is on activities, virtual tours, students in AOPA’s You Can
Aviation Day has garnered made possible through the scholarships, and mentoring Fly High School Aviation STEM
curriculum are female, while
new Aviation for Girls app and
a huge following of aspiring opportunities.
will be available to all free of 37 percent are minorities. Q
World Airnews | July Extra 2020
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