AOG Services and Solutions with Top-Notch Support

AOG (short for “Aircraft on Ground”) solutions and services are a crucial part of the airline industry. When planes are unexpectedly delayed due to mechanical or technological issues, AOG solutions are there to fix things as soon as possible and get the plane back in the air. AOG service providers are experts in getting the right parts to the plane and installed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

AOG solutions are the answer when issues (generally mechanical or technological issues) keep an aircraft grounded.  Depending on the issue at hand, AOG solutions may include the following:

J.A. Air Center has a Class IV Part 145 Repair Station which is FAA Authorized and EASA Approved. We offer AOG solutions and aircraft maintenance in the Chicagoland area. AOG solutions at J.A. Air Center include services for almost every airframe and engine event on numerous models of jet, turboprop, and piston aircraft.

AOG solutions are not just necessary for commercial airlines. Even though private pilots are not transporting hundreds of people, AOG solutions are still essential in the event of an unexpected issue. For example, you may be chartering passengers or have an important trip for a business deadline: the longer you are on the ground, the higher are the costs you have to face. Knowing how to use AOG solutions and what your options are to get your aircraft operational again can help with your peace of mind and expedite fixing your aircraft’s issues when you find yourself unexpectedly grounded.

Being grounded due to technical or mechanical problems is a stressful experience, to say the least. You don’t know how long the repairs will take or how much they will cost. On top of this, your plans for the day may be extremely delayed, if not totally thrown out the window. Although it can be easy to become overwhelmed if or when this happens, remember that there are solutions for these problems. AOG solutions are meant to help pilots get back in the air as soon as possible after being grounded. Contact an AOG provider if you need help — and, if you need AOG solutions in the Chicago area or northern Illinois, feel free to contact J.A. Air Center for our AOG solutions.

Ideally, you hope to never need to use AOG solutions, but it is important to know ahead of time what you will do, just in case. The stakes for private plane owners and pilots are lower because you do not need to worry about the monetary loss from passengers transferring to a different airline. Still, being unexpectedly grounded complicates plans and runs up a bill. Further, if you are flying for profit, you want to maintain customer goodwill and loyalty by keeping delays to a minimum.

To minimize the fallout from AOG, it is a good idea to know what options for AOG solutions are out there, and who you can work with to fix your aircraft with the most efficiency. Time is the most important part of AOG, so it’s good to be aware of the locations of AOG service providers near the locations where you normally fly.

Advanced aircraft health monitoring systems are hugely helpful when you need to use AOG solutions. These systems allow problems to be diagnosed in real-time, and the information can be easily sent to and accessed by AOG service providers. This real-time diagnosis and communication helps streamline the AOG solution process, so the AOG service provider is ready with the parts you need as soon as you land.

What if you are an AOG service provider? Because AOG solutions are a vital part of the airline market, providers need to stay on their toes to provide the best services available in the industry. Staying up to date with technological advances and maximizing efficiency with transport are both key parts of keeping a strong presence in the market.

The rapidly expanding technology market has helpful applications for AOG service providers. Because time is such a priority when providing AOG solutions, anything you can use to reduce time is valuable. Some good technology options to implement in providing AOG solutions include web-based inventory systems. Through the search and find feature, these inventory systems cut down on time when you are looking for a specific part. Web-based inventory systems can also help you track the location of your parts, so you can know the location of the parts you need at any given time.

Another good resource for AOG service providers is route optimization software. While a standard GPS is helpful, route optimization software takes this to a higher level by finding the most efficient routes so you can prioritize speed. Route optimization software also helps you circumvent any roadblocks, like accidents or closures, with more speed and accuracy than that of an everyday GPS.

The piece of technology with the most applications in AOG solutions is 3-D printing. By using 3-D printing, you can make some of the aircraft parts yourself with a cost-effective material. Due to advancements in the technology used to make 3-D printers, the price tag on 3-D printers has gone down and they are a valuable investment. 3-D printing technology allows aircraft parts that traditionally would need to be created with multiple molds (and then be fused together) to be printed in one solid piece instead. Because of this, 3-D printing can significantly cut down on the time needed to create a part—by anywhere from a few hours to over a week. And, if the alternative is to purchase a missing part and have it shipped from another location, 3-D printing eliminates the delay that would otherwise be spent on shipping. 3-D printers can also use metal alloy-based materials to print, so you don’t have to compromise on the quality of the parts. Of course, you can’t 3-D print every part, but for the parts you can print, it is a time- and cost-effective option that can be greatly helpful to providing AOG solutions.

Because time is of the essence when providing AOG solutions, transit is one of—if not the—most important areas in which to maximize efficiency. If you are shipping parts in the continental United States, you can ship them by using a two-person driver team to save on time while still following U.S. driver regulations. This method is also more cost-effective than shipping via airplane, so it is worth doing if possible.

However, because most AOG service providers also work outside of the continental United States, using ground shipping exclusively is not an option. If you need to ship parts internationally, combined air and ground AOG solutions are a good option. Though this method requires extensive coordination between drivers, pilots, and aircraft maintenance technicians, it is well worth it for the efficiency and speed. By using a combination of expedited ground shipping and reliable air shipping, you can keep the part moving almost constantly, cutting down on wasted transition time and minimizing delays.

When you are shipping parts and materials to different countries, you have another set of obstacles on top of standard shipping timelines: customs. Getting the required parts through customs can be an ordeal, and because time is essential, the additional delay can be especially frustrating. While customs are unavoidable, it is helpful to at least know which countries have easier customs processes. With this knowledge, you can create a route that stops in these countries (rather than other countries) as often as possible. This way, you can minimize your stopping time en route and get the parts to the aircraft in need as soon as possible.

J.A. Air Center offers AOG solutions to local and transient customers at any airport in the Chicago area and northern Illinois. We understand that AOG solutions require a quick response. Our extensive parts inventory and supporting avionics and interior shops enable us to get your plane back in the air with limited downtime. If you have any questions about our AOG solutions, you can check out our maintenance page or contact us .