Electronic maintenance work cards

Abstract

A method for electronically documenting the completion of maintenance tasks in a maintenance industry which requires recordation of maintenance tasks performed, and in which required maintenance tasks are documented on a plurality of work cards, the method includes retrieving a legacy work card that is an electronic document itemizing a plurality of maintenance tasks to be performed and specifying by skill level whom may perform the itemized maintenance tasks, creating, from the legacy work card, an electronic work card including a plurality of data entry fields that include at least a sign-off field, receiving data corresponding to a designated data entry field, and modifying the electronic work card to include the received data corresponding to the designated data entry field.

1 . A method for electronically documenting the completion of maintenance tasks in a maintenance industry which requires recordation of maintenance tasks performed, and in which required maintenance tasks are documented on a plurality of work cards, the method comprising:
 retrieving a legacy work card, the legacy work card being an electronic document itemizing a plurality of maintenance tasks to be performed and specifying by skill level whom may perform the itemized maintenance tasks;   creating, from the legacy work card, an electronic work card comprising a plurality of data entry fields, the data entry fields comprising at least a sign-off field;   receiving data corresponding to a designated data entry field; and   modifying the electronic work card to include the received data corresponding to the designated data entry field.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data entry fields are selected from a group of fields consisting of one or more task notes inputs, one or more maintenance personnel sign-off inputs, and a task inspection readiness input. 
     
     
         3 . A system for documenting maintenance tasks, which are performed on an aircraft and which are documented on a plurality of electronic work cards, the system comprising:
 computer readable memory configured to store and access data associated with the work cards; and   a processor configured to process the work cards, each of which work cards comprise:
 at least one maintenance task for the aircraft; 
 a plurality of information fields related to the task and the aircraft on which the task is performed; and 
 one or more data entry fields comprising at least a sign-off field. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the information fields are selected from a group of fields consisting of an identifier for the aircraft on which the task is performed, a task identifier, a task description, a task location identifier, an estimated task completion time, an actual task time accrued, a work order identifier, a suggested or required task skill level. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data entry fields are selected from a group of fields consisting of one or more task notes inputs, one or more maintenance personnel sign-off inputs, and a task inspection readiness input. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the work cards further comprise a graphical representation of the aircraft on which the maintenance is performed. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic work card of  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the information fields are editable. 
     
     
         8 . An electronic system for facilitating a maintenance task performed on an aircraft and documented on an electronic task card, the system comprising:
 computer readable memory configured to store and access data associated with the task card; and   a processor configured to process the task card, wherein the task card comprises:
 a plurality of information fields related to the task performed and the aircraft on which the task is performed; and 
 at least one task step for performing the task. 
   
     
     
         9 . The electronic task card of  claim 8 , wherein the information fields are selected from a group of fields consisting of a task card identifier, a work order identifier, an identifier for the aircraft on which the task is performed, accrued flight hours, and accrued cycles. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic task card of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one task step comprises a plurality of task steps. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic task card of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the task steps comprise one or more sub-steps. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic task card of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one task step comprises:
 instructions for performing the task step; and   a suggested or required skill level for performing the task step.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic task card of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the information fields are editable.