The Joker Aviation Blog
Practical, no-fluff guides on running a Part 145 repair station: MRO software, FAA compliance, e-signatures, audits, and getting paid, written by the team behind Orion MRO software.
Repair Station Tool Calibration Tracking: What the Rules Require and What Actually Works
Repair station tool calibration tracking requirements: what the FAA expects, what inspectors check, and how to stop chasing cal stickers and spreadsheets.
Aircraft Parts Inventory Software With Traceability: What a Repair Station Actually Needs
What aircraft parts inventory software with traceability should do for a Part 145 shop: receiving docs, 8130-3s tied to work orders, cores, and multi-location stock.
Part 145 Training Records Requirements: What Belongs in Every Mechanic's File
Part 145 training records requirements explained: what belongs in each mechanic's training file, how long to keep it, and how to stay audit ready.
MRO Invoicing and Billing Software That Starts at the Work Order
MRO invoicing software should build the invoice from the signed work order, not from retyped notes. How aviation shops handle billing, deposits, customer payment, and QuickBooks sync in one flow.
The Best MRO Software Is the One Built for Your Size of Shop
Searching for the best MRO software or best Part 145 software? A practical comparison framework covering AMOS, TRAX, Veryon-class systems and the small-shop alternative, with the questions that actually decide it.
How Much Does MRO Software Cost? Why Nobody Publishes a Number, and What Actually Drives Yours
How much does MRO software cost? A plain breakdown of per-seat, per-module, and flat pricing, the hidden fees to ask about, and what small Part 145 shops should expect.
The Part 145 Audit Checklist: What the FAA Looks For, and How to Stop Dreading It
A practical FAA Part 145 audit preparation checklist for repair stations: records, training, tool calibration, parts traceability, and RTS documentation inspectors ask for, and how to cut audit prep from a week to minutes.
Paper to Digital Maintenance Records, Without Stopping the Shop
How a Part 145 repair station moves from paper work orders and filing cabinets to digital maintenance records: what to migrate, what to leave scanned, e-signature compliance, and a parallel-run plan that never pauses the hangar.
MRO Software for Small Repair Stations: Why the Big Systems Don’t Fit, and What To Look For Instead
Most MRO software is built for airlines and 500-tech MROs. Here is what a 3-20 technician Part 145 repair station actually needs, the pricing traps to avoid, and a checklist for choosing software that fits.
MRO Software Quick Setup: How Fast Can Your Shop Actually Switch?
How long does MRO software implementation really take? Why legacy systems need 6-18 months, what determines setup speed, and what a genuinely quick MRO software setup looks like week by week.
A&P Side Work, Done Right: Work Orders, Sign-offs, and Getting Paid
Work order software for independent A&P mechanics: FAA-compliant records for side work and annuals, professional invoices, and Stripe payment collection, without needing a shop or an IT department.
AC 120-78B, in Plain English: What Makes an Electronic Signature FAA-Compliant
What FAA AC 120-78B actually requires for electronic signatures and electronic recordkeeping in aviation maintenance: attribution, intent, non-repudiation, tamper protection, plus why a signature template is not compliance.