Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Savvy Aviation has introduced an anomaly detection tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to augment human-led diagnoses of piston engine problems. The GADFly tool is designed to help identify unusual engine behavior based on analysis of engine data to help owners with data-driven and on-condition maintenance and to advance safety, reliability, and compliance.
According to Savvy Aviation founder and CEO Mike Busch, the company receives about 15,000 flights uploaded to its platform every week, “so obviously we can’t look at all of them. In the past, our analysts only looked at flights that our clients asked us to review. Now with GADfly, we can look at every flight that the AI suggests we look at, and alert clients to issues they didn’t know they had.”
This means that GADFly is “amplifying human expertise,” according to Savvy, “not replacing it. It helps Savvy’s analysts spot flight data patterns or anomalies that may otherwise go unnoticed, without compromising the personal, thoughtful analysis clients expect from the Savvy team.”
The Cirrus SR22 is the first aircraft to undergo the GADFly process, and Savvy plans to add other aircraft models. While Savvy doesn’t serve the turbine-powered aircraft market, “GADfly could be trained to work with turbine aircraft,” according to the company. “Savvy has never offered data analysis services for turbine aircraft and thus [we] have no flights in our database to train the GADfly model at this time. We have been investigating the possibility of providing data analysis services for turbine aircraft. If we begin providing this service, we will start accumulating flight data that ultimately could be used to train the GADfly model.”
“This is not a ‘set it and forget it’ AI,” said Joe Godfrey, director of analysis at Savvy Aviation. “GADFly gives us a heads-up, but our experienced A&amp;Ps are still in the loop. It’s a powerful tool in our diagnostic toolkit to help keep our clients flying safely.”
Savvy Aviation recently launched Savvy for Shops, a service to help maintenance companies, with a free online forum and free online training to teach mechanics about reliability-centered maintenance and minimally invasive maintenance techniques. A fee-based service will also be available, allowing mechanics to ask for advice, seek help with troubleshooting, and obtain second opinions, similar to the Savvy QA service for aircraft owners.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Savvy Aviation’s Anomaly Detection Platform Uses AI To Analyze Engines

System will help discover problems that can then be addressed by human experts

The Cirrus SR22 is the first aircraft to undergo the GADFly process, and Savvy plans to add other aircraft models.

Savvy’s Anomaly Detection Uses AI To Analyze Engines

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Company offers incentives to encourage early scheduled maintenance

Desert Jet Advises Early Maintenance To Avoid Delays

Curt Epstein

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

The engine is the latest in company’s growing portfolio

Engine Assurance Program Adds GE CF34-3B Coverage

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Facility is the only one in Arizona authorized to service Vision Jet engine

Williams Adds Arizona Blackhawk Center for FJ33 Service

Jets MRO attributes growth to technician-first culture

Jets MRO Triples Mx Technician Workforce at Dallas Exec

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Company joins Hartzell Propeller and other familiar names

Signia Adds Precise Flight to Aerospace Family

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Desert Jet Advises Early Maintenance To Avoid Delays

Company offers incentives to encourage early scheduled maintenance

Engine Assurance Program Adds GE CF34-3B Coverage

The engine is the latest in company’s growing portfolio

Williams Adds Arizona Blackhawk Center for FJ33 Service

Facility is the only one in Arizona authorized to service Vision Jet engine

Jets MRO Triples Mx Technician Workforce at Dallas Exec

Jets MRO attributes growth to technician-first culture

Signia Adds Precise Flight to Aerospace Family

Company joins Hartzell Propeller and other familiar names

Falcon Completes Major Inspection for Global Express XRS

Work included repairs to corrosion damage in the wing and dry bay

Embraer Adds Authorized Service Center in Chile

Aerocardal is authorized to provide line maintenance on the Phenom 300

QTA Celebrates Delivery of 600th Inlet Cowl Upgrade

Milestone achieved just one year after 500th shipment

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