The field of avionics is in the midst of a massive industry-wide evolution. For the first time in history, plane repair, upkeep, and operation is shifting away from the mechanical and electrical systems that have been in place for decades towards a software-based, digital approach. New digital tools are helping technicians service, upgrade, and diagnose problems in aircraft in ways never before seen.
In its 2025 Q2 issue, Aviation Maintenance magazine published an article on this trend, with insight from industry experts. Here, we will highlight major takeaways from the article and show why a top of the line, modern ERP platform such as Enavate Aircraft Maintenance ERP, powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, is key to aviation businesses thriving in the changing landscape.
Experts from around the world agree that the days of airplane mechanics being able to do their jobs with a strictly hardware-based approach are over. “The days of an avionics mechanic being able to overhaul or replace small parts or instruments in computer systems are long gone,” says Michael Miles, an avionics manager from the United States.
Aircraft technicians are now turning to software-based solutions, with even age-old tools like the multimeter now being digital, rather than analog. “The use of laptop computers has become a way of life for maintaining and updating modern systems.”
While these advancements may seem like a complicating factor for businesses, requiring new knowledge sets, skills, and training, these challenges are offset by the advancement of user-friendly platforms and processes designed to offer intuitive ways of accomplishing the tasks needed to keep planes running.
These advancements are also integrated incrementally, allowing the learning curve to be smoothed out, with technicians gradually expanding their skill sets. This has started to eliminate the need for industry-specific knowledge passed down within companies, unique to the way they maintain their craft. Now that there are digital systems and software to tackle most problems, knowledge no longer needs to be siloed, leading to a freer exchange of ideas and increased innovation.
According to Aviation Maintenance, the average avionics test is ten to one hundred times as intensive today compared to twenty years ago, with more systems requiring deeper, more specialized testing to meet guidelines. With advances in technology such as AI-guided inspections, aviation companies can now move towards preventative maintenance rather than reactive maintenance — a significant change for technicians across the globe.
Experts point to the trend of avionics testing moving towards automated testing capabilities, a drastic shift from the manual, multi-step processes that have historically dominated the industry. These new methods have allowed for better, more accurate diagnoses and faster maintenance time, with AM citing an 80% decrease in repair time at leading company Muirhead Avionics/AMTEK MRO.
One major milestone on the horizon is the forthcoming ruling from the FAA mandating a 25-hour CVR. This is a major change, and businesses will be forced to have their fleets updated by 2030.
This sort of massive update in a short turnaround would be a nightmare for workers still operating in an analog world; however, those aviation businesses equipped with the latest digital toolsets will be able to tackle the challenge head-on. The 25-hour CVR is simply one step in the continuing evolution of avionics, not the end-point, and businesses should expect similar situations to arise in the future, perhaps even more frequently.
There is no denying that the shift towards digital maintenance and repair is permanent. The question for aviation businesses becomes, “How do we embrace the shift?”.
Like businesses in many other industries, the answer is simple—a modern ERP system, designed specifically for the industry. Enavate Aircraft Maintenance Software, powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, is the ideal platform to power aviation businesses into this new era.
From financials to procurement to parts inventory, the right ERP system empowers aviation businesses to operate more efficiently and capitalize on the wave of technological innovation transforming the industry. Enavate Aircraft Maintenance, powered by Dynamics 365 Business Central and seamlessly integrated with CORRIDOR MRO software, bridges the gap between the hangar and the back office. While engineers, designers, and mechanics stay focused in the CORRIDOR environment built for their workflows, business leaders gain real-time visibility and control through Business Central—optimizing costs, enhancing compliance, and driving smarter decision-making with powerful AI, business intelligence, and aviation-specific insights.
As the world becomes more connected and online, industries have felt this impact as well. Even fields typically based on mechanical and analog technologies have begun the sometimes painful process of making the transition to digital, software-based solutions.
Aviation maintenance is not immune from this march towards modernity, and avionics businesses need to plan for their futures, as regulations are already being placed that will be difficult, if not impossible to meet using analog, hardware-based solutions.
Businesses looking to be leaders will turn to industry-specific ERP platforms to power their businesses, with Enavate Aircraft Maintenance Software being the obvious choice thanks to its business intelligence software, AI and automation capabilities, and enhanced data accessibility. Powered by the leading ERP platform Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Enavate Aircraft Maintenance Software provides aircraft services businesses all of the tools they need to embrace the digital revolution.