The Unwritten Chapters: Why Codifying Knowledge is Aviation Maintenance's Next Frontier

For those who have followed our journey on Exploring Digital Aviation, you'll recognize a recurring theme: the skies are undeniably digital. We've explored the intricate workings of Aircraft Interface Device (AID) technology, investigated the profound impact of data streams on flight operations, and charted the course of our industry's ever-expanding digital backbone. From the cockpit to the data centres, the narrative of transformation has been one of innovation, efficiency, and safety.

Yet, as we look deeper into the heart of aviation operations, a critical area stands poised for its own revolution: maintenance. Here, amidst the complex systems and stringent regulations that define Continuing Airworthiness Management Organizations (CAMO) and Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMO), lies a vast reservoir of invaluable information – much of it, until now, largely unwritten. This is the realm of domain knowledge, and its codification is the strategic imperative for the future of aviation maintenance.

Photo by Ayelt van Veen on Unsplash

The Silent Language of Experience

In aviation maintenance, an immense amount of critical expertise resides within the minds and hands of experienced engineers and technicians. This is often referred to as "tacit knowledge”, the practical insights, shortcuts and workarounds, process and procedural knowledge gained over years. It’s the intuitive understanding of the issues faced, or the quick judgment call that prevents a minor issue from becoming a major one.

It’s crucial to understand that when we refer to this knowledge as "largely unwritten," we are not speaking of the absence of formal technical documentation like Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMMs) or the structured written content of Part-66 subjects, or maintenance records in aircraft log books. These official documents are, of course, foundational. Instead, we refer to the accumulated operational and business experiences, from the unique scenarios encountered to the effective workarounds discovered, the unrecorded lessons learned from past challenges that rarely find their way into formal manuals or official airworthiness notices. 

A common observation across the industry highlights this: preserving institutional memory is as vital as maintaining a component. This experience, while priceless, often goes unrecorded, making it difficult to transfer. In the past days of formal apprenticeships, this tacit knowledge was handed down. In my own observation, this is now less common as ab-initio training has evolved into a business industry of its own, rather than an airlines strategic workforce planning and ongoing talent development. Sourcing talent rather than developing talent seems to be the preferred go-to solution.

 

From Insights to Information: Building a Digital Foundation

The solution lies in a deliberate, systematic effort to codify this domain knowledge. Codification is the process of converting these invaluable, often implicit, insights into explicit, structured, and readily accessible digital formats. Imagine transforming a seasoned MCC controller’s experience, a complex sequence of observations, deductions, and learned responses, into a precise, logical flow diagram or a decision-tree algorithm. Not to replace human skill, but rather augmenting it by making collective wisdom available to all.

A truly robust digital foundation for aviation maintenance hinges on this transformation. Without codified knowledge, even the most advanced technologies struggle to reach their full potential. Predictive maintenance systems, for instance, are only as intelligent as the data and rules they are fed. If critical operational knowledge remains siloed in individual minds or scattered across disparate paper records, the promise of real-time insights and proactive interventions remains largely unfulfilled. One of the most persistent challenges in aviation maintenance is that tacit knowledge is difficult to capture and share. Yet it is precisely this kind of knowledge that forms the foundation for structured, accessible data, enabling digital tools like predictive analytics and augmented reality to deliver meaningful value.

 

The Imperative for Digital Adoption

The aviation industry has long embraced precision and standardization in its physical assets. Now, that same rigor must extend to its intellectual assets. Companies that invest in codifying their maintenance domain knowledge are not simply adopting a new process; they are fundamentally strengthening their operational resilience and competitive edge. This shift enables:

  • Enhanced Decision-Making: With readily accessible, structured knowledge, maintenance teams can make faster, more informed decisions, minimize downtime and optimize resource allocation.
  • Improved Training and Onboarding: New part-66 license holders can accelerate their learning curve by tapping into a formalized knowledge base, reducing the time it takes to become proficient.
  • Greater Consistency and Compliance: Standardized procedures and validated troubleshooting guides reduce variability and help ensure adherence to stringent regulatory requirements.
  • Seamless Digital Integration: Codified knowledge provides the necessary framework for integrating advanced digital solutions like AI-powered diagnostics, digital twins, and automated workflows.

In my view, the question is not if digital transformation will impact aviation maintenance, but how deeply and seamlessly organizations embrace it. As example, the industry has long recognized the significant benefits of digitizing maintenance records for efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced safety. What about other domains within maintenance?


Post Recap: Key Takeaways

  • Unwritten Domain Knowledge is Crucial: Beyond manuals, invaluable operational and business experiences often go unrecorded, risking loss of institutional memory.
  • Codification is the Solution: Converting tacit, experience-based knowledge into explicit, structured, and accessible digital formats is vital.
  • Digital Foundation Relies on Codified Knowledge: Advanced technologies like predictive maintenance and digital twins only realize their full potential with well-structured, accessible knowledge.
  • Benefits are Substantial: Codification leads to better decision-making, improved training, enhanced consistency, stronger compliance, and seamless integration of digital tools.
  • A Strategic Imperative: Embracing this shift fundamentally strengthens an organization's operational resilience and competitive edge in aviation maintenance.


View Endnotes

  1. Aviation Week Network. (2024, September 9). The Strategic Evolution Of MRO Through Digitalization And AI. Retrieved from https://aviationweek.com/mro/strategic-evolution-mro-through-digitalization-ai (Accessed 30-Jun-2025)
  2. Flight Engineering Solutions. (2025, January 16). Digitalization in Aircraft Maintenance: Trends and Benefits. Retrieved from https://flightesolutions.com/en/2025/01/16/digitalization-in-aircraft-maintenance-trends-and-benefits/ (Accessed 30-Jun-2025)

Edited Date: 11-Jul-2025


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