Aviation Digitalization Survey

The survey is being conducted jointly by leading aviation trade associations representing a diverse cross-section of the industry (operators, maintainers, manufacturers, lessors, etc.) to identify regulatory issues associated with the digitilization of information in the aerospace ecosphere.

The associations will share the aggregated data gathered with aviation regulators to identify regulatory barriers to the use of digital data.

This survey will close on Oct. 15, 2023. Your responses will be compiled into a broader summary - individual responses and data will not be shared outside the associations sponsoring this survey.

Scope

For the purposes of this survey, please consider the definition of digital data as digital representation of information that is used in meeting regulatory compliance requirements, and processes that support the continuous operational safety of aviation products. The scope of the survey does not include the use of digital data internally for general business and administrative processes.

Background

This survey is being conducted by the participating associations in conjunction with the Maintenance Management Team (MMT), a coordinating body of four leading aviation authorities (FAA, EASA, ANAC and TCCA). Annual MMT meetings include an industry session during which industry representatives participate in a constructive dialogue with the leading authorities to facilitate acceptance of certificated maintenance organizations, maintenance approvals, and improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of surveillance activities.

One of the topics recently introduced within the MMT was promoting the broader use, acceptance, and availability of digital data and records within the aviation industry.

As a part of this initiative, the authorities have established an authority working group to consider a quadrilateral approach to the use of digital data and records. In parallel, the industry representatives have also established a working group to provide the perspectives of the end users. Developed by MMT's Digitalization Industry Working Group, this survey solicits feedback regarding the challenges and recommendations for improvement to meet these objectives. Please complete the survey below by Oct. 15, 2023. If you have questions, please contact the association from which you received the survey.

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* 1. Which of the following best describes the organization for which you are responding? (Multiple individuals from subsidiaries and/or different business units within the same company may respond.)

Independent company without parent or subsidiary

Subsidiary or business unit of parent company

Parent company with one or more subsidiaries or business units

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* 2. What is your organization/business unit's primary business (more than 50 percent of revenue)?

Product design and/or manufacturing (aircraft, engines, propellors)

Article design and/or manufacturing (parts, components, etc.)

Maintenance, as certificated repair station/approved maintenance organization

Maintanence, as certificated individual

Parts distribution

Aircraft lessor

General/business aircraft operator (FAA part 91 or equivalent)

Commuter/on-demand aircraft operator (FAA part 135 or equivalent)

Commercial domestic or flag operator (FAA part 121 or equivalent)

Commercial operator not engaging in common carriage (FAA part 125 or equivalent)

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Please indicate your company size (including your parent company, if any).

Very small (one to ten employees)

Small (11 to 50 employees)

Medium (51 to 500 employees)

Large (501 to 5,000 employees)

Very large (more than 5,000 employees)

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* 4. How many facilities does your company have in each of the following regions?

North America (Canada, Mexico, United States)

Central America/Caribbean

South America

Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia

East Asia, Pacific, Australia, New Zealand

Europe

Africa

Antarctica

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* 5. Please indicate how your company creates, makes available, and/or maintains the following records.

	Exclusively paper	Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Fully digital (paper not used)	Both paper and digital	N/A
Training and Qualification	Training and Qualification Exclusively paper	Training and Qualification Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Training and Qualification Fully digital (paper not used)	Training and Qualification Both paper and digital	Training and Qualification N/A
Crewmember	Crewmember Exclusively paper	Crewmember Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Crewmember Fully digital (paper not used)	Crewmember Both paper and digital	Crewmember N/A
Dispatcher	Dispatcher Exclusively paper	Dispatcher Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Dispatcher Fully digital (paper not used)	Dispatcher Both paper and digital	Dispatcher N/A
Flight, Duty, and Rest	Flight, Duty, and Rest Exclusively paper	Flight, Duty, and Rest Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Flight, Duty, and Rest Fully digital (paper not used)	Flight, Duty, and Rest Both paper and digital	Flight, Duty, and Rest N/A
Dispatch Release	Dispatch Release Exclusively paper	Dispatch Release Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Dispatch Release Fully digital (paper not used)	Dispatch Release Both paper and digital	Dispatch Release N/A
Flight Release	Flight Release Exclusively paper	Flight Release Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Flight Release Fully digital (paper not used)	Flight Release Both paper and digital	Flight Release N/A
Load Manifest	Load Manifest Exclusively paper	Load Manifest Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Load Manifest Fully digital (paper not used)	Load Manifest Both paper and digital	Load Manifest N/A
Communication (e.g., en route between certificate holder and pilots)	Communication (e.g., en route between certificate holder and pilots) Exclusively paper	Communication (e.g., en route between certificate holder and pilots) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Communication (e.g., en route between certificate holder and pilots) Fully digital (paper not used)	Communication (e.g., en route between certificate holder and pilots) Both paper and digital	Communication (e.g., en route between certificate holder and pilots) N/A
Maintenance Records	Maintenance Records Exclusively paper	Maintenance Records Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Maintenance Records Fully digital (paper not used)	Maintenance Records Both paper and digital	Maintenance Records N/A
Maintenance Logbook	Maintenance Logbook Exclusively paper	Maintenance Logbook Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Maintenance Logbook Fully digital (paper not used)	Maintenance Logbook Both paper and digital	Maintenance Logbook N/A
Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Exclusively paper	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Fully digital (paper not used)	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Both paper and digital	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service N/A
ODA Records and Reports	ODA Records and Reports Exclusively paper	ODA Records and Reports Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	ODA Records and Reports Fully digital (paper not used)	ODA Records and Reports Both paper and digital	ODA Records and Reports N/A
Safety Management System (SMS) Records	Safety Management System (SMS) Records Exclusively paper	Safety Management System (SMS) Records Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Safety Management System (SMS) Records Fully digital (paper not used)	Safety Management System (SMS) Records Both paper and digital	Safety Management System (SMS) Records N/A
Airworthiness Directive and/or Design Change Data	Airworthiness Directive and/or Design Change Data Exclusively paper	Airworthiness Directive and/or Design Change Data Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Airworthiness Directive and/or Design Change Data Fully digital (paper not used)	Airworthiness Directive and/or Design Change Data Both paper and digital	Airworthiness Directive and/or Design Change Data N/A

If necessary, please use this space to clarify your answer and/or describe how other records not listed above are created, made available, and/or maintained.

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* 6. Please indicate how your company signs or obtains signatures for the following types of records.

	Ink on paper	Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	N/A
Certification of Training or Qualification	Certification of Training or Qualification Ink on paper	Certification of Training or Qualification Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Certification of Training or Qualification Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Certification of Training or Qualification Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Certification of Training or Qualification N/A
Pilot Logbooks	Pilot Logbooks Ink on paper	Pilot Logbooks Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Pilot Logbooks Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Pilot Logbooks Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Pilot Logbooks N/A
Fitness for Duty	Fitness for Duty Ink on paper	Fitness for Duty Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Fitness for Duty Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Fitness for Duty Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Fitness for Duty N/A
Flight/Dispatch Release	Flight/Dispatch Release Ink on paper	Flight/Dispatch Release Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Flight/Dispatch Release Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Flight/Dispatch Release Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Flight/Dispatch Release N/A
Load Manifests	Load Manifests Ink on paper	Load Manifests Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Load Manifests Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Load Manifests Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Load Manifests N/A
Operational Control Briefing	Operational Control Briefing Ink on paper	Operational Control Briefing Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Operational Control Briefing Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Operational Control Briefing Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Operational Control Briefing N/A
Preflight Risk Analysis Worksheet	Preflight Risk Analysis Worksheet Ink on paper	Preflight Risk Analysis Worksheet Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Preflight Risk Analysis Worksheet Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Preflight Risk Analysis Worksheet Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Preflight Risk Analysis Worksheet N/A
Maintenance Logbook	Maintenance Logbook Ink on paper	Maintenance Logbook Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Maintenance Logbook Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Maintenance Logbook Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Maintenance Logbook N/A
Maintenance Performed (Job Card, Task Card, etc.)	Maintenance Performed (Job Card, Task Card, etc.) Ink on paper	Maintenance Performed (Job Card, Task Card, etc.) Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Maintenance Performed (Job Card, Task Card, etc.) Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Maintenance Performed (Job Card, Task Card, etc.) Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Maintenance Performed (Job Card, Task Card, etc.) N/A
Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Ink on paper	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Airworthiness Release/Certificate of Release to Service N/A
Extended Operations (ETOPS) Predeparture Service Check	Extended Operations (ETOPS) Predeparture Service Check Ink on paper	Extended Operations (ETOPS) Predeparture Service Check Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Extended Operations (ETOPS) Predeparture Service Check Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Extended Operations (ETOPS) Predeparture Service Check Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Extended Operations (ETOPS) Predeparture Service Check N/A
Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP)	Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) Ink on paper	Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) Electronic signature (signature image pasted in record)	Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) Fully digital signature (e.g., Docusign, Adobe)	Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) Mix of ink, electronic, and digital	Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) N/A

If necessary, please use this space to clarify your answer and/or describe how other signatures not listed above are obtained.

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* 7. Please indicate how your company creates and/or maintains the following types of manuals.

	Exclusively paper	Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Fully digital (paper not used)	Both paper and digital	N/A
Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin)	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Exclusively paper	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Fully digital (paper not used)	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Both paper and digital	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) N/A
Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling)	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Exclusively paper	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Fully digital (paper not used)	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Both paper and digital	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) N/A
Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.)	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Exclusively paper	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Fully digital (paper not used)	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Both paper and digital	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) N/A
Training program	Training program Exclusively paper	Training program Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Training program Fully digital (paper not used)	Training program Both paper and digital	Training program N/A
Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.)	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Exclusively paper	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Fully digital (paper not used)	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Both paper and digital	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) N/A
Minimum equipment list (MEL)	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Exclusively paper	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Fully digital (paper not used)	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Both paper and digital	Minimum equipment list (MEL) N/A
General policies and procedures	General policies and procedures Exclusively paper	General policies and procedures Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	General policies and procedures Fully digital (paper not used)	General policies and procedures Both paper and digital	General policies and procedures N/A
User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.)	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Exclusively paper	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Fully digital (paper not used)	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Both paper and digital	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) N/A

If necessary, please use this space to clarify your answer and/or describe how other manuals not listed above are created, made available, and/or maintained.

Question Title

* 8. Please indicate how your company makes available the following types of manuals.

	Exclusively paper	Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Fully digital (paper not used)	Both paper and digital	N/A
Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin)	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Exclusively paper	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Fully digital (paper not used)	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) Both paper and digital	Flight operations (including dispatch, flight following, and onboard/cabin) N/A
Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling)	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Exclusively paper	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Fully digital (paper not used)	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) Both paper and digital	Ground operations (including ground and passenger handling) N/A
Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.)	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Exclusively paper	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Fully digital (paper not used)	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) Both paper and digital	Certificate holder aircraft performance manuals (airplane flight manual (AFM), weight and blance information, etc.) N/A
Training program	Training program Exclusively paper	Training program Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Training program Fully digital (paper not used)	Training program Both paper and digital	Training program N/A
Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.)	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Exclusively paper	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Fully digital (paper not used)	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) Both paper and digital	Maintenance (including instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA), overhaul, standard practices, etc.) N/A
Minimum equipment list (MEL)	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Exclusively paper	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Fully digital (paper not used)	Minimum equipment list (MEL) Both paper and digital	Minimum equipment list (MEL) N/A
General policies and procedures	General policies and procedures Exclusively paper	General policies and procedures Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	General policies and procedures Fully digital (paper not used)	General policies and procedures Both paper and digital	General policies and procedures N/A
User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.)	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Exclusively paper	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Paper records that are also scanned and saved electronically	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Fully digital (paper not used)	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) Both paper and digital	User (e.g., flight management system, flight planning system, etc.) N/A

If necessary, please use this space to clarify your answer and/or describe how other manuals not listed above are created, made available, and/or maintained.

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* 9. Which statement best describes your company's digital technology philosophy?

We anticipate new digital technologies and have a forward looking plan to integrate them into our operations as they become available.

We adopt new digital technologies as they become available, but don't have a long-term plan for doing so.

We eventually adopt new digital technologies after they have been available for some time and their use has been proven by others.

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* 10. Which of the following does your company utilize to create, complete, store, and secure digital data? Check all that apply.

Off-the-shelf general business software (e.g., Microsoft)

Off-the-shelf software designed specifically for aviation companies like ours

Customized software developed for our company by an external vendor

Software developed internally by our company

Software provided by a business partner (customer, supplier, manufacturerer, etc.)

Please use this space to identify software vendors and/or to clarify your answer.

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* 11. How do you ensure the proper management, storage, and security of digital data within your company.

In-house IT department

Outside IT vendor

Both

If necessary, please use this space to provide any additional information to clarify your answer.

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* 12. How does the majority of your customers prefer to receive data, information, records, etc.?

Paper

Digital

Both

When paper is requested, please explain why (e.g., regulator, commercial agreements, internal processes)?

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* 13. Have you encountered challenges within in your primary regulatory/competent authority related to the development or use of digital data, such as regulatory prohibitions, inconsistencies, lack of guidance/policy, lack of awareness/training from local inspector? If yes, please consider providing references to regulatory citations and/or guidance/policy document numbers that you would like to be revised.

Yes

If "yes", please use this space to provide references and/or clarify your answer.

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* 14. Have you encountered inconsistencies between various authorities and/or bilateral partners (FAA, EASA, TCCA, ANAC) regarding the availability or use of digital data? If yes, please provide examples of regulations, policy, and/or guidance documents that are the source of the inconsistencies.

Yes

If "yes", please use this space to provide examples and/or clarify your answer.

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* 15. Have you experienced any benefits of using digital data in your company, such as improved efficiency or cost savings?

Yes

If "yes", please explain how your company measures the improved efficiencies and/or cost savings.

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* 16. Have you encountered challenges related to incompatibility between your systems and those of your suppliers, vendors, customers, or regulators?

Yes

If necessary, please use this space to clarify your answer.

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* 17. In addition to the answers provided above, what other improvements or changes would you suggest to enhance the availability and use of digital data?

Aviation Digitalization Survey

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* 1. Which of the following best describes the organization for which you are responding? (Multiple individuals from subsidiaries and/or different business units within the same company may respond.)

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* 2. What is your organization/business unit's primary business (more than 50 percent of revenue)?

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* 3. Please indicate your company size (including your parent company, if any).

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* 4. How many facilities does your company have in each of the following regions?

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* 5. Please indicate how your company creates, makes available, and/or maintains the following records.

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* 6. Please indicate how your company signs or obtains signatures for the following types of records.

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* 7. Please indicate how your company creates and/or maintains the following types of manuals.

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* 8. Please indicate how your company makes available the following types of manuals.

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* 9. Which statement best describes your company's digital technology philosophy?

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* 10. Which of the following does your company utilize to create, complete, store, and secure digital data? Check all that apply.

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* 11. How do you ensure the proper management, storage, and security of digital data within your company.

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* 12. How does the majority of your customers prefer to receive data, information, records, etc.?

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* 14. Have you encountered inconsistencies between various authorities and/or bilateral partners (FAA, EASA, TCCA, ANAC) regarding the availability or use of digital data? If yes, please provide examples of regulations, policy, and/or guidance documents that are the source of the inconsistencies.

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* 15. Have you experienced any benefits of using digital data in your company, such as improved efficiency or cost savings?

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* 16. Have you encountered challenges related to incompatibility between your systems and those of your suppliers, vendors, customers, or regulators?

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* 17. In addition to the answers provided above, what other improvements or changes would you suggest to enhance the availability and use of digital data?

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* 18. Optional: Please provide your organization/business unit name for validation purposes.

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* 19. Optional: Please provide your email address for any follow-up and if you wish to receive a copy of the consolidated survey results.