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Tdata / Migration FAQs

A common list of questions from Tdata users

Over the last several months, we've helped hundreds of customers make the switch over to TBX and learn how to use and adopt it. Here is a list of the most common questions we've received:

Quick Links to Sections in this FAQ:

 

Company and Product Changes

  1. Did you guys sell out?
    1. After over 30 years in the business, both Tdata and the AD Toolbox owners (Jim and Reuben) were looking to retire. To better assist and continue serving our thousands of customers, we combined Tdata and AD Toolbox to form TBX.

      We are continuing to honor the founders' legacy of superior value, customer service, and data integrity while looking to add more functionality around our platform.
  2. Why end the disc now?
    1. The disc end date was actually planned for early 2024, but postponed until this year when we had a better migration path in place.

      Technology is constantly evolving. Both Avantext and Tdata have undergone technological shifts in the past, from microfiche, to CDs, to virtual desktops, to the cloud.

      Supply chain and technological challenges in obtaining discs, updating legacy software, printing and mailing discs, and supporting discs on legacy operating systems has become too cumbersome to maintain.  Even Best Buy stopped selling CDs last year.

      Discs also prevented us from innovating and adding new features requested by customers. We felt it was in the best interest for everyone involved to move to a unified cloud product to improve service, innovation, and reduce business risk.
  3. Why can’t you make an app for offline use?
    1. This has been a heavily requested feature and our development team is looking into this offering.
  4. What am I going to do when I travel to places with no internet access?
    1. We have many customers working in remote places that rely on Starlink and wireless hotspots for internet access. Check starlink.com to see if this would work for you.

      You may consider bringing a checklist with you and plugging that into TBX when you return back online. Also note: you can pre-create an AD list using the N-number lookup (to create an aircraft profile).
  5. Who is TBX? I've never heard of them.
    1. We're the same team from Tdata and the AD Toolbox but under a new name. We combined the teams to give our customers better tools, better service, and better support. Read more about that here.

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Subscription Management

  1. What about my current Tdata subscription?
    1. You will keep your current Tdata subscription, including “Legacy disc” holders, for the life of the subscription. All Tdata functionality (Compliance Library, AD Reporting, and Tech Pubs) has been migrated into TBX for future use at some point this year.

      In the short term, you will probably be able to maintain a parallel path, using both systems. Over the medium to long term, we recommend switching over to TBX as this library will be updated daily and the Tdata AD library will remain static.
  2. What do I do with my documents in TDATA? I don’t want to lose my 30 years of history.
    1. You will never lose access to your Tdata documents. You can always access them with your “legacy disc”.

      However, due to modern computer operating systems not recognizing DVD players anymore, we recommend pdf’ing these files as a backup measure, which can also serve as a “quick form migration” if you upload them to an aircraft profile within TBX.
  3. Why do I need to register for the 10-day free trial and fill in all this information? Don’t you have my account?
    1. This is a good opportunity for us to ensure your data is up-to-date and accurate. We can input this for you over the phone if that is easier.
  4. My license for IA Approach was recently renewed and now I will lose that software, will your TBX give me credit?
    1. Your IApproach (or other Tdata products) gives you access to our team to continue supporting you with those products for the duration of that subscription, including the “legacy disc”. Your Tdata subscription also includes access to TBX for the duration of that subscription.
  5. How do I add more users? and how much does it cost?
    1. You can add more users by asking TBX to make your account a multi-user account. Once your account has been made a multi-user account, you can purchase more user licenses (or ask us to add them for you).

      The cost for an extra user is $50 for a 1-year sub, and $75 (total) for a two-year sub.

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Data & Migration Support

  1. Why can’t you automatically move the data over to TBX?
    1. Tdata was built on legacy software that makes it difficult to extract information. Our team has been investigating ways to potentially automate a “crossover” but currently this is still TBD.
  2. What good does it do me to manually print the TDATA documents to PDF and put them in the Documents section of TBX?
    1. Having the historical AD compliance reports attached to the aircraft profile can be used as a reference for maintenance items, similar to any other WO / PO / AD Sheet. It can also serve as a cloud backup of your historical data if your computer dies. 
  3. Can I transfer my IA6/Avant files to TBX?
    1. Currently, your files can only be accessed within TBX as a PDF, uploaded to the aircraft profile, or through Tdata via the legacy disc.

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User Experience and Getting Started

  1. I’m not computer savvy person - I don’t have time for this.
    1. If you are a Tdata user, you are already ahead of the curve given that Tdata is more complex than TBX. We've had 90-year olds learn the program in 10-15 minutes, so we are confident you can too.

      We recommend watching the videos or reading the quick start guides to get more familiar with the product and its functionality. 
  2. How do I get access to TBX?
    1. If you are a Tdata subscriber, simply navigate to airworthy.com and click on “Try TBX for Free”. If you put “Tdata” anywhere in the answer box to, “How have you previously searched for ADs?” and you’re using the same registered email with Tdata, it will automatically start transferring over your subscription information into TBX. 

      Finally, you can always call us at either support number: (614) 885-1169 for Tdata / (540) 217-4471 for new TBX users.
  3. How do I get started in TBX? Where should I begin?
    1. Once you are setup, we recommend watching several video tutorials or reading the quick start guides to get acquainted with the functionality. The two key activities to practice are: 1) building an aircraft profile and 2) creating an AD Report. Also, it may be helpful to add your Cert # and select email alert settings. You can see how to do that here.
  4. Where is my login email that I was supposed to get?
    1. Be sure to check your spam folder. The email with your login information (temporary password) will come from sales@airworthy.com. 
  5. Why doesn’t my IA Cert # stay when I put it in the report? 
    1. After creating an account, remember to set your email preferences and add your FAA Certificate information. You can set your FAA Cert # here.
  6. Do you guys have any manuals or YouTube channels I can learn from?
    1. Yes we do. We maintain an extensive Knowledge Base with videos and help docs, including quick start guides, to help you get started on TBX quickly.

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Product and Feature Support 

  1. Why do I need to build an Aircraft profile?
    1. Aircraft profiles make doing maintenance work or updating existing reports easy. Aircraft profiles have a similar function to “work files” in Tdata.

      They are not only an aircraft configuration (i.e., engine, propeller, equipment) but also where you have the ability to track work done on an aircraft, AD reports related to that aircraft, and maintenance workflows related to that aircraft (i.e., work orders, quotes & invoices, logbook entries, and form 337s). 
  2. How do I create an AD report with the SN applicability you talked about? I don’t see it when I do a report.
    1. For a majority of the aircraft in our system, we have the ability to perform serial number applicability searches for airframe AD reports. To ensure this is working properly, please make sure that a) you have entered a serial number for the aircraft and b) it is in a format that the TBX system can parse and understand (format issues are highlighted in red text on the aircraft profile).
  3. When I created a report, I added the engine/propeller to the report. Will the times update or do I need to do that every time I update the report?
    1. Currently, users need to update the times manually at future dates. The development team is working on automating this calculation for ACTT updates.
  4. Where do I go to print the report - I can’t find a print button anywhere!?
    1. Within the AD Report Prep page, navigate to the left sidebar and click on “Print Options”. See more on how to print and AD Report Print options here. 
  5. I just want to create a report - why does this site have to be so hard?
    1. A report is only as good as the information used to create it.

      We recommend creating an aircraft profile to make it easy to generate and update reports at any point in the future that will be accurate, reliable, and consistent. 
  6. Do you guys do 337’s and ICA’s? How do I fill out a 337?
    1. Yes. We give users the ability to fill out 337s right from an aircraft profile, and if applicable, create an ICA directly from “Box 8”. More on how to do that here.
  7. I always do an appliance AD Report; How do I do that in TBX?  
    1. We track all appliances with ADs to help ensure accurate AD reporting.

      One way you can do this within TBX is to check the “Suggested Appliance AD” list within an AD Report (which gives you an AD list of appliances certified for that specific aircraft profile.

      You can also add appliances via the manual addition tools (for STCs, SBs, and other appliances). We offer users the ability to print appliance reports (see Print by Category).
  8. Can I do just an Engine profile as a template and use it over and over again for the engines we rebuild?
    1. Yes - you can build a profile for “experimental” (blank airframe type) by searching for “mnfr = exp” when creating an aircraft profile, then add the engine to that and begin doing work.
  9. What good does the Equipment tab do for me?
    1. The equipment/appliances often get missed in AD reports. We recommend adding all appliances and avionics on the aircraft profile (vs. the AD report) to track them closer.

      As mentioned prior, within AD reports themselves, we offer the ability to pull up “suggested appliance AD” lists based on appliances certificated to the engines, airframes, and props on a profile. 
  10. I did an AD Report, entered the information into the header, three weeks ago, and if I do an update now, will the times update in the report? 
    1. Currently, updating an AD report will NOT pull in the most recent times on the aircraft profile. We expect this feature to be launched shortly as the development team has received this request from many users.
  11. Why can’t I select all 561 Appliance AD’s and print a report on those? We do compliance by holistic approach. Compliance for all as NA or Yes, and we do lots of these several times per year.
    1. We recommend checking the “suggest appliance ADs” list first before adding unnecessary ADs. If you want to do the “opt-out” method, add all the suggested appliance ADs and then mark those as “Not installed on Aircraft - verified by…” etc.
  12. When is the “broken” search field going to be fixed?
    1. This is on the near-term development team’s roadmap and should be fixed in the near-term. We apologize for the inconvenience.
  13. When I enter a MOC, will your system remember it for me?
    1. Users have the ability to save Methods of Compliance (“MOCs”) using the blue “blurb” icon. We pre-load it with all the usual suspects, “i.e., PCW”; however, you can create your own for future use and select them from a dropdown to save time. See more on this here.
  14. Can I do reports for Invoices, Work-orders, relational reports by work order and can I pull invoicing reports?
    1. We give users the ability to create simple invoice reports by month, quarter, and year. The development team is working on creating more robust reports related to inventory, profitability, work orders, and activity. Stay tuned.
  15. Can I connect with QuickBooks? or What other accounting packages do you talk with?
    1. This has been requested by many users and is in our development roadmap. Stay tuned.

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