Jessica Reed is a writer and editor with AIN. She joined the team in the fall of 2023 after two years covering the aviation industry at Avionics International. She earned her bachelor&#039;s degree in English (Writing &amp; Rhetoric) from Pepperdine University. Her hometown is St. Louis, Missouri, and she since has resided in Santa Barbara, California, and Brooklyn, New York, among others. She is currently based in Vernon, New Jersey.

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Jessica Reed

Nimbl, a provider of aviation manuals and safety management solutions, introduced a series of updates to its platform aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing safety for aircraft operators. These updates include the launch of a redesigned dashboard with new tools such as the “Quick FRAT” (flight risk assessment tool), designed to make safety management systems (SMS) more accessible and easier to implement.
The Nimbl platform, which integrates industry-standard tools for weather, security, and scheduling, now allows operators to access critical information with minimal effort. Mark Baier, CEO of Nimbl (<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2024-09-05/aviationmanuals-nimbly-changes-name-nimbl">formerly AviationManuals</a>), emphasized the company's commitment to simplifying the SMS process, saying, "Our goal is to make the flight risk analysis and SMS adoption easier, thereby helping operators continually become better and stay safer."
Nimbl’s dashboard aims to centralize vital information, enabling operators to perform risk assessments with just a few clicks, minimizing the possibility of errors and maximizing operational convenience.
The Quick FRAT system is a significant feature in the updated dashboard. It streamlines the risk assessment process, reducing the previous 25 questions to just eight without compromising safety.
"We want to provide tools that make it easy for you to implement an SMS because the ultimate goal is to make operators safer," Baier explained during a press briefing at NBAA-BACE. Each assessment now includes recommended mitigations, drawing from Nimbl's extensive experience in the aviation sector, allowing operators to make informed decisions and enhance flight safety.
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In addition to flight risk analysis, the platform update offers several other improvements. Nimbl has refined the integration of critical operational data into the platform, automatically populating key flight information from partners. These include data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for weather updates, as well as integration with scheduling software like Universal and ForeFlight. This allows for more efficient pre-flight planning, reducing the time and effort required by operators.
Nimbl has also introduced a project tracker to assist operators with managing manual updates and regulatory requirements. This tool enables operators to engage with Nimbl's team of experts in real-time, making it easier to stay compliant with safety regulations and keep operational documents current.
"The project tracker allows clients to interface with us online about changes and updates they want to make," Baier noted. This feature is particularly useful for operators without the resources to maintain in-house compliance teams because it simplifies manual development and ensures up-to-date documentation.
Nimbl's focus on partnerships has been a critical element of its growth. Clément Meersseman, Nimbl's v-p of strategic partnerships, highlighted the company's collaborations with aircraft manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and technology providers.
“Strong flight departments start with strong partnerships," Meersseman said. These partnerships include alliances with Dassault Falcon Jet and ongoing work with the FAA to streamline operational approval processes.
In addition to technological improvements, Nimbl emphasizes personalized support for its clients. Unlike some companies that offer only software solutions, Nimbl provides hands-on guidance through its team of experienced aviation professionals. This combination of technical innovation and expert support ensures that operators, regardless of size, can implement robust safety management systems.
"We don't just offer you software; we actually have a team of experts in the office that hand-hold you through this," Baier stressed, highlighting Nimbl’s comprehensive approach to safety management.
Nimbl’s ongoing commitment to innovation is underscored by the expansion of its user base. The company supports more than 7,000 operators globally, reviews approximately 33,000 flights annually, and maintains nearly 4,000 operational manuals.
Nimbl is showcasing the new dashboard features at NBAA-BACE. Baier reiterated Nimbl's dedication to making safety management accessible and effective for operators of all sizes, stating, "The more professional they are, the better they are, and the easier we make it for them to become better, the safer all of us will be."

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