DENT & BUCKLE

Dent and Buckle is a software company that makes a mobile app for recording aircraft structural defects. The app uses interactive 3D models of the airframe. The company has its head office in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The idea began in 2014 with Kristinn Fannar Pálsson, an aircraft structural engineer from Iceland. He wanted to replace the paper and Excel charts used to track dents and buckles. Ingunn Ingimars, a former owner and CIO of JetX and Primera Air, joined the project. Together they worked with the aviation software company Output42 and set up a joint venture registered in Iceland.

The app replaces flat 2D diagrams with 3D models. The models are built from components, so a defect moves with its component around a fleet. Engineers can add and manage defects on a mobile device, in the hangar or on the aircraft, both online and offline. All defect records are kept in one place, and the chart stays up to date without manual editing.

The company says its software can connect with other systems. These include MRO systems, eTechLog, document management, surface scanning and drone inspection. The app runs on the Microsoft Azure cloud in the customer's region. Set up, 3D model changes, support and updates are included in the monthly fee, which the site says starts at 100 USD per aircraft. The site also says the tool can cut the time spent on lease returns.

Dent and Buckle says it serves more than 20 customers in North America, Europe and Asia. It lists sales contacts in Mesa, USA, and São Paulo, Brazil. Support teams are in Northampton in the UK and Manila in the Philippines, and development and support are in Wrocław, Poland. The website lets visitors book a live demo of about 60 minutes and request a quote.