Timers

Quantum MX timers are relevant for the following objects: Aircraft, Components, Equipment, Reminders, Work orders and Logbook Entries. Timers allow you to track hobbs,tach, cycles, landings, or any other custom time counter based element. Timers may be defined with a built-in computation that allows modeling of timer values that are based upon other timers. This feature may be used for example to automatically compute PT6 component accumulated cycles.

Time tracking starts at the Aircraft or Component level.

Aircraft and Component Timer Setup

Configure the timers for an Aircraft or Component using Timers feature.
1. Browse to an Aircraft or Component and locate the Timers section.
1. Click the gear icon or Timer Settings button to configure the timers.

1. Use the table to configure all timers for the aircraft or component.

   

2. Click Save to save the changes.

TIP: Quantum MX tracks work order age, logbook entries, and equipment life using the timer feature. Configure the aircraft early to establish the correct timer configuration before adding equipment, opening work orders, or creating logbook entries.

Timer Precision

The default timer precision is 2. This value may be changed by editing the timer settings on the Computation tab. Integer timers may be configured by setting the precision value to 0 (zero).

1. Click Timer Settings.
2. Click the Computation tab to access the timer computation settings

3. Click Edit and specify a precision value of 0 (zero) to force integer handling for the selected timer.

   

Timers with names CYCLES, LANDINGS, RINS, LOADS will automatically be configured as integer precision.

Calculated Values for Since New and Since Overhaul

When editing the timer configuration, enter the appropriate values for Since New, Since Overhauled, Since Installed that correspond to the given value of the timer.

Example: Engine logbook entry performed at Tach: 2502.8, ETT: 2502.8, TSMO: 488.8. Enter 2502.8 as the Value, 2502.8 as the Since New value, and 488.8 as the Since Overhauled Value. Quantum MX will compute and store the appropriate offset to convert indicated to total time.

Equipment Timers

When Equipment is added to an aircraft, the equipment will be configured to have the same timer setup as it's associated aircraft. The equipment timer configuration may be edited from the Equipment listing to establish Since New, Since Overhauled, Since Installed and life limits for the equipment items.

Equipment Timer Restrictions

• Equipment timers will carry the same value as the parent aircraft or component. For example, an equipment item that is installed on the aircraft will have the same tach time as the aircraft.
• Equipment timers that are not present on the aircraft will display an warning message.
• IMPORTANT: Equipment timers are considered children of the parent unit timer and will be deleted if the associated parent timer is deleted. For example, deleting the cycles timer from the parent aircraft will also remove the cycles timers from the individual equipment.
  

WARNING: proceed with caution and review all equipment records prior to deleting an Aircraft or Component level timer.

Reminder Timers

Maintenance reminders may be attached to any timer that is configured for an Aircraft, Component, or Equipment.

When creating new reminders, select the appropriate timer:

The timer reference is displayed anywhere the reminder is shown.

Orphaned Reminders

If the Aircraft, Component, or Equipment timer configuration changes after Reminders have been configured, a potential issue exists. Reminders that specify a timer that is no longer tracked are considered orphaned, and a warning message will appear.

Work Order Timers

When a work order is created for an Aircraft or Component, the Work Order will initially contain the same timer values as the aircraft. These values may be edited for the work order. Editing the work order timer values will not change the Aircraft level timers.

Configure the work order timers using the same method as the aircraft level timers.

After the work order is saved, you may edit the timer values on the work order view. The work order will also display the "Age" of the work order in terms of the various timers. Age is only relevant for closed work orders and helps you quickly determine how many hours, cycles, etc. have passed since the work order was performed.

Work Order Timer Configuration Mismatch

If the work order timer settings for since new and since overhauled do not match the associated aircraft, a warning message will appear. Click the message to reveal the timer mismatch facility.

The work order configuration may be updated to match the aircraft timer configuration by "Fixing" the work order.

TIP: always configure Time Since New and Time Since Overhauled at the Aircraft or Component level. The Aircraft, Component, and Equipment timer configurations are considered the master record for TSO/TSN conversions. If equipment has been replaced or overhauled on the aircraft, historical work orders may show the Timer Mismatch warning because the work order exists at a time prior to the overhaul or equipment replacement.

Logbook Entry Timers

When logbook entries are generated for a Work Order, the logbook entry will mirror the timer values for the work order. These timer values may be adjusted each logbook entry. Adjusting the time values at the logbook entry allows you to specify a logbook entry that may not coincide with the work order time. An example of this is logging an operational check flight as required by 14 CFR §91.407.

Logbook Entry Time Conversions

The logbook entry timer configuration may be adjusted to control the Time Since New and Time Since Overhaul values that are displayed on the logbook entry. Editing these values is not required if they were configured at the Aircraft or Equipment level.

If the TSN/TSO conversions for the logbook entry are configured differently than the aircraft (or logbook level equipment), the timer configuration mismatch warning will be displayed. Click to review the mismatch and adjust accordingly.

Timer Values in Printable Logbook Entries

The timer values with the corresponding "Since New" or "Since Overhaul" values will be printed at the top of the PDF logbook entry.

Removing Unwanted Timers

Quantum MX will include all timers in printed logbook entries. To remove a timer from the printable logbook entry, clear the timer value.

1. Browse to a logbook entry.
2. Click Timer Settings to configure the timers specific to the logbook entry.
3. Remove the timer from the configuration, or set the value to blank.
4. Save the logbook entry.

Changing a Timer Name

Timers are referenced by name in various locations of Quantum MX. Work orders, logbook entries, equipment and reminders have a relationship back to the Aircraft or Component level timer configuration. Aircraft and Component timer names should be changed using the Rename a Timer feature to ensure that all relationships remain intact.

The Rename a Timer function will change the name of a timer without disturbing existing data. Time name changes affect the following areas:

• Time based Reminders that reference the timer name will be changed.
• Equipment installed and overhauled settings that reference the timer name will be changed.
• Work Orders that reference the timer name will NOT be changed.
• Logbook Entries that reference the timer name will NOT be changed.

Access the Rename a Timer function by clicking on the information icon near the timers area.

Select the timer to rename, enter the new timer name, and click Save to save the change.

Best Practices

1. Always configure Aircraft level timers and logbook level equipment prior to creating work orders or logbook entries on the aircraft. This will reduce the need to duplicate configuration steps as timer configurations are inherited in this direction: Aircraft / Equipment -> Work Order -> Logbook Entry.
2. Use consistent timer names throughout the system. Do not mix upper case / lower case e.g. (HOBBS vs. Hobbs vs. hobbs). Do not mix names or abbreviations, e.g. (Tach, tach, tachometer).
   
3. Do not use timer level objects for computed values. For example, use Quantum MX to compute the Engine TSN based on the tachometer value instead of creating a timer named Engine TSN.

Troubleshooting

Quantum MX provides maximum flexibility for tracking aircraft, equipment, work order and logbook entry timers. Watch out for some common pitfalls when developing your timer strategies:
1. Orphan Timers: Removing timers at the Aircraft or Component level creates orphans. Reminders may reference timers that no longer exist. Work Order "age" values will not be computed properly. Aircraft equipment timer values may also be orphaned. Best Practice: make sure you have configured the Aircraft or Component level timers properly before adding Equipment or Work Orders.

1. Timer Naming Conventions: Use a common timer scheme everywhere. For example, creating timers for hobbs and hobbs hours creates a nomenclature mess.

2. Use Simple Names: timer names are intended to be simple, e.g. hobbs, hourmeter, tach. Although the timer may be specified as free text, avoid punctuation and long timer descriptions.