IRQ Aviation
With more than 20 years of experience as an A&P, shop lead Jason Manzanares has worked with a wide range of maintenance tools—and has been using the platform that became TBX longer than most. His relationship with the software stretches back to its earliest predecessor, which means he’s seen firsthand how much it has evolved.
Early in his career, he relied on legacy systems like Tdata, when updates were delivered by disc and usability was an afterthought. “When Tdata came out, they gave us the disc. I used to use that, and it was so cumbersome—loading the disc, waiting for updates to be sent,” Manzanares recalls.
Like many shops, the challenge wasn’t access to information—it was having a system that made that information easy to use in real maintenance workflows. AD research tools existed, but they often fell short on usability. “My greatest challenge was the AD compliance solutions available weren’t user friendly. It was better than printing them off of the FAA website, but it was barely better than that.”
"I’m 100% confident that when I do an AD search in TBX that it’s complete. That gives me peace of mind right there."
Frustrated with the process, Manzanares went in search of a better solution. Manzanares turned to AD Toolbox because of its affordability and pricing structure. “Initially, what got me going with AD Toolbox was the price. I liked how they structured it,” he says.
Overtime, it was the product experience and the responsiveness of the team that built long-term trust. As he shared feedback, he began to see it reflected in the platform. “I had a few suggestions, and after time, I could see that a couple of my suggestions were implemented. I could tell that these people weren’t interested in just taking my money—they were interested in making a good product. That same responsiveness, it turns out, carried over into TBX.”
When AD Toolbox transitioned into TBX under new ownership, Manzanares didn’t holdback his initial doubts. “I’ll tell you the truth, I didn’t have much hope for it, because I’ve been there, done that. I thought he’d just suck it dry and increase the price and minimize it, and I’d go on to somebody else.”
That didn’t happen. After sitting down with TBX CEO Jon McLaughlin over breakfast, Manzanares came away with a very different impression. “Jon has really put a lot of effort, time, and money into TBX. He and I had breakfast one time and I was really surprised by the amount of effort, time, and money he put in.”
Manzanares felt the platform transition itself was handled in a way that respected what users already knew. “When AD Toolbox transitioned to TBX, I initially felt like you do when you go to the grocery store and they have moved things around and you go, ‘where was this?’” Manzanares says. “But I’ve got to give credit to Jon, he left a lot of stuff in the basic format exactly like it was. And there were a few things that moved around, but for the most part it really worked well.”
Beyond preserving what worked, Manzanares noticed that TBX added to it. "The platform started to include some of the free maintenance manuals out there, the AC 43.13, Service Bulletins, Service Letters. The TBX team put in a lot of work, and I think that was an upgrade to AD Toolbox."
Today, TBX plays a central role in Manzanares’ daily operations, particularly for two tasks he returns to constantly. “I use the AD research and the 337 the most. I really like the format of the 337—it’s something I do quite a few of, so I really like that.”
With TBX fully embedded in daily operations, the biggest outcome for Manzanares comes down to one word: compliance. And more specifically, confidence in that compliance. “I’m 100% confident that when I do an AD search in TBX that it’s complete. That gives me peace of mind right there. Of course, I’ve got to make sure I put the proper amount of data in there, but once I get it in there, I’m very comfortable that it’s consistent and it hasn’t changed.”
“When the FAA does spot checks, the beauty behind having TBX is that I have a log, I have a record, it stays there."
That confidence extends to FAA audits and spot checks, where documentation must be accurate, consistent, and immediately accessible. “When the FAA does spot checks, the beauty behind having TBX is that I have a log, I have a record, it stays there. I can reprint it, I can email it to them—I don’t have to make a copy. I like the ability to do that electronically.”
After more than two decades in aviation maintenance and years of experience across multiple platforms, Manzanares’ recommendation to other shops is direct. “If someone came up to me and asked me which platform to use, I would say: I’ve used other platforms in the past, but I have been using AD Toolbox and now TBX for a long time. I like how easy it is to use, I like the price, I like the flexibility, and I like all the extra add-ons. It’s not just an AD research tool anymore—it’s a complete package, and it’s getting better.”
