When an aircraft goes AOG, a mobile repair team comes to the aircraft instead of the aircraft going to a shop. That removes the ferry flight, finds the actual fault before anyone moves the airplane, and in most cases gets you flying sooner and for less.
Whether you operate a Challenger 350, a Citation XLS+ or a King Air 350i, an aircraft sitting on the ramp costs money every hour. A team that answers the phone at any hour and comes to you removes the scramble to find a shop, arrange a crew and plan a ferry.
The fastest fix is often the cheaper one. Mobile repair usually costs less than a ferry flight, crew hotels and per diem while the aircraft sits at a distant facility.
Aircraft on ground troubleshooting at your location
Mobile troubleshooting means an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic arrives with test equipment and the aircraft's maintenance data, and finds out what's wrong before anyone commits to a ferry flight. On-site diagnosis also confirms whether the aircraft is safe to move at all.
How a 305 SKY AOG call works:
1. The call
Call (305) 326-3498. A person answers, 24/7, not voicemail. Expect questions about the aircraft type and tail number, the exact symptom or message, when it last flew, where it is parked, whether it can be moved and who is on board. Those answers decide who we send and what they bring.
2. Dispatch
A technician is dispatched from the nearest 305 SKY location or our mobile AOG van, with test equipment, maintenance data, common parts, avionics diagnostic tools and logbook supplies. We cover Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE), Boca Raton (BCT), Opa-locka (OPF), Palm Beach (PBI) and airports up to Vero Beach (VRB). Arrival time depends on the airport and time of day, so you get an estimate on the call.
3. On-site inspection and testing
Troubleshooting follows the symptom. For a warning or fault message, the technician reads the system and checks sensors, wiring and pressures. For an electrical or hydraulic problem, they trace circuits, test continuity and measure voltage. For an avionics fault, they run the system's diagnostics and test components.
4. Diagnosis and your options
Once the cause is found, you get one of three answers: repair on site now (for example, a fuel system sensor); repair on site once a part arrives (for example, a hydraulic pump sourced overnight); or hangar work required (for example, an engine change or structural repair). You know which path you're on before you spend money on logistics, and you approve the estimate before any repair starts.
5. Repair and return to service
If the repair is done on site, the technician performs the work, makes the logbook entry and signs it off as an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic. If parts are needed, we source and install them. If hangar work is needed, the diagnosis tells the hangar exactly what to do, which saves labor and downtime.
Why on-site diagnosis prevents expensive mistakes. Most AOG events are a sensor, a connector, a leak, an avionics fault or an electrical problem, not an overhaul. Without diagnosis on site, an aircraft with a two-hour fix can end up ferried to a distant shop and down for days.
Minimizing aircraft downtime with on-site response
The technician arrives with the tools and parts most likely to be needed. If a part has to be sourced, it can often be installed the same day or the next morning. Ferrying means positioning a crew, flying the aircraft, waiting for a slot in the shop's schedule and flying it back, which easily adds days. For Part 135 operators, mobile repair keeps the aircraft available and protects revenue.
Ferrying an aircraft with an undiagnosed problem can create safety and liability issues. On-site diagnosis confirms the aircraft is safe to fly before it moves.
24/7 AOG support in South Florida: what real availability looks like
Real 24/7 support means a person answers at 2 a.m. on a Sunday, not a voicemail box or a callback queue. 305 SKY's 24/7 AOG line is (305) 326-3498, answered by someone who understands aircraft and can send a team to you. Our clients also have our direct cell phones. With locations in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Vero Beach, we cover South Florida from Opa-locka to Vero Beach.
Availability is a capability, not a promise: a staffed phone line, a mobile team and locations close to where you park.
What to have ready when you call
- Aircraft type and tail number
- Current location and airport code
- The exact symptom, warning or CAS message
- When it last flew, and anything done to it recently
- Who is on board and whether the aircraft can be moved
- Fuel quantity and the best number to reach you
This tells us which technician and equipment to send. A fuel system problem needs different tools than an avionics fault.
Mobile repair vs. a ferry flight
The right choice depends on total cost, risk and whether the problem can be fixed where the aircraft sits.
What drives the cost of a mobile AOG repair:
- Travel. Distance from the nearest 305 SKY location affects arrival time and labor.
- Diagnostic labor. Finding the root cause takes time, whether it's a fuel system test or avionics diagnostics.
- Parts. Parts are included in the estimate you approve; locally available parts arrive faster, and expedited shipping costs more.
- Aircraft and system complexity. A Challenger 350 with redundant systems takes longer to troubleshoot than a PC-12 NGX.
What drives the cost of a ferry:
- Crew. A crew has to be positioned, with hotels, meals and per diem.
- Fuel. A Learjet 45XR flying several hundred miles each way burns real money.
- Shop time. Once it arrives, the aircraft waits for a slot, then pays for hangar time and labor.
- The return flight. Another crew, more fuel, more logistics.
- Downtime. A ferry cycle often takes several days. For a charter operator that's lost revenue; for an owner, lost trips.
Choose mobile repair when the fault is a component, system, electrical or hydraulic problem that can be fixed on the ramp; the aircraft can stay where it is (or move safely to a nearby hangar); the repair takes hours or a day; and you need the aircraft soon.
Examples: an avionics fault, a fuel system sensor, a hydraulic leak, a bad electrical connector or a landing gear warning.
Choose hangar work when the job is heavy maintenance (an engine change or overhaul, structural repair), needs specialized equipment or bench work, or will take weeks rather than days.
When hangar work is needed, it doesn't have to mean a distant shop. 305 SKY's Vero Beach hangar is sized for the Falcon 900, G450 and Global Express, so the team that diagnosed the problem can also fix it.
How to decide:
- Call for a diagnosis at (305) 326-3498 and describe the problem.
- Get a scope estimate: what can be done on site, which parts may be needed and roughly how many labor hours.
- Compare it to the ferry: crew, fuel, shop labor and days of downtime.
- Weigh the risk: if the aircraft is marginal, diagnosis on site confirms airworthiness before any flight.
For most AOG events (troubleshooting, component replacement, system repair) mobile response is faster and cheaper than a ferry. For engine, structural or major system work, hangar work is necessary, and mobile diagnosis tells you that before you commit.
Return to service after a mobile repair
Mobile repair doesn't skip any paperwork. An FAA-certificated A&P mechanic documents the work, records the parts used and signs off the logbook entry, and the repair must comply with applicable airworthiness directives. The standard is the same on the ramp as in a hangar. See our FAQs for how we sign off work and price inspections.
For Part 135 operators, that record is what the FAA expects to see: what was wrong, what was done and who did it. The difference is speed. The work happens where the aircraft is, with no queue, and the paperwork is done when the repair is done.
Aircraft on the ground in South Florida? Call 305 SKY at (305) 326-3498, any hour, or visit us at 240 SW 34th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, or 3300 Airport Rd, Ste 202, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
Frequently asked questions
What does mobile AOG aircraft repair involve?
An FAA-certificated A&P mechanic comes to the aircraft with test equipment and parts, finds the fault and fixes it where the aircraft is parked, at home base, at another airport or after a diversion. That avoids a ferry flight and shortens downtime. Work ranges from avionics and electrical troubleshooting to hydraulic repairs and component replacement.
When should an operator call for mobile AOG support?
As soon as a failure or message keeps the aircraft from dispatching: an engine or avionics fault, a hydraulic leak, an electrical problem or an instrument discrepancy. It matters most away from base or outside business hours. Call 305 SKY at (305) 326-3498 any time.
How does mobile repair reduce total cost?
It removes the ferry: crew positioning, fuel, per diem and days of downtime. On-site diagnosis often finds the problem faster than waiting for a shop slot, and you approve an estimate before any repair begins, so there are no surprises.
What should I have ready when I call?
The aircraft type and tail number, where it is parked, the exact symptom or message, when it last flew and any recent work on that system. The more detail you give, the better we can send the right technician and parts.