What are your thoughts on SavvyMx?

[redbaron1982]

I'm five days away from renewing my subscription after my first year with them, and I'm doubting about renewing.

I like the idea behind the service, but my experience was not in line with my expectations so far. There are some exceptions, like Dave Pasquale and Kortopates, they are great and always provide good insights. But this seems to be more the exception than the rule.

So far I had to use the "I'm not happy" button twice:

• I have an issue with oil consumption, I burn (or lose) 1 qt every 3hs. They haven't come up with any solution. The conclusion was "It's inside what is considered airworthy".
• I'm going through annual inspection and one day before starting the annual inspection, my account manager went on vacation without let me know and a new guy came in, so I had to get up to speed on the list of squawks I have discussed already with my main account manager. Then, when the shop sent back the result of the inspection, they didn't reply for 3 days until I used the "I'm not happy" button and then I was informed that both my main and secondary account managers were on vacation. Now I had to get up to speed to a 3rd person. Two days after, my main account manager came back, and again, he asked me to get him up to speed on how the annual was going.

So, I don't like the service, my question is have any of you had one of those cases where you were "saved" by having Savvy?

[phxcobraz]

I went the do my own research and find shops route while a buddy went the Savvy route, when we bought our separate airplanes. 

I think we have both had an equal amount of headaches as it relates to working with shops and getting answers/progress/etc. It has taken me 3 years but I finally feel like I found a good A&P.

A buddy had Savvy do all his work and had all work or findings run through them. He found a good shop but has had just as many headaches he had to do his own legwork on. He doesn't think he will renew it next year. Many of the people he prefers to work with weren't found through Savvy. He is also far less mechanically knowledgeable and thus I do thinks Savvy was useful up front to get him on the right path.

[Utah20Gflyer]

Have you considered doing a ring flush?  That is about the only thing other than pulling cylinders that I can think of to help oil consumption.   I’m currently around a quart every 4-5 hours and plan on doing the ring flush next oil change.  I have chrome cylinders so my oil consumption is probably always going to be higher than those with non chrome cylinders but it doesn’t look difficult and doesn’t seem like it could hurt anything.  
 

My view on Savvy is it is for people who either are new to owning aircraft or don’t  want to be involved in the maintenance any more than absolutely necessary.   After three years of ownership and making lots of local connections to A&Ps in my area I don’t see the need, but Im the type of person who can’t help but research everything to the Nth degree when something comes up. So I’m really not the target group for Savvy anyway.  
 

Savvy also may be more valuable to those with more expensive planes that cost more to maintain.  A Mooney may be too simple an airplane to get full value from the service.  A Cessna 421 on the other hand might be a great candidate for the savvy service.   
 

This is all speculation as I’ve never used Savvy.  

[Pinecone]

I have several good shops fairly local, including @jetdriven

So don't really have need of the MX portion.  I do use and like Savvy Analysis and hope I never have to use Breakdown service.  But nice to know it is there.

[201Mooniac]

I love my shop (Top Gun) so I have no need for the SavvyMx but I've been using the SavvyQA and have found it very useful a few times (like when I had issues away from home).  I'm not sure it is worth it but the QA cost is about half the Mx cost so I've been using it for a couple of years now and will probably keep it for a little wqhile at least.

[phxcobraz]

2 hours ago, Utah20Gflyer said:

Have you considered doing a ring flush?  That is about the only thing other than pulling cylinders that I can think of to help oil consumption.   I’m currently around a quart every 4-5 hours and plan on doing the ring flush next oil change.  I have chrome cylinders so my oil consumption is probably always going to be higher than those with non chrome cylinders but it doesn’t look difficult and doesn’t seem like it could hurt anything.  
 

My view on Savvy is it is for people who either are new to owning aircraft or don’t  want to be involved in the maintenance any more than absolutely necessary.   After three years of ownership and making lots of local connections to A&Ps in my area I don’t see the need, but Im the type of person who can’t help but research everything to the Nth degree when something comes up. So I’m really not the target group for Savvy anyway.  
 

Savvy also may be more valuable to those with more expensive planes that cost more to maintain.  A Mooney may be too simple an airplane to get full value from the service.  A Cessna 421 on the other hand might be a great candidate for the savvy service.   
 

This is all speculation as I’ve never used Savvy.  

Let me know how the ring flush works out for you. I have the same motor and chrome cylinders. I seem to burn through about 1qt every 6hrs, have about 550hrs SMOH. Runs great otherwise.

[natdm]

I've got the higher tier of SavvyMX. I love them, will probably downgrade or cancel next year though. I think I'm at a place where I've got my own little circle that I trust and I'm gaining the knowledge myself as well. Here's what they've done for me that's good:

• The low boost pump was moved around and nobody could physically find the unit to take it out and overhaul it. My Savvy rep actually went through all the logs everywhere and found it in a misplaced area of the log entries, via a PDF scan I did.
• They find countless issues in the flight analysis and send them to my mechanic on a thread we're all on. Ranging from oil consumption, MP and RPM drops, CHT/EGT issues, oil temps, etc.
• Assist in calling around to find hard to get parts. At one point, my rep happened to be near the shop that overhauls Merlyn equipment, and went in to ask questions for me. That was neat.
• Generally finding a reliable mechanic in the first place.
• I got them *after* the pre-purchase inspection which was the worst thing ever. I didn't know about them but immediately after, they found a myriad of issues that I didn't get to split with the previous owner.

The thing I wasn't too happy about is that they weren't able to assist at all in the overhaul. That's apparently extra, even from the highest tier of service. The overhaul took 7 months, which means I paid for more than half a year with zero input. It did *not* go swimmingly. I did use a shop that is ran by a Savvy IA, but was not pushed at all to go to them via Savvy.

I would highly suggest Savvy for anyone that's like me -- wants to know more about the plane and engine but doesn't have the time or the space to do any owner assisted maintenance. Sadly their price went up and I think it's out of my price range, I'd rather fill the tanks 3 times and fly for 18 extra hours than pay for a year. I wouldn't hesitate to go back to them for a new plane. I don't doubt that they saved the cost of the membership for the first year. 

 

[dkkim73]

Still early in the ownership process, but I've found Savvy a good source of advice. 

Several interactions with A&P's I'd arranged on my own, so they were more advisory or after-the-fact. I think the onus for findings shops often falls on the owners as there is inevitable local knowledge and references/tips required. 

That said, the ability to bounce things off people, get a look at digital logs, check invoices, and get other advice from Savvy has been helpful. They've been quite helpful in my recent issues with fuel setup, test flights, and the recent cylinder/valve work (advising and hand-holding for a more minimally-invasive approach). Some of this you can get without the MX managed service package. 

Particularly, some of the old salts are very helpful (our own Paul K., and Eric Svelmoe, for example). 

I'll have a better sense near renewal time, but so far I think it's a value-add. 

HTH

David

PS. To be clear, I still end up talking to a lot of people (e.g. consulted Brian Kendrick), multiple people here at MS, etc. So I have viewed it as additive and as a source of review and reminders, not as a sole point-of-contact. So for me, it's another coach in my corner of the ring.  On the other end of the spectrum, I could see it being very helpful for peole who want to be even more hands-off...

[Rick Junkin]

On 4/10/2024 at 10:21 AM, redbaron1982 said:

So, I don't like the service, my question is have any of you had one of those cases where you were "saved" by having Savvy?

Savvy Breakdown, which is now included in the lowest tier (SavvyAnalysis?) of paid subscription, has been useful to me twice. I'm an involved and knowledgable owner but I'm not a mechanic so having a number to call for assessment and recommendation saved me from two AOG situations away from home. Knowing I have them to recommend a good shop if I need one away from home is good peace of mind for me. I don't subscribe at the SavvyMX level but I probably would have benefitted from it earlier in my ownership. I do recommend the SavvyAnalysis level subscription for the regular Report Card and FEVA Reports, as well as the detailed engine data analysis available on request.

Cheers,
Junkman

[GeeBee]

I had to divert last week due to a bad alternator. Had it not been RDU where I had access to some mechanical help, I would have used SavvyBreakdown. As it was I found someone through Atlantic Aviation and was able to direct the work. That said, I appreciate QA as occasionally I need a "sanity check" just to make sure I'm not bird dogging rabbits down a hole. In the scheme of things it is about a tank of fuel so it is not that much money for QA.

[redbaron1982]

Thanks, guys, for all the feedback.

I think maybe SavyQA is the best combination of price/benefit. I might end up downgrading instead of cancelling.

I do like a lot the analysis service they offer both of engine data and borescope images.

[NotarPilot]

I had the highest tier for two years, from 2021 to 2023, as well and didn’t find the service worth the cost. I’m fortunate enough to have a good relationship with my mechanic just 4 T-hangars away from me. I’ve used him for annuals for 6 years now. During the annuals, Savvy would communicate with the shop and was kind of like a middleman that didn’t need to be there. I literally see my mechanic all the time while I’m at my hangar so communicating through email from Savvy to my mechanic and mechanic to Savvy, to me, just didn’t make sense. I will likely renew one day for the break down service, especially when I start flying to Mexico.

[Shadrach]

I have never subscribed to Savvy but I see the utility for new owners and those who are arms length regarding maintenance. Over the years, I have had several issues with shops over recommendations that turned into unauthorized maintenance, incomplete maintenance and even an ultimatum that forced me to retrieve my aircraft in an unairworthy state. I am lucky that I had several relationships with MX professionals going into ownership. They were not local but they were a just a phone call away. To me, Savvy simply buys you a relationship with a credentialed MX professional that will act as council and representative as needed.  That seems like a valuable proposition for someone who has not yet established any relationships nor accrued much experience. 
@redbaron1982 has had a crash course in aviation maintenance. I can see how he might feel ready to manage things himself after all he has been through.

[Crawfish]

I use Savvy's second tier "SavvyQA," through work I know several A&P's but most of them have only been wrenching on Jets for the past 10+ years and while all of them are excellent MX they take a while with researching Piston issues. Having Savvy recommend and provide documentation for jobs or help with the trouble shooting has been very nice as well as recommending shops to send parts for overhaul.

And Savvy analysis has also been insightful. 

[tim417]

I am a SavvyQA subscriber and have been for the past two years of owning my C model. I also used their PreBuy program and overall I a quite happy with the service and find it to be of good value based on the tier I have purchased. I think it comes down to expectations. Even the at the SavvyMX full tier, they do not offer actual maintenance service. So if you have some strange gremlin, they may not be able to solve your issue. However, the value in their service comes from their experience from working with various FBOs and mechanics and can usually (but not always) provide good recommendations for mechanics in your area. The features I particularly like is the analytics of my engine monitor data, and I intend on using their borescope analysis service as well since it is included. I also like being able to query them at any time for an informed opinion on whatever maintenance issue that may creep up. 

If you have a trusted mechanic that will take the time to educate you on maintenance, then you may not find SavvyQA or MX as valuable as you have an expert on retainer. But for those of us who don't, then Savvy is essentially that. They can offer you some advice so you can make an informed decision that may save you a ton of money from doing unnecessary work, especially if you have an overzealous mechanic.

That said, they aren't miracle workers. They do not actually perform the maintenance so it isn't directly their fault if the mechanic has trouble diagnosing certain problems. What they do is either manage your maintenance, or provide advice. 

[MikeOH]

Another happy Savvy QA customer for the last 6 years.  I like the data analysis and deep cohort history along with the exhaust valve monitoring.  Looking forward to using the borescope service.

SavvyMX is way too expensive to be a good value IMHO.

[glenn reynolds]

I fly cross country a couple times a year and fly to Alaska occasionally and fly the Mooney for business and breakdowns can be a huge issue.  I've had a flat tire on a runway at night (Savvy breakdown advisor told me to go to Walmart and buy a car moving dolly and we got the plane off the runway!)  Another time I had a gear door broken hinge and need a double check that I could continue the trip with the gear door removed (I was advised to take both sides off so the plane was symmetric) and so the savvy breakdown has been a good value for me.  I don't use it for annuals and routine service as I like to do my research about which shops I use so my annuals always come in on time and at the estimate.  

[famos_amos]

I'm about to lean on them for suggestions and guidance on a PPE in the Orlando area.. J-model.. Will update with feedback. 

[BlueDun]

Very happy with the service. Occasionally, their serving as an intermediary slows things down. That drawback is more than mitigated by knowledge, having a second ear, troubleshooting, break down service, etc. Last year, I saved so much money on a complicated problem, after their negotiation, the service easily covers itself for over the next decade.

[FLYFST]

On 4/10/2024 at 8:56 PM, redbaron1982 said:

Thanks, guys, for all the feedback.

I think maybe SavyQA is the best combination of price/benefit. I might end up downgrading instead of cancelling.

I do like a lot the analysis service they offer both of engine data and borescope images.

I have been using Savvy Analysis for many years and have always been very satisfied with the value they provide, their quick response to my engine analysis tickets and related questions, and their continuing efforts to innovate such as FEVA and now the borescope inspection guidance.

Good luck with your decision - Hank

[Utah20Gflyer]

On 4/10/2024 at 12:50 PM, phxcobraz said:

Let me know how the ring flush works out for you. I have the same motor and chrome cylinders. I seem to burn through about 1qt every 6hrs, have about 550hrs SMOH. Runs great otherwise.

I’ll let you know, it will probably happen end of summer maybe.