For operators: If you are an operator looking to generate or share your SmartScore, see
Generate and Share Your SmartScore instead.
Reading a SmartScore Report
A SmartScore report contains the following sections:Executive Summary
The first page provides a quick assessment with stoplight indicators (green, yellow, red) for each of the four pillars. This gives you an at-a-glance view of the operator’s strengths and areas of concern.Composite Score
The headline number on a 250—1000 scale:| Band | Score Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 850—1000 | Consistently strong performance across all pillars |
| Good | 700—849 | Solid performance with minor areas for improvement |
| Adequate | 550—699 | Meets baseline standards with notable gaps |
| Below Average | 400—549 | Significant areas requiring attention |
| Needs Improvement | 250—399 | Material deficiencies across multiple pillars |
Four Pillar Scores
Each pillar is scored on the same 250—1000 scale:- Organizational Foundation — structural elements: years in operation, fleet composition, organizational stability, external certifications
- Operational Excellence — day-to-day quality: maintenance compliance, dispatch quality, flight following, MEL usage
- Safety Risk Management — process maturity: reporting culture health, training completion, duty/rest compliance, systematic safety processes
- Human Capital & Resilience — crew strength: qualifications, experience depth, training investment, currency
Reason Codes
The top 5 positive and top 5 negative factors influencing the score, presented in plain language. These are modeled after FICO credit score factors and provide the most actionable insight for underwriting decisions. Positive codes highlight strengths (e.g., “Fleet maintenance compliance rate exceeds 98%”). Negative codes highlight concerns (e.g., “Three overdue maintenance items in trailing 90 days”).Confidence Assessment
The confidence level reflects data completeness:| Completeness | Label | Implication for Underwriting |
|---|---|---|
| 80—100% | High confidence | Score is well-supported; use with standard weight |
| 60—79% | Moderate confidence | Score is reasonable; may warrant supplementary questions |
| 40—59% | Limited confidence | Wider confidence interval; use as one of several inputs |
| Below 40% | Low confidence | Treat as directional only; request additional information |
Low confidence does not mean a lower score. An operator with 40% data completeness is not
penalized — their point estimate is unbiased. Confidence affects the interval width around the
score, not the score itself.
Trend Direction
The report indicates whether the composite score is improving, stable, or declining over the trailing 12 months. An operator with a moderate score on an improving trajectory may present a different risk profile than one with a higher score on a declining trajectory.Verifying Report Authenticity
Every SmartScore report can be verified through three independent methods:Scan the QR code on the report with any smartphone camera. This links
directly to the PlaneConnection verification portal, which confirms
whether the report is authentic, when it was generated, and whether
it has been modified.
Visit the verification URL printed at the bottom of the report and
enter the verification code. The portal returns the same information
as the QR code method.
Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Signature Panel (found
under View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes > Signatures) displays
the PAdES digital signature status. A valid signature confirms:
Score Freshness and Validity
Every report includes freshness metadata. Use the following guidelines:| Age | Status | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 0—30 days | Current | Acceptable for all underwriting decisions |
| 31—90 days | Valid | Acceptable; consider requesting a refresh for policies above $5M |
| 91—180 days | Stale | Request a fresh report before making underwriting decisions |
| 180+ days | Expired | Do not use; require a new report from the operator |
generated_at, valid_until, data_as_of, and
freshness provide machine-readable freshness information.
What the Score Does NOT Include
SmartScore deliberately excludes certain categories of data to preserve the operator’s just culture and voluntary safety reporting programs:- Individual safety reports — hazard reports, near-misses, incidents
- Investigation details — findings, root causes, evidence
- Corrective actions — specific remediation steps
- Individual pilot names or scores — no personal data
- FOQA/FDM data — raw flight data recorder information
- ASAP submissions — Aviation Safety Action Program data
- Confidential reporter identities
Score Watermarking
Each score delivery is watermarked with your organization’s identity. The data license agreement includes an anti-pooling clause that prohibits sharing scores with other insurers or data aggregators. Scores must be deleted within 24 months of receipt, and you must certify destruction upon request.API Access (Future Phase)
Direct API access for insurers is planned for a future phase. The API will provide:- OAuth 2.0 client credentials + mutual TLS authentication
- Consent verification on every request (operator must have an active consent grant)
- JWS-signed responses for tamper-proofing
- Pull types: “Inquiry” (one-time) and “Monitor” (periodic, requires separate operator consent)
- Rate limits: 100 requests/minute, 10 lookups/day per operator
Related
SmartScore Methodology
Technical reference for the scoring methodology and pillar definitions.
SmartScore FAQ
Common questions from insurers, operators, and regulators.
Data Privacy and Trust
The data firewall, encryption, and consent framework.
What Is SmartScore for Insurance?
Overview of the two-score architecture and design principles.