SmartDraw Alternative for FBO & MRO Hangar Planning
If you're using SmartDraw to plan hangar layouts or schedule maintenance bays, you're using a diagram tool to solve an operational problem.
AirPlx replaces static drawings with live hangar optimization, maintenance bay scheduling, AutoParking, and real-time facility visibility — built for FBO ramp operations and MRO bay scheduling.
The Problem with Static Diagram Tools
SmartDraw is excellent for creating diagrams.
But aviation operations are not static.
When ramp traffic spikes, a maintenance schedule slips, or an unplanned arrival forces a reshuffle, static layouts break down. Teams end up redrawing positions manually or relying on tribal knowledge instead of system logic.
For FBOs juggling transient parking and departure stacks, the cost is missed revenue. For MROs running heavy checks, the cost is cascading schedule delays — bay scheduling, jig clearances, and multi-week work orders can't live in a static drawing.
AirPlx was built for live operations, not presentation graphics.
What you get with static tools
Static layouts that break when plans change
Manual aircraft sizing—no built-in dimensions
No stacking or overlap logic
No AutoParking optimization
No bay scheduling or conflict detection
Copy-paste workflows for every change
What you get with AirPlx
800+ aircraft models with to-scale dimensions
Multi-door hangar and bay modeling
AutoParking, stacking, and bay scheduling
Live ramp, hangar, and schedule visibility
Multi-week maintenance scheduling with conflict detection
Real-time collaboration across your team
SmartDraw vs. AirPlx
See how the tools compare, feature by feature.
| Feature | SmartDraw | AirPlx |
|---|---|---|
| Static hangar diagram | ||
| Live aircraft stacking | ||
| Multi-door hangar logic | ||
| AutoParking & bay optimization | ||
| Facility-wide operational visibility | ||
| Live schedule integration | ||
| Multi-week bay scheduling & conflict detection | ||
| Designed for aviation ops | ||
| Bottom Line | SmartDraw helps you draw it. | AirPlx helps you run it. |
800+ Aircraft. To-Scale. Updated Monthly.
SmartDraw doesn't know a Gulfstream from a 737. Every shape is a rectangle you draw yourself.
AirPlx includes 800+ real aircraft models with manufacturer-verified dimensions—wingspan, length, height, tail height, and winglet variants. Whether you're placing a G650 next to a King Air 350 or verifying a 737-800 fits in Bay 3 for a C-check, the system knows the clearances before the tug moves.
To-Scale Dimensions
Every model uses manufacturer-verified specs—wingspan, length, height, tail clearance, and ground clearance. Critical for bay fit verification and scheduling.
Winglet & Variant Support
737-700 vs 737-800 vs 737 MAX? Each variant is modeled separately with accurate dimensions.
Updated Monthly
New aircraft added regularly. Can't find a model? We add it same-day from official specs.
Built for Peak Operations
During peak ramp traffic, heavy maintenance cycles, or facility-wide schedule shifts, diagram tools require manual updates and constant rework. AirPlx handles the complexity automatically.
Door Constraints
Knows which aircraft fit through which doors—no manual measuring.
Aircraft Dimensions
800+ models with wingspan, height, and tail clearance built in.
Stacking & Fit Logic
Calculates stack depth for FBO hangars and verifies aircraft-to-bay fit for MRO facilities — with safe overlap and clearance rules.
Towing Paths
Ensures tug access so departures and bay transitions don't require costly reshuffles.
Overflow Scenarios
Models ramp overflow and staging area constraints when hangars and bays hit capacity.
Schedule Management
Tracks multi-day and multi-week maintenance holds, flags overlapping assignments, and prevents the schedule cascades that kill MRO throughput.
Moving from SmartDraw?
Upload your existing layout and we'll convert it into a live AirPlx workspace.
No starting from scratch
No re-drawing aircraft footprints
No downtime
Most conversions are completed within 24-48 hours.
"We used SmartDraw for years. It worked — until we needed to actually schedule bays and manage live operations. AirPlx gave us the scheduling visibility we never had."
— Facility Operations Manager
SmartDraw vs AirPlx: Frequently Asked Questions
How is AirPlx different from SmartDraw for FBO hangar planning?
SmartDraw is a general-purpose diagram tool — every aircraft is a rectangle you draw yourself, and the layout breaks the moment plans change. AirPlx is purpose-built for aviation operations: it ships with 800+ to-scale aircraft models, multi-door hangar logic, AutoParking, and live stacking that updates as your ramp does.
Can I import my existing SmartDraw diagrams into AirPlx?
Yes. Our Migration Assist team will take your existing SmartDraw layouts, PDFs, or hand sketches and rebuild them as live AirPlx hangars and bays — to scale, with the correct doors, columns, and clearances. You don't redraw anything yourself.
Do I need to retrain my line crew to switch from SmartDraw?
No. Most FBO and MRO teams are running real shifts in AirPlx the same week they start. If your crew can drag a shape in SmartDraw, they can stack a hangar in AirPlx — the difference is the system handles dimensions, door fit, and tow paths automatically instead of asking your crew to eyeball them.
Does AirPlx work with the 800+ aircraft models I'd otherwise draw by hand?
Yes. AirPlx includes 800+ real aircraft models with manufacturer-verified wingspan, length, height, tail height, and winglet variants — updated monthly. If a model isn't in the library, we add it same-day from official specs, so you never have to manually measure or draw a tail again.
What's the cost difference between SmartDraw and AirPlx?
SmartDraw is priced as a general diagramming tool, while AirPlx is priced as operational software for FBOs and MROs. For most operators, the comparison isn't license-to-license — it's the cost of missed tow-in revenue, manual reshuffles, and bay schedule cascades that SmartDraw can't prevent. Book a demo and we'll walk through ROI for your specific operation.
Can AirPlx handle MRO bays as well as FBO hangars?
Yes — AirPlx is built for both. The same system that stacks transient aircraft for an FBO also handles multi-week maintenance holds, bay-fit verification against jig clearances, and conflict detection for overlapping work orders in an MRO. Many of our customers run mixed FBO and MRO operations on a single facility view.
Stop Diagramming. Start Operating.
If you're using SmartDraw for hangar layouts or bay scheduling, it may be time to upgrade from diagrams to operational intelligence.
Start AutoStacking
See how AirPlx plans, parks, and predicts your ramp moves in one place
Copyright 2026 • AirPlx, Inc.