The PDF Briefs Served Its Time—Now It’s Holding You Back

There was a time when sending a well-formatted PDF with all the flight details felt professional. But in today’s world, where clients live on their phones and expect real-time updates, PDFs are starting to feel more like a liability than a service.

They’re slow to update. Easy to lose. And designed for desktop, not mobile. For clients paying thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands) per flight, that’s not the experience they’re expecting—or the one that will keep them coming back.

What’s Wrong With PDF Briefings in 2025?

Let’s be blunt: PDF briefings are built for you, not your client. And clients notice.

• Static by nature: Any time something changes (FBO, pickup time, catering, etc.), you have to generate and resend the entire file.

• Inbox clutter: Clients dig through threads of outdated PDFs trying to find the “latest” one.

• Poor mobile UX: Reading a multi-page PDF on a phone is a clunky experience to say the least…

• No interactivity: There’s no chat, no clickable maps, no dynamic updates.

Behind the scenes, it also means more admin work, more room for error, and less time spent on actual client service.

What’s Replacing the PDF?

Modern aviation teams are replacing PDFs with branded, mobile-ready briefings—delivered through their own client-facing app.

This new format offers:

• Always up-to-date info: As soon as details change in the admin portal, they update in the app. No need to resend anything.

• Cleaner presentation: One tap gives your client access to their trip, crew, FBOs, catering, and even transport—all in a format that feels high-end.

• Push notifications instead of email threads

• Your brand front and center: You stay in control of the look, tone, and professionalism.

And importantly, you don’t need to build this tech yourself. That’s the point. It’s white-labeled, ready to go, and maintained for you.

What This Means for Brokers

Clients judge you by the details. The moment you make their experience easier, faster, and more polished, you stand out—especially in a market full of brokers who still send PDFs and spreadsheets.

“We used to think clients wanted that personal touch through email updates. Turns out, what they really want is seamless. Through Aviation Software, we can provide them just that." - Leading charter broker (Scandinavia)

Whether you run a small team or manage dozens of flights a week, upgrading how you present trips is one of the fastest ways to elevate your service—and win more business through referrals.

Tired of resending PDFs? See how top brokers are doing it differently. Click below to Schedule Your Demo!