Aircraft usage tracking system and related methods

An aircraft usage tracking device for an aircraft having at least one motor, the aircraft tracking device comprising:

• wireless communications circuitry;
• and
• an aircraft operation controller coupled to the wireless communications circuitry and configured to
• determine a motor start operation of the at least one motor when the aircraft is at a given airport location based upon connection to a wireless communications network at the given airport location,
• wirelessly communicate motor start operation data associated with the motor start operation,
• determine a motor stop operation of the at least one motor, and
• determine whether the motor stop operation of the at least one motor is at the given airport location based upon a reconnection to the wireless communications network at the given airport location, and when so, wirelessly communicate motor stop operation data associated with the motor stop operation.

A method of tracking aircraft usage for an aircraft having at least one motor, the method comprising:

• using an aircraft usage tracking device to
• determine a motor start operation of the at least one motor when the aircraft is at a given airport location based upon connection to a wireless communications network at the given airport location,
• wirelessly communicate motor start operation data associated with the motor start operation,
• determine a motor stop operation of the at least one motor, and
• determine whether the motor stop operation of the at least one motor is at the given airport location based upon a reconnection to a wireless communications network at the given airport location, and when so, wirelessly communicate motor stop operation data associated with the motor stop operation.