A software update method for an aircraft, the method comprising: obtaining software data at a data acquisition and transmission unit mounted to the aircraft, the data acquisition and transmission unit being configured to receive aircraft data denoting aircraft engine and/or aircraft performance parameters from an engine electronic controller, the software data comprising a software loader and one or more software files containing an update to a software configuration of the engine electronic controller mounted to the aircraft and communicatively coupled to the data acquisition and transmission unit; and executing, at the data acquisition and transmission unit, the software loader to install the one or more software files into the engine electronic controller and thereby modify the software configuration of the engine electronic controller according to the update, wherein the executing the software loader comprises placing the engine electronic controller in a programming mode for the engine electronic controller to receive the one or more software files, validate the one or more software files upon receipt prior to storage into a memory associated with the engine electronic controller, and store the one or more software files in the memory associated with the engine electronic controller; monitoring, at the data acquisition and transmission unit, a software loading process during the executing of the software loader installing the one or more software files into the engine electronic controller; and exiting the programming mode after the software files are stored in the memory associated with the engine electronic controller. obtaining software data at a data acquisition and transmission unit mounted to the aircraft, the data acquisition and transmission unit being configured to receive aircraft data denoting aircraft engine and/or aircraft performance parameters from an engine electronic controller, the software data comprising a software loader and one or more software files containing an update to a software configuration of the engine electronic controller mounted to the aircraft and communicatively coupled to the data acquisition and transmission unit; and executing, at the data acquisition and transmission unit, the software loader to install the one or more software files into the engine electronic controller and thereby modify the software configuration of the engine electronic controller according to the update, wherein the executing the software loader comprises placing the engine electronic controller in a programming mode for the engine electronic controller to receive the one or more software files, validate the one or more software files upon receipt prior to storage into a memory associated with the engine electronic controller, and store the one or more software files in the memory associated with the engine electronic controller; monitoring, at the data acquisition and transmission unit, a software loading process during the executing of the software loader installing the one or more software files into the engine electronic controller; and exiting the programming mode after the software files are stored in the memory associated with the engine electronic controller.