If you do it right, they say, you may never have to touch the brakes while landing. But it seldom happens that way, and that’s why tires and brakes take a beating. We lock the brakes, we ride them, we overheat them. And the chain reaction—at best—means premature brake wear. At the worst, it’s a […]
As we’ve reported, thanks to space-saving, small-supply oxygen systems from Aerox and Aithre, more pilots and their passengers may be using O2 in the cabin who otherwise wouldn’t. But we’re also hearing about the challenges of getting these little cylinders filled. Some FBOs and maintenance shops unfamiliar with these new bottles (some as small as […]
After a Cessna T210M experienced an inflight breakup in Australia in 2019, the FAA issued AD 2020-03-16, effective March 9, 2020, for the visual and eddy current inspections of the carry-through spar lower cap. The AD isn’t isolated to M-model Centurions, but also applies to the 210G, T210G, 210H, T210H, 210J, T210J, 210K, T210K, 210L […]
Not surprisingly, the FAA has issued specific guidance for airman (and air traffic control specialists) who plan to get any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. According to a release issued by the federal air surgeon (via the FAA’s Office of Aerospace medicine), FAA medical certificate holders may not act as pilot in command, or in […]
As expected, the proposed Airworthiness Directive to inspect the wing spar on thousands of Piper PA-28 and PA-32-series aircraft (including retracs) has been finalized. As we reported last fall, the AD was prompted after an Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University Piper Arrow lost a wing on a commercial checkride flight in Florida back in 2018. The […]
If you have a Superior Air Parts Inc. model IO-360/O-360 or a Lycoming 360-series under the cowling, you’ve likely been watching the proposed AD for the crankshaft used in some of these engines. The Superior Air Parts crankshaft is installed as an original-equipment component, and also as a PMA replacement part on affected Lycoming engines. […]
The reality is that the fleet of Cessna singles is aging, and a new FAA airworthiness directive is a reminder that focused airframe inspections might be the best defense against corrosion and structural failure. The latest is FAA AD 2020-21-22, which became effective on Dec. 7, 2020. The issue began with a report of cracks […]
It’s FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2020-18-51 that applies to all Sandia Aerospace SAI-340A and BendixKing AeroFlight KI-300 electronic attitude indicators. Both are manufactured by New Mexico-based Sandia. The model SAI-340A (which was one of the first standby EFIS models to market a few years ago) is approved for installation as a backup instrument (oftentimes as […]
At press time an FAA final rule has been established to address the potential inflight shutdown of Aspen Evolution series PFD and MFD systems, including Aspen emergency backup displays. This applies to a wide swath of units and there have been at least 35 instances of screens going dark and rebooting uncommanded. In multi-screen suites […]
Correspondence from the FAA is enough to elevate a pilot’s heart rate we’ll into triple digits. A letter from the FAA stating that the pilot’s competence has been called into question and requesting that the pilot take a reexamination checkride with an FAA inspector will make even the toughest pilot go weak in the knees. […]
After a Cessna T210M experienced an inflight breakup in Australia last year, the FAA has issued AD 2020-03-16, effective March 9, 2020, for the visual and eddy current inspections of the carry-through spar lower cap. The AD isn’t isolated to M-model Centurion, but also applies to the 210G, T210G, 210H, T210H, 210J, T210J, 210K, T210K, […]
When the calendar turns a new year I’m often asked what I think the future holds for the market, from avionics to new airplane sales and everything in between. And as we turn a new year (and a new decade), my guess may be as good as anyone else’s. But looking back on 2019, and […]
