Maintenance

McFarlane Aviation, which provides a host of replacement parts for Cessna aircraft, has released Service Bulletin SB-10, Revision A, warning that there might be “material defects” in the extruded-aluminum hinges the company sells for Cessna ailerons. These defects could lead to cracking of the hinge. McFarlane says the hinges were produced between Feb. 22, 2019, […]

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Apprenticeship has approved an avionics technician apprenticeship program created by the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA). AEA’s program provides a competency-based occupational framework (CBOF) and covers “job titles and occupational pathways, related functions and performance criteria, as well as academic, workplace and personal competencies.” The […]

The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) and ten other aviation organizations have come out in opposition of a recently introduced bill aimed at increasing FAA oversight of repair stations located outside of the United States. The Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act (H.R. 5119) was introduced by U.S. House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman […]

Phillips 66’s new Victory AW 20W-50 oil combines the multi-viscosity, ashless-dispersant oil pilots are familiar with (as Phillips X/C) with the Lycoming LW-16702 additive. Previously, only Shell offered a multi-weight oil with the additive already in place. “Our product development is the direct result of pilot requests for a multi-grade engine oil that requires no […]

California-based Ampaire reports that it flew its electric hybrid aircraft this week for the first time and plans an aggressive test program toward commercialization in 2021. The hybrid drive is installed in a Cessna 337 airframe. The company flew the airplane from Camarillo, California, on Thursday, but has offered little detail on the flight parameters […]

The FAA’s FAASTeam published a safety notification this week echoing concerns outlined by the American Bonanza Society in January. The intention was to ensure all Bonanza owners were aware of the potential problem.  In short, ABS reported that control cables were failing at the swaged ends where they meet with adjusting turnbuckles. These turnbuckles can […]

A young Canadian inventor has come up with what he says is a low-cost flight data recorder for light aircraft that requires no special installation. Ephraim Nowak, 26, says the video-based SkyVU system doesn’t need to be wired into the aircraft’s panel and systems. Instead, it uses 4K video cameras to record gauges on the […]

This week, AVweb’s news roundup uncovered reports of an aviation safety day to be held in New York, a Father’s Day celebration at a helicopter museum, new service routes in New England, a sales territory expansion for Cutter Aviation and the relocation of H.E.R.O.S. The 4th Annual Westchester Aviation Association’s (WAA) General Aviation safety conference […]

The Desanctification of AoA We installed an AOA called a “Lift Reserve Indicator” in our missionary C182. It’s purpose was exactly what the name implied…at any given airspeed, weight, bank angle, and G load, you knew how close you were to a stall far more precisely than indicated airspeed, sound, feel, buffet, etc. The instructions […]

AOPA sent an alert to its members today reminding them of the hazards of contaminated jet fuel. Earlier this month, two Cessna Citation 550s landed safely after being fueled at the Punta Gorda, Florida, airport with jet fuel contaminated by DEF, which is an additive used in diesel fuel to reduce emissions in cars and […]