Ownership

This is what I call a great start to the flying season: Sun ‘N Fun blew into Lakeland sporting great weather and a kind of subdued enthusiasm that bodes well for Experimental aviation. Why am I pleased with anything less than a full-chat hype fest? Because a mature industry is much more sustainable than one […]

This is a true story. The names have been changed, but the rest is unvarnished truth.If you’re an aircraft owner, reading this story should make you angry. If you’re an A&P mechanic, it should make you hopping mad. (I’m both an owner and a mechanic, so you can imagine how I feel.)Over the many years […]

Some of the discrepancies and unairworthy items found on “Oscar’s” 1965 Cessna 320 Skyknight shortly after it was approved for return to service following an annual inspection at High Maintenance Aviation. (Photos by “George Goodguy,” A&P/IA of “Goodguy Aircraft Maintenance.”) See the full column by Mike Busch for the rest of the story. Cracked exhaust […]

Odyssey Aviation Publications There are three issues that confound many potential aircraft purchasers as they are searching for the right aircraft: airframe time, avionics equipment, and engine time. Each can have its own lasting effect on the aircraft that is purchased, leaving the new owner with the potential for higher maintenance bills as well as […]

It was a normal weekend morning in the Pilot’s Lounge at the virtual airport; students were either exulting or bemoaning flights they had just completed, a few pilots were debating where they should go for their high-dollar hamburgers and a couple of airplane owners were deep in discussion over the operating costs of their steeds. […]

My last column (The Annual Inspection Trap) triggered some fascinating responses from several readers who are career A&P/IAs.One such reader — who oversees a GA maintenance facility — chastised me severely for my assertion that FAR 43.11 calls for an IA who is asked to sign off an annual inspection with discrepancies to document those […]

Natural selection weeds out the weak and encourages proliferation of the strong. It works in nature but I’m not so sure it hasn’t been subverted elsewhere. Specifically, I’m talking about Franklin engines, a once-upon-a-time contender in general aviation that is, for the time being, out of business.The short version is this: United Technologies — Pratt […]

Cessna Twins Spar Corporation36 Columbia Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735-2606 Tel: 516-847-0002 February 23, 2005 Ms.Mary GradyEditorAVWeb Dear Ms. Grady, Per your request, the following are CTScs comments regarding the spar cracks discovered in two Cessna 402C aircraft. The recently discovered spar problems on two extremely high-time Cessna 402C aircraft used in commuter service indicate that […]

CASE NO. 29,385 INTERSTATE SOUTHWEST, LTD., Plaintiff, v. avco corporation, TEXTRON LYCOMING RECIPROCATING ENGINE DIVISION OF AVCO CORPORATION, Defendants. IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF GRIMES COUNTY, TEXAS 278th JUDICIAL DISTRICT CHARGE TO THE JURY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY: This case is submitted to you by asking questionsabout the facts, which you must decide […]

Judging by the inquiries I get from aircraft owners, it’s a frustratingly common situation: You get a call from the shop that’s annualing your airplane, and the news isn’t good. The IA found something wrong and it’s going to be expensive to fix.Because you’re a savvy and maintenance-involved owner, you ask the IA for the […]