Ownership

I am not a mechanic, and I have never been in the Air Force. However, as a professional pilot, there has always been a mystique with the wrench turners that work (often without glamour or recognition) behind the scenes of the aviation world. Trouble is, working a flight line has not tended to produce a […]

While there has been much written about cold-weather operations for power plants there has been little written about actual aircraft and systems operation and maintenance preparation for winter. This article will discuss both power plant and airframe and try to bring the two together for a common-sense solution to some potentially difficult and expensive situations […]

In uncertain times like these, when insurance rates are skyrocketing and good coverage is hard to find, aircraft owners and pilots have lots of questions for their insurance agents.Tom Chappel of CS&A Aviation Insurance answers these “Most-Often-Asked Questions From Clients and Friends.” There are only eight standard aviation-underwriting companies and one direct writer remaining in […]

Ready for more performance? You could get a new plane, or you could get a new engine in your plane. Five companies offer Cessna 182 engine upgrades. Better climb and increased speed come at a price: higher fuel burn. This article appears in the November 2002 edition of Aviation Consumer and is reprinted here by […]

2002 Holiday Special! From now until December 31, 2002, get 10% off all items when you order online. GIFT CERTIFICATE!Can’t decide which Pilots Guide to get as a gift. Well, let them decide. Just send them a Pilots Guide gift certificate. Order them online. It is probably not an exaggerationto say that these three books […]

The editors ofLightPlane Maintenance recently looked at the universal as well as unique aspects of the relatively simple TCM continuous-flow fuel-injection system of the 360 engine. They also discuss how to set up and adjust the system for optimum efficiency and control. This article appears in the October 2002 edition of LightPlane Maintenance, and is […]

Lately, things have become a lot easier for flight instructors in need of a refresher course. If, like Glenn Daly, you dislike freeways and crowds, and you’re, shall we say, “thrifty,” you might consider doing your next FIRC online. Read on for Glenn’s first experience with Gleim’s offering. I’m sometimes lazy and always dislike a […]

If a new airplane is a must, small-aircraft fractional ownership systems, like those from OurPLANE and AirShares, deserve a look. Depending on your flying habits, it could be cheaper in the long run. But as the editors of Aviation Consumer recently explained, put a sharp pencil on the numbers. This article appears in the June […]

Perhaps there can be some good to come out of the nearly hysterical news reports on high-profile fatalities in 2001, and that is to become totally aware of all the things you can do to be safer from a maintenance, training, and an optional-equipment perspective. The concepts of safe, legal, and smart also apply here, […]

Much has been written about the frailties of the vacuum pumps that power our crucial flight control instruments. Most recently, AVweb published the first article in this series (“How Can I Fail Thee? Let Me Count the Ways“), which took a close look at some of the weak links in vacuum systems and components installed […]