Airplane Maintenance

January 1, 2020, was a red-letter day in the transition to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). ADS-B Out was required in Class A, B (including the Mode C veil), and C airspace in the United States, as well as generally above 10,000 feet. However, unless general aviation pilots decided to go a step further and equip […]

Pilots who own or operate an aircraft under Part 91 of the FARs are allowed to perform various preventive maintenance tasks. For the pilot comfortable with basic mechanical tasks and aware of the rules and regulations, this can save time and money. Beyond that, performing basic tasks helps us learn what makes these little birds […]

Aircraft maintenance is a touchy topic around the airport. There is no shortage of opinions on maintaining aircraft. Just ask them, and they will be eager to share.  Working on airplanes is like the Wild West sometimes. You have the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here are the top five attributes that should indicate […]

You were proud once. And why not? All eyes were focused on your pride and joy while it rested comfortably on the ramp in all its glory. Yes, your bird was once shiny and brightly colored with accent stripes that would cause those passing by to take a deep breath and sigh with envy. Now […]

When David McFarlane bought a country airport in middle America for his agricultural application and aircraft repair business back in 1979, he didn’t realize what the surrounding fields would hold 44 years later. Today, McFarlane Aviation Products is a powerhouse supplier of aftermarket and OEM aircraft parts that fill a 35,000-item catalog. Without its support, […]

When we moved east from arid northern Arizona to the very humid state of Florida, controlling corrosion on our trusty Cardinal became a full-time job. Like so many others, we hangar the bird and treat the airplane’s wings, fuselage, and tail feathers to an internal spray corrosion treatment regimen every couple of years. I make […]

“Rick,” I said, “you need to clean up this place!” The hangar floor was littered with blown-in grass clippings and dust bunnies, along with some well-soaked kitty litter accumulated under the airplane’s oily belly. “If you drop a screw, you’ll never find it until it’s embedded in a tire.”  “Yeah, [I] need to take a […]

Garmin announced on February 13 that it had obtained FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the GFC 500 digital autopilot in Beechcraft A35 and B35 aircraft. This cutting-edge autopilot, designed for light piston aircraft, offers superior in-flight characteristics, self-monitoring capabilities, and reduced maintenance requirements compared to older-generation systems. The fully equipped GFC 500 autopilot offers a […]

If you love visiting backcountry airstrips, camping next to your airplane at sites inaccessible to car travelers, and supporting the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF)—and are considering upgrading your prop game in the near future, Hartzell Propeller has a deal for you. The company is reaffirming its commitment to backcountry aviation enthusiasts by extending a $1,000 […]

OK, I will admit that I am a checklist fanatic! In the U.S. Air Force, we had a checklist for everything, and so I was imprinted with the checklist gene early on. Among their many benefits, checklists prevent gear up landings, keep pilots healthy, and make your insurance agent happy. However, once the aircraft is […]