Blog : article

Industry Opposes H.R. 5423 and Changes Coming for NOTAMS

Aviation Industry Sends Letter in Opposition of Aircraft Noise Reduction Act In late December, several aviation industry groups* sent a letter to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio and Ranking Member Sam Graves, as well as Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman Rick Larsen and Ranking Member Garret Graves, to state…

Engine Condition Trend Monitoring

Engine Condition Trend Monitoring

Are you using ECTM? You should be. Engine Condition Trend Monitoring (ECTM) is a Pratt and Whitney-endorsed program by which PT6 Hot Section Inspection (HSI) intervals may be accomplished on an “as needed” basis instead of on an hourly basis. The first step in ECTM is recording all engine parameters when steady in cruise flight.…

Airmaster! – Part Two

Airmaster! – Part Two

Sales success of the Cessna C-34 led to three improved versions of the versatile monoplane before the winds of war forced an end to production. The year 1936 witnessed a slow return to economic stability for the United States. Times were still tough and unemployment remained high, but Americans were going back to work thanks…

Raisbeck Composite 5-Blade Swept Propeller Receives STC Approval

In late 2019, Raisbeck Engineering, Inc., announced the company has received Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Composite Five-Blade Swept Propeller for the Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft. The STC approval allowed the company to begin deliveries to King Air 200 owners and operators immediately. Designed to…

Techinically …

From Multi-Engine Turboprop Communiqué ME-TP-0018 Dated: December 2019 ATA 21 – King Air Cabin Air Exchange Rate Questions related to the cabin air exchange rate for the King Air 200 and B300 series have been received from ambulance platforms. The maximum cabin exchange rate for the King Air 200/B200/300 is up to 24 times per…

Mission 2 – Special Wheels Up fleet spreads charities’ important missions

Mission 2 – Special Wheels Up fleet spreads charities’ important missions

Starting with the first Beechcraft King Air 350i that Wheels Up took delivery of in 2013, all but four of the 72 King Airs to join the fleet of the private aviation company have the same stylish blue and white paint scheme featuring the word “UP” on the tail. Those exceptions are the aircraft that…

Bucket Lists, Part II:  Be a Box Checker!

Bucket Lists, Part II: Be a Box Checker!

Author’s Note: The following is the second installment in a series of articles which may resonate with King Air corporate and charter pilots as it relates to making the most of travel downtime. But it can also apply to the owner/pilot, whether it’s making a stop on the way to a planned destination or adding…

Winter Readiness

I was asked to write an article about preparing a King Air for winter weather. Initially, I brushed the idea aside because everything I would suggest is covered by the Phase Inspections in the Maintenance Manual. But when I had my shop, the majority of my customers flew less than 200 hours a year and…

ADS-B Final Prep, NOTAM Improvement Bill Status and Response to UK Restricting Airport Access to BizAv

FAA Finalizing Items for ADS-B Implementation Operational Rollout of ADS-B Baseline Services Complete The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced earlier that it has completed the implementation of the ADS-B Baseline Services on schedule and ready for the Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B aircraft equipage deadline. ADS-B is now operational at 155 airports, terminal radar approach control…

The E90 (and A100, B100) Fuel System

Reader Ron Randall recently sent me an email requesting that I review the E90’s fuel system. Ron has experience operating a King Air 100, a 200 and two E90s. He wrote that he experienced problems with the E90’s fuel system and requested my review/input. I am happy to oblige. Step back in time with me…