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Heated Argument – More on Prop Heat

It’s good to know that people are reading my articles. My last one, about prop heat in the February 2019 issue of King Air, generated some discussion in the King Air section of an online forum. Ice Slams A King Air pilot in Alaska shared his experience. Obviously, he gets into icing conditions all the…

Safety Theme Set for King Air Gathering IV – Registration Options Offered

Safety Theme Set for King Air Gathering IV – Registration Options Offered

King Air Gathering IV will have a set theme of Safety for its upcoming program being held Sept.26-29, 2019, which allowed host, the King Air Academy, to offer options to those attending. Option 1: General Attendee Package DATES: Evening of Thursday, Sept. 26, Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28 PRICE: $300 per attendee –…

FAA Admin Nomination, New Contingency Procedures for NAT, Canada Decommissions VOR/NDBs, FAA/NBAA Issue Reminder on ADS-B, New CBP in D.C. Area

FAA Admin Nomination, New Contingency Procedures for NAT, Canada Decommissions VOR/NDBs, FAA/NBAA Issue Reminder on ADS-B, New CBP in D.C. Area

FAA Administrator Nomination On March 19, the White House nominated longtime Delta Airlines executive Steve Dickson to the position of administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Dickson was with Delta for 27 years, retiring in 2018 as senior vice president of global flight operations. During his tenure with the airline, he was responsible for…

Power Loss versus Engine Failure

Let’s see a show of hands: How many of you have experienced an honest-to-goodness engine fire in a King Air? As I expected, no hands are up. How about an honest-to-goodness engine failure, such as a main bearing going bad, or the RGB (Reduction Gearbox) uncoupling, or the high-pressure, engine-driven fuel pump failing, or an…

A New Beginning –  Part One

A New Beginning – Part One

In 1934 amid the United States’ worst economic calamity, the Stearman Aircraft Company unveiled the utilitarian Model 70 – a landmark design that saved the company from extinction. Throughout the early 1930s Ben Selvin and the Crooners could often be heard on the radio belting out the popular song, “Happy Days Are Here Again.” It…

Garmin Expands Aviation Database Coverage and Capabilities in Australia

Garmin International, Inc. announced it has received approval of a CASR 175.C Data Service Provider (DSP) certificate from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), enabling expanded aviation database coverage in Australia. In addition to the integration of Airservices Australia data into the suite of Garmin databases, Garmin Pilot™ within Australia has also expanded to offer…

From Multi-Engine Turboprop Communiqué ME-TP-0012

Date: March 2019 ATA 00 – Form 337 for Equipment or STCs Installed at the Factory Technical Support receives requests for a Form 337 for equipment or STCs installed on King Airs at the factory. We have consulted with the Quality Department and they have provided the following explanation of why Form 337s are not…

King Air Market Still Solid – Year-End Numbers Stay Consistent

King Air Market Still Solid – Year-End Numbers Stay Consistent

The King Air market overall is very strong; we are seeing very low inventory levels and a brisk sales volume that has been consistent for the last two years. Looking at Q4 2018, we saw 186 King Air transactions compared to 181 during Q4 of 2017. Model 90 When it comes to the King Air…

The Most Modified Business Aircraft in History

We routinely ask King Air operators what options they would add to their aircraft and why, and the following is what we’ve learned. When buying your King Air, you probably figured out pretty quickly that it is one of the most modified and optioned airplanes in history. No other business type aircraft has more available…

King Air Insurance Discounts

King Air Insurance Discounts

King Air owners frequently ask me about available discounts for their insurance program. This has become more prevalent as the insurance market continues to show signs of hardening – coverages are becoming less negotiable, rates are slightly increasing and underwriters are becoming more critical of an operator’s risk profile. In the May 2018 issue of…