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Beechcraft – The Early Days

Beechcraft – The Early Days

Weary of “flying a desk,” in 1932 Walter H. Beech dared to put wings on his name and build the finest business airplane money could buy. “I’m just a country boy. Go get a picture of me when I first came to Wichita. I’ve made good and I’m not afraid to say so,” Walter Beech…

Executive Aircraft Maintenance Relocates to PHX

Executive Aircraft Maintenance (EAM) has relocated from Arizona’s Scottsdale Airport to a larger facility at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Class III FAA Part 145 repair station will now be a tenant of Swift Aviation at Sky Harbor and occupy a 40,000-square-foot hangar. With the increase in space, the company plans to focus on larger…

Jet Shades Offers First Removable Sun Protective Panels for Pilots

Jet Shades, the exclusive manufacturer of removable tinted cockpit window panels, now offers a complete line of standard solutions to protect pilots from heat, glare and ultraviolet rays while flying. The panels fit almost every private aircraft model and can be custom-made. Jet Shades are “push-in-place” tinted window panels made to cover the top portion…

Ice Shield Launches new Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Installation Application for Wing Boots

Ice Shield De-Icing Systems has announced the launch of Ice Shield PSATM, a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) installation application that will reduce installation labor and allow minimal aircraft downtime when replacing wing de-ice boots, a Peel.Stick.Fly.™ Ice Shield’s PSA product line will provide a faster, neater and easier installation compared to the traditional contact cement…

From Beechcraft Service Letter # MTB-24-01

Electrical Power – Enhanced Clearance for Pedestal Wire Harnesses Date: December 6, 2018 Effectivity: King Air 90 (applicable variants within defined LJ serial range), LJ-1 thru LJ-2146; King Air E90, LW-1 thru LW-347; King Air F90, LA-2 thru LA-236; Super King Air B200GT, BY-1 thru BY-312; Super King Air B200CGT, BZ-1; Super King Air B300C,…

Flying for Good–Long-time pilot returns to aviation, takes up causes

Flying for Good–Long-time pilot returns to aviation, takes up causes

Mike Schroeder doesn’t take for granted the things in his life he’s been able to enjoy due to his success as a self-made businessman. When referring to his 1982 King Air B100, he said, “It’s an asset that isn’t easily available to everyone, so if I can offer it to make a difference in the…

NASA Reports: File Early and Often

Many pilots have heard of the Aviation Safety Reporting System – ASRS for short. More affectionately known as the “NASA Report.” Even for those who have filed one, the procedures and scope of protection for this report are often unclear. What is a NASA Report? In the early 1970s, there was no way for a…

Looking at Pressurization

Looking at Pressurization

True story: I traveled to Texas to check out a King Air at the tail end of its pre-buy inspection. Phases I-IV had been done and the squawks had been addressed. My job was to put my eyeballs on the airplane, do the final ground runs and go on the acceptance flight. When I asked…

Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should Start a Descent to a Lower Assigned Altitude

At the completion of my instrument instructor checkride back in ancient times, I recall that I asked the experienced FAA Inspector an important question as he was typing up the completion paperwork: “What’s the most important thing I should teach my instrument students?” “Situational awareness,” (SA) was his answer. I have concluded that he nailed…