I see a lot of questions about the King Air’s autofeather system in online discussions. It’s not just the newly minted King Air pilots that are asking. Many a King Air pilot with plenty of hours under their belt have had the occasional “synapse lapse,” so I thought a basic review of autofeather would be…
Larry Hancock and Pat Reaume built their friendship in a typical way. Both had children the same age and in the same high school sports, and they followed them wherever they were competing. That allowed for a lot of time to talk and get to know each other. Pat is a retired airline pilot and…
Paint scheme mirrors nonprofit’s aim to raise HIV awareness Air traffic controllers, FBO personnel, fellow pilots and passengers have all commented about the striking paint scheme on the 2008 Beechcraft King Air B200GT owned and operated by CAN Community Health, Inc. Getting people to notice the aircraft is exactly what the organization’s leaders wanted when…
SAFO Issued on Work Conducted by AeroBearings Includes PT6 Engines The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) advising of improper maintenance provided by AeroBearings of Arlington, Texas, by conducting work without the necessary approved data. The company therefore could not determine whether the bearings met the OEM’s design specifications. AeroBearings’…
I am continuing more of my personal King Air “War Stories” for this month’s article. Fuel Transfer and Crossfeed It is exceedingly common for all of us to incorrectly use “Fuel Transfer” and “Fuel Crossfeed” interchangeably. However, the words actually refer to very different things. Correctly, Transfer should always refer to the movement of fuel…
In 1946 the realities of a postwar commercial airplane market forced Walter H. Beech to abandon a Beechcraft from the past in favor of a Beechcraft of the future. The Beechcraft Model 17 was more than a flying machine; it was legendary. From the moment it first took flight, the airplane endured the test of…
FlightSafety International recently announced a new PT6 engine familiarization training program for pilots. The aviation training company says the new PT6 training will provide pilots who fly PT6-powered turboprop aircraft with the operating fundamentals. The course includes basic theory, engine to airframe interface, and best practices while operating the engine. It will also be beneficial…
Lee Aerospace now has FAA/PMA-approved CoolView replacement windows available for the King Air. CoolView’s advanced thin metallic composite barrier system is engineered to block up to 62.8 percent of the infrared rays or heat coming through the windows. In addition, the windows block virtually all (99 percent) ultraviolet rays. This process is internal, within the…
Rockwell Collins recently announced that Hampton Aviation of Mena, Arkansas, has joined its network of authorized dealers and installers. Since 2003, Hampton Aviation has been the premier King Air inspection and repairs facility for the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy. The maintenance facilities capabilities include complete inspections, heavy structural repair and maintenance, spar replacement…
Garmin has announced the addition of new, cost-effective Garmin Navigation Database information for South America. This database will soon be available in the newly expanded Americas OnePak, which offers coverage in North, Central and South America and provides database updates across all Garmin avionics and a portable in a single aircraft. New to South America,…