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,…
Blackhawk Modifications recently announced Pratt & Whitney Canada’s (P&WC) completion of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) allowing the installation and operation of their Flight Data Acquisition, Storage and Transmission System (FAST™) on Blackhawk-equipped King Air 200/300 series aircraft. In addition to the FAA signoff, the FAST solution has also gained EASA and TCCA approval for…
From Service Letter MTL-57-01 Date: July 20, 2018 Wings – Lower Forward Wing Bolt Crush Washer Inspection/Replacement Compliance – MANDATORY: This service document must be accomplished within 200 flight hours or twelve months from the date of receipt, whichever occurs first. A service document published by Textron Aviation may be recorded as completed in an…
Correction In the August 2018 issue of King Air in Ed Phillips’ historical article titled “Cessna’s Last Stand,” on page 27, the wrong photo caption was published. It should have been: The C-34 evolved into the 1937 C-37, 1938 C-38 and finally, the 1939 C-145/C-165. Known unofficially as the Cessna Airmaster, the four-place monoplane saved…