In recent months I have been swamped with buyers considering King Airs for purchase. They have asked me to scrutinize the logbooks to figure out where the aircraft is maintenance-wise. In doing so, I encountered some really frustrating situations that could have been avoided if the log entries were clear, concise and complete. Over the…
FAA Issues InFO on Acceptable Procedures for PED Inflight Fires In late December 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued InFO 17021, which clarified its policy on the use of fire containment products such as kits/bags and acceptable firefighting and containment procedures for inflight fires involving portable electronic devices (PED). Per the InFO, several manufacturers…
If your particular autopilot/flight director system does not have the IAS mode – the mode that adjusts pitch attitude to hold a particular Indicated Airspeed – then this article is not for you. Turn the page; I’ll see you next month. But for those who have this mode, let’s talk a bit about its usefulness.…
During the 1920s, airframe manufacturers in Wichita, Kansas, produced a series of airplanes that signaled the gradual demise of open cockpit flying in favor of a comfortable, enclosed cabin. In February 1921, the indefatigable Jacob M. Moellendick announced to the Wichita newspapers that the Wichita Laird Airplane Corporation was planning to launch an air service…
Gogo Business Aviation recently unveiled AVANCE L3, a new inflight connectivity system that delivers the benefits of the Gogo AVANCE platform to passengers and flight departments in a small, lightweight form factor, with affordable pricing options. Gogo’s platform lets users customize their inflight experience based on their unique needs, and can be installed on business…
PWI, the pioneer in airplane interior lighting systems, has announced that they will grant owners an 18 x 24-inch poster of their King Air with the purchase of an LED Retrofit. (Owners will need to provide a high-quality photo for the poster.) PWI’s line of LED cabin lighting retrofits are available for King Air 300,…
Date: January 2018 ATA 23 – Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) 90-Day Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB) In 2015, the FAA revised Technical Standard Order (TSO) C121a for ULBs. TSO C121b was released to provide standards for ULBs with a battery capable of lasting for 90 days after activation. At the same…
UW’s King Air 200T is the only atmospheric research aircraft in the National Science Foundation-supported fleet operated by a university The University of Wyoming owns two Beechcraft King Air aircraft – a 1977 King Air 200T and a 1983 King Air B200 – operated by the Department of Atmospheric Science and based at Laramie Regional…
You are looking forward to taking your King Air out for a flight – the weather is clear, and your passengers are just as excited to get in the air as you are. However, during your preflight walkaround, you notice that one of your strobe lights is not working. Uh oh! There’s a possibility you…
Tax Reform Bill Signed into Law Commended for Aviation-related Provisions The new tax overhaul package referred to as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was signed into law by President Trump on December 22, 2017. Two key provisions that aviation leaders are praising are the immediate expensing of both factory-new and pre-owned (used) aircraft, as…