Have you heard of The Flying Santa flights that have continued uninterrupted for 94 years? They started on Christmas Day 1929 in a floatplane built by Travel Air, the airplane manufacturer started in 1925 by Walter Beech, Clyde Cessna and Lloyd Stearman. Early aviation pioneer William Wincapaw loved flying, especially amphibious airplanes that were practical…
A frustrated King Air instructor-pilot and friend asked: Why do so many pilots think that rudder pedal and rudder trim usage are unnecessary after they turn on the yaw damper? I have observed pilots, even experienced ones that fly an entire King Air flight without ever making a rudder trim adjustment. That’s crazy! Don’t they…
NAS Safety Review Team Report Provides Recommendations on ATO Safety Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commissioned the National Airspace System’s Safety Review Team (SRT) to review the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) in respect to the increased number of aviation safety risks at airports. In mid-November, the SRT presented their findings in a…
A director of maintenance from Alaska with several King Air B100s called me not long ago. The most recent addition to his fleet had a pressurization problem that would not resolve. The system tested fine on the ground, but there was no pressurization in the air. He had researched the part number of the flow…
When pilots Wayne Petrus and Philip Thomas flew missions for Angel Flight South Central in the early 2000s, they noticed the tremendous need for flights originating from their home state of Louisiana. Angel Flight was doing an admiral job, but with the organization based in the Dallas metro area, many of their pilots were also…
BLR Aerospace recently announced it received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of a King Air 200 series STC increasing maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) up to 14,000 lb when the aircraft is fitted with BLR Winglets, High Flotation Landing Gear and a Centex Halo 275 STC (SA11103SC). The same STC increases maximum takeoff weight to 13,420 lb if the…
PWI recently announced the recent FAA PMA approval for the LED Logo Light for the Beechcraft King Air 90, 200, 300, B300/350 models. Illuminating the vertical tail surface of the King Air aircraft, this new LED floodlight highlights a company logo and/or slogan, often painted on the tail. The powerful 5,000K color temperature LED improves…
German aviation company BLISSAIR opened a new flight simulation centre in the city of Bocholt near the Dutch border. The company can now offer professional type trainings, recurrent and safety trainings, as well as check flights for the Beechcraft King Air BE90/99/100/200 series on a Level D full-flight simulator from CAE. The new equipment simulates…
It won’t be long before Old Man Winter is holding much of the country in his icy grasp, so it’s an appropriate time to review how to warm up the cabin most effectively after engine start. Operators of the King Air model 90, A90 and B90 have only two choices: Either select auto or manual…
Five years ago, Ron Draper became president and chief executive officer of Textron Aviation at the age of 50. Earlier this year, Draper talked to King Air magazine about what he calls his “not normal” career path from farmer to the C-suite, the importance of faith and family in his life and his enthusiastic return…