Automatic crossfeed is a popular topic of discussion at King Air Academy for several reasons. The first reason has to do with why we go to recurrent training in the first place – to review procedures like crossfeeding, which we rarely perform on normal flights. The second reason is to discuss the potential pitfalls when…
“Oh $#@!! … ” That’s the thought that goes through every pilot’s head when they have an engine problem. Engine failures are one of the most feared emergencies we have in aviation, though they don’t have to be. With preparation and training, we can take the fear out of a failure and remember to fly…
There I was, shortly after takeoff, gear up, climbing out. While performing the after-takeoff checklist, I noticed that the cabin rate of climb was the same as the aircraft rate of climb. The cabin altitude was climbing with the aircraft altitude, hmm. No, I didn’t forget to turn the bleed air valves on, at least…
Your airplane just came out of maintenance. You picked the best, most qualified shop to do the work, and now you’re excited to get in the air again. You jump in, fire up and launch into the sky. Then you realize something is not quite right. Unfortunately, this happens all too often. Picking up an…
We have all been to some sort of training class as a pilot. In these classes we have been shown the limitation section of the pilot operating handbook (POH), otherwise known as the aircraft flight manual (AFM). After the books have been closed and class is over, it is very easy for us to never…
“Can I perform a reduced power takeoff to save wear and tear on my engines?” We get this question fairly frequently at King Air Academy and the short answer is no, you can’t do a reduced power takeoff. Naturally, the follow-up question is “Why?” We don’t have charts that give us the performance numbers we…
Many pilots who come through training ask what the fuel topping governor really does and if it is really needed. The King Air has three propeller governors: the primary propellor governor (PPG), the overspeed propeller governor (OSG) and the fuel topping governor (FTG). The FTG is in the same housing as the PPG. This combined…
Pressurization can be one of the most frustrating things to figure out. Do I set it at my destination field altitude? Do I set my cruise altitude? Do I leave it at my departing field elevation if I’m going to return without another stop? Let’s look at setting the pressurization controller and then explore running…
Over the years, many modification options have become available for the Beechcraft King Air. If you own or operate a King Air, there is a good chance your airplane has some modification made to it. How does the modification from the original airplane design affect the way the pilot operates the airplane? Why should I…
Current limiters: We talk about them and we test them. But what do they do for us, and how can we protect them? Let’s start with defining a current limiter. It’s a device that restricts or limits electrical flow to a predetermined maximum amount that prevents damage to components. The most talked about current limiters…