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Using Big Numbers

Using Big Numbers

Years ago, I was conducting recurrent King Air 200 training with the two experienced and professional pilots of a Midwest corporation. As part of their takeoff briefing, they used the phrase, “We’ll use big numbers.”  “What did you say?” I asked. “What does that mean?”  Their explanation made a lot of sense to me then,…

The Upper Left Corner Part I: Taking your King Air to explore Washington State’s National Park Lands

The Upper Left Corner Part I: Taking your King Air to explore Washington State’s National Park Lands

Emerald or jade. Forest or hunter. Turquoise or teal. Whatever adjective one chooses to add to “green,” there is little question you’ll find it in Washington. As a state motto, it’s never been officially adopted, but Washington has long been called “The Evergreen State” for good reason. Seattle, the state’s largest city, is similarly referred…

Who is Covered?

Who is Covered?

Many aircraft owners are entrepreneurial by nature, looking for new opportunities, ideas and efficient ways to deploy capital and maximize their return. This mindset creates new and more affordable ways to fly the open sky without having 150 strangers sitting next to you. A common avenue to making aircraft ownership more affordable is to be…

Ready for Takeoff?

Ready for Takeoff?

There you are, just starting to roll from the “hold short” line onto the active runway to begin the takeoff for which you have just been cleared. Are you ready for takeoff?  “Of course I am, Tom! I’ve completed the proper checklists and given a briefing to myself since I am flying single pilot today.…

Textron Aviation announces new SustainableAdvantage carbon offset program for owners

Textron Aviation announces new SustainableAdvantage carbon offset program for owners

In mid-December Textron Aviation announced a new ProAdvantage program, SustainableAdvantage, to provide owners with an additional option for reducing their carbon dioxide emissions from operating aircraft. In collaboration with 4AIR, the program is set to launch this month and is available to eligible customers who own and operate Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker turbine aircraft worldwide. …

NBAA Regional Forum at Miami-Opa locka (OPF) Jan. 31

NBAA will be hosting its first regional forum of the year Jan. 31, bringing together current and prospective business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, customers and other industry personnel for a one-day event filled with networking and business development opportunities. The event will feature aircraft, education and exhibits: A side-by-side lineup of the world’s most cutting-edge…

AFAC Mexico Authorizes MT-Propeller’s 5-blade Propeller for King Air 90 Models

MT-Propeller received the AFAC Mexico validation IA-SA00148IB of the EASA STC #10046759 Rev.2 for the installation of the next generation Quiet Fan Jet 5-blade scimitar composite propeller for the Beechcraft King Air B90, E90, C90, C90A, C90GT, C90GTi models. It also includes those with the Blackhawk Conversion powered by PT6A-20, -20A, -21, -27, -28, -135A…

The Flying Santa

The Flying Santa

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…

Yaw Dampers …  What They’re Not

Yaw Dampers … What They’re Not

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…

Valuable News from the FAA

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…