By Ken Dufour, ASA, MAM, ATP, CFI and Jason Zilberbrand, ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS Aircraft records that have been lost or destroyed are a highly debated subject with regards to the continued operation and the overall value of the aircraft. Some say that 30% to 50% of the value of an aircraft resides with the maintenance records. Whether this is accurate or not, they represent value and should be treated with care and respect [...]

By Ken Dufour, ASA, MAM, ATP, CFI and Jason Zilberbrand, ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS The purchase of an aircraft represents a significant commitment that should be approached carefully and cautiously, especially when buying a used aircraft. For many aircraft owners, it means the most extensive single lifetime investment next to purchasing a home. Quite often, the purchase price of an airplane approximates or exceeds the price of a new home. While not every aircraft [...]

Corrosion can be a devastating enemy of aircraft engines, particularly those in planes that are flown infrequently or placed in storage for an extended period. New engines or those with new or freshly honed cylinders after a top or major overhaul are of particular concern. In areas of high humidity, these have been instances where corrosion has been found in such cylinders after an inactive period of only a few days. Once these cylinders have been operated [...]

An Airworthiness Directive (AD) is an important tool used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to communicate unsafe operating conditions relating to aircraft and aircraft equipment to aircraft owners. A primary safety function of the FAA is to require the correction of unsafe conditions found in an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, rotor, or appliance when such conditions exist or are likely to exist or develop in other products of the same design. These unsafe conditions can exist [...]

Maintenance means the preservation, inspection, overhaul, and repair of aircraft, including the replacement of parts. The purpose of maintenance is to ensure that the aircraft remains airworthy throughout its operational life. A properly maintained aircraft is a safe aircraft. Although maintenance requirements vary for different types of aircraft, experience shows that most aircraft need some sort of preventive maintenance every 25 hours or less of flying time, and minor maintenance at least every 100 hours. This is [...]

One of my favorite things to do is cook. I love to spend weekends making elaborate meals, and I have to admit it, I am a food snob. If you are like me, you are probably wondering what options there are for real food onboard a business aircraft. Keep reading to see how things have changed since your last commercial airline snack of peanuts. If you can charter an aircraft, you most likely can have anything that [...]

Remember the days of playing flight simulators instead of doing your homework? You begged your parents for one of those cool joysticks so you could feel like a real pilot. What happened to those days? You may be older now, but your dreams are still alive, so why not learn how to fly and experience views like no other by committing to a real adventure as a helicopter pilot. What Do I Have to Do to Become [...]