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The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

Duncan Aviation's AEA Highlights

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Wed, Apr 15, 2015 @ 01:34 PM

booth-from-aboveThe Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) declared the 58th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show a success with record 1,897 attendees. According to reports about the traffic in Duncan Aviation’s booth from our team members who were at the show, most of the attendees must have stopped by.

By and large, the best part of AEA was the face-to-face connections made with customers and vendors, both old and new.

Here are some photos and personal highlights from several of Duncan Aviation team members who were in Dallas, Texas, at AEA 2015.

Larry Troyer, avionics instruments tech rep

The biggest highlight for me was meeting face-to-face with some customers I have worked with on the phone. It was good to establish those relationships and renew old ones.

Scott McKenzie, avionics instrument tech rep

My highlight for this conference would be the same as all of the others that I have attended in the past. That is the opportunity to meet the customer's face-to-face that I communicate with on a regular basis, either on the phone or email. The personal interaction seems to go a long way in helping build not only a good working relationship, but in many cases true friendships as well. 

Tech-TableDuncan Aviation Avionics Instruments Tech reps (L to R) Dan magnus, Scott McKenzie, Larry Troyer, Curt Campbell. 

 

Dan Magnus, avionics instrument tech rep

I found a lot of good information about upcoming requirements, such as ADS-B available.  

Vince Cruickshank, rotable sales manager

I enjoyed being able to connect with so many long-time and new customer vendors in one venue. We spoke about the new growth between our companies and how we can better serve each other’s needs.

Mike Morgan, avionics sales rep

I always enjoy being able to connect with our vendors and build on those relationships, as well as, connect with potential new vendors and new products coming to market. Also during the convention this year I was able to get a better perspective of the state of the business aviation industry.

Michael Meyer, avionics team leader

There were more learning opportunities than I could possibly take advantage of. I was happy with the educational sessions I was able to attend. The main themes were ADS-B and connectivity. And the message I got is that the ADS-B mandate will not change and we have a lot of work to do by the end of 2019.

While walking the convention floor, I was able to see some of the new equipment we will be using in the near future.  

aerotex-tour

Vince Cruickshank and Jamie Blackman with Taylor Mason from Aerotex International.

Jamie Blackman, rotable manager

This year’s convention was great!  I had the opportunity to meet several people and vendors for the first time, many of which I've been working with on the phone for years!  It's nice to put a face to the voice. Vince Cruickshank and I had a wonderful opportunity to tour the offices of Aerotex International, a Duncan customer and vendor. 

Brian Leffers, avionics install manager

My highlights were moving specific programs forward with several avionics OEMs, such as The highlights of my conference experience was being able to move specific programs forward by asking questions and addressing concerns with several avionics OEMs, such as GoGo, Universal, Collins and Honeywell.

 

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Avionics Installation

Two Most Common Failures of the APS-80 Autopilot System

Posted by Duncan Download Blog on Tue, Jul 15, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

APC---80

 

Larry  Troyer, Duncan Aviation Avionics Instrument Tech Rep, troublshoots the two most common causes of APS-80 Autopilot System failure. 

The autopilot / flight director system is a complicated system that is common in aircraft from light twins to corporate jets. 

  1. FGC-80- (Flight Director)
  2. APC-80
  3. APA-80

The FGC-80- (Flight Director) processes all lateral/vertical signal inputs depending on the selected mode. It controls the position of the command bars in the Flight Directory Indicator and sends commands to the APC-80. APC-80 receives and processes commands from the Flight Director computer and passes them on to the APA-80, which drives the individual servo motors to control aircraft flight.

Two Most Common Failures

1.   Autopilot intermittently disengages during flight

Most likely cause is the APC or APA. These computers have multiple internal dc power supplies that tend to get out of tolerance or fail completely. They can be temperature sensitive (hot or cold) failing at one specific temperature.

Troubleshooting:

  • If you are able to duplicate the discrepancy on the ground, it is possible to isolate the faulty computer by heating or cooling each box individually.
  • Engage the autopilot on the ground and manually override the controls in pitch or roll. If the autopilot disconnects, the most likely cause is in the APA due to faulty torque monitors.

2.   Autopilot will not engage

Troubleshooting:

When the autopilot won't engage, the APA and APC is still most likely the cause. However because of the extensive internal computer monitoring, there are many other things that could be contributing to the failure. When activating the lever to engage the autopilot, the system automatically initiates a self-test routine. During this self-test a dc voltage is sent to the two NAC-80 accelerometers that in turn generate a fixed signal back to the APA. A correct signal is required to successfully pass the self-test. The NAC-80s also put out a valid flag which is monitored in the APP-80 control head as a condition for engagement.

Other conditions required before the autopilot will engage:

  • Valid vertical gyro
  • Valid from the yaw damper computer
  • Correct part number status on both computers (APA & APC)
  • Continuity thru the yoke disconnect switch

If you have access to a breakout box or logic monitor it helps to isolate the problem down to a box or aircraft problem. Other wise the majority of the times engage problems are caused by either the APC-80 or the APA-80 computers.

More Autopilot Squawk Solutions on the Duncan Download

Troubleshooting Business Aircraft Autopilot: Altitude Hold INOP

Troubleshooting Autopilot-Induced Control Surface Oscillations

3 Things to Look for in a Business Aircraft Autopilot Support Team

Diode Short Can Disengage Learjet 35A Autopilot

 

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Squawk Solution, Troubleshooting

Infographic: Duncan Aviation Avionics & Instruments By The Numbers

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, May 20, 2014 @ 03:32 PM

Avionics-BTN-header

There are so many great things coming out of Duncan Aviation's avionics & instruments shop in Lincoln, Nebraska, that words are not enough. 

So we're going to let the numbers do the talking for us. 

Click on the image below to see a detailed infographic of our avionics & instrument services that were featured in the Spring 2014 Duncan Debrief. 

Duncan Aviation Avionics and Instruments

 

Spring 2014 Duncan Debrief Download & Read Now

Tags: Avionics & Instruments

Troubleshooting Aircraft Radar Spoking

Posted by Duncan Download Blog on Thu, Mar 20, 2014 @ 01:00 PM

Contributed by Dan Magnus, avionics instruments tech rep

Radar Spoking

Example indications of spoking.

Spoking is a general term used when a radar system fails. You can determine which part of the system is causing the problem based on what appears on the radar display.

The most common type of spoking is caused by the magnetron or local oscillator. This occurs when they lose lock and do not track with each other. This will typically appear on the radar display as a pie shaped patch and will only be present if there is weather to be shown. This would be a receiver transmitter problem.

Another type of spoking comes from the antenna and is caused by noise from the sweep resolver. This will normally show up on the radar display as a very thin line that will start at the apex of the screen and continue to the edges, no matter which range you are on. This will almost always appear in the same spot on the screen.

Intermittent connections on the antenna can also cause the antenna to pitch up or down causing spikes or humps within the return. This is a common problem for the Primus series of antennas.

Winter Radar Service

Also remember, the winter season is a great time to get your radar unit tested and ready to go prior to spring, when thunderstorms are more prevalent and radar is used most. Take advantage of Duncan Aviation’s Winter Radar Promotion and get $100 off radar servicesincluding functional checks, evaluations, repairs and overhauls through March 31, 2014. To redeem, print and include the $100 rebate with each radar unit shipped.

If you have questions about your radar's operation or how environmental testing will help your radar's reliability, contact Duncan Aviation avionics tech reps.

Dan Magnus is an avionics instrument technical representative located at Duncan Aviation's Lincoln, Neb., location. He specializes in ADF, Comms, Control Heads, CVR, DME Gables Control Heads, Receivers, Nav-Comm/Receivers, Radar Systems, GPS, GNS, Transponders and UNS Components and Systems Specialist. His aviation career began in 1976.

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Squawk Solution, Troubleshooting

Duncan Aviation Tech Rep Recommendations: Aircraft Radar Operation

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Fri, Mar 07, 2014 @ 02:45 PM

Duncan Aviation

Duncan Aviation radar technicians use the term “Radar Season” to describe the time of year when high winds and instability in the atmosphere whip up severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. At the beginning of Radar Season, when pilots rely heavily on their radar units to perform perfectly, is when many unexpected squawks may be encountered. 

Below are four Duncan Intelligence articles written by Duncan Aviation's Avionics Tech Reps with tips and recommendations about basic radar operation. 

Radar Operation Tips

The Honeywell ART 2000 and ART 2100 are high-performance modern radar that is proven reliable. But even simple things like getting in a hurry when shutting down the system can have a huge negative impact on operation over time. » Read More 

Radar Antenna Switch Settings

When replacing an ART-2000 or ART-2100 radar receiver transmitter with a loaner or replacement unit, make sure to check that the antenna switch settings are set to the proper flat plate. » Read More

Weather Radar Tilt Management

Storm season is upon us! The technology of radar is a great tool to avoid severe weather, but it is important to remember its limitations. » Read More

Radar Antenna Alignment Procedures

Seven steps to radar antenna alignment (DA-1203A). » Read More

Winter Radar Service

Also remember, the winter season is a great time to get your radar unit tested and ready to go prior to spring, when thunderstorms are more prevalent and radar is used most. Take advantage of Duncan Aviation’s Winter Radar Promotion and get $100 off radar servicesincluding functional checks, evaluations, repairs and overhauls through March 31, 2014. To redeem, print and include the $100 rebate with each radar unit shipped.

If you have questions about your radar's operation or how environmental testing will help your radar's reliability, contact Duncan Aviation avionics tech reps.

Dan Magnus is an avionics instrument technical representative located at Duncan Aviation's Lincoln, Neb., location. He specializes in ADF, Comms, Control Heads, CVR, DME Gables Control Heads, Receivers, Nav-Comm/Receivers, Radar Systems, GPS, GNS, Transponders and UNS Components and Systems Specialist. His aviation career began in 1976.

Adrian Chene serves as an Avionics Tech. Rep. for Duncan Aviation's Battle Creek, Mich. (BTL) facility, specializing in Astra / Westwind, Challenger, Citation, Embraer, Falcon, Gulfstream, Hawker and Learjet aircraft. He began working in aviation in 1996.

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Troubleshooting

(Video)DGS-65 Directional Gyro: Importance of the Encoder Flex Card

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Thu, Feb 27, 2014 @ 08:31 AM

The DGS 65 Gyro contains a Gyro encoder flex card (flex card) mounted inside the gyro capsule at the top of the internal assembly. This flex card is the information collector for the unit and transmits information to the microprocessor.

There are two sets of LEDs and photo transmitters built into the flex card which must operate properly. By monitoring the sequence in which these transmitters turn on and off, the microprocessor determines the direction that the aircraft’s turn.

In recent years, we have determined that older flex cards are reaching their effective life limits and are now experiencing higher failure rates.

There are two primary ways this unit can fail. First if one or both output channels of the flex card fail, the heading change information will not get to the microprocessor and the unit will no detect heading changes. This will result in a heading freeze on the HSI display. This type of failure may also be intermittent.

Second there is a circuit in the unit which monitors the electric current that is being supplied to the LEDs. If the current is interrupted this monitoring circuit with cause the unit to send a flag signal to the HSI display and the red flag will drop in view.

As with the output channel failure, the heading output will freeze. There is no type of temporary repair, bypass or jumper approved by the OEM and doing so is in violation of FAA regulations.

We recommend following the OEM repair manual procedures for repairing or overhauling the DGS 65 Gyro and only using Rockwell Collins Gyro Encoder Flexcard P/N 6342252001.

Gyro Overhaul

Duncan Aviation is an authorized Rockwell Collins Service Center and is able to overhaul most Rockwell Collins gyroscopes. If you ship your gyro directly to Duncan aviation for overhaul, you could receive your gyro back in 3 to 5 days using Duncan's Aviation's AOG service. When shipping your gyro to Duncan Aviation for overhaul, please follow these critical shipping procedures for a business aircraft gyroscopes.

Duncan Aviation has four avionics tech reps at your service to answer your questions or assist in troubleshooting your avionics units, including the gyro.

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Troubleshooting, Videos

Don't Ignore Your Aircraft's Radar System During The Winter

Posted by Duncan Download Blog on Mon, Feb 24, 2014 @ 11:23 AM

Contributed by Dan Magnus, avionics instruments tech rep

Aircraft Radar Preventive Maintenance

Typically, the winter months are the time of year that your radar system gets little use. You may be asking yourself, is it necessary for me to run my radar system during the winter season?

Yes!

Our experience at Duncan Aviation has shown that running your radar system during the off season does not shorten its life but may actually extend it and that of the magnetron. There is a higher instance of spoking and intermittent transmitters for customers who have not run their radar systems during the winter months.

We recommend you turn your system on every few weeks over the winter. This simple preventative measure will ensure your radar is functioning properly when you need it and hopefully extend its life.

Winter Radar Service

Also remember, the winter season is a great time to get your radar unit tested and ready to go prior to spring, when thunderstorms are more prevalent and radar is used most. Take advantage of Duncan Aviation’s Winter Radar Promotion and get $100 off radar servicesincluding functional checks, evaluations, repairs and overhauls through March 31, 2014. To redeem, print and include the $100 rebate with each radar unit shipped.

If you have questions about your radar's operation or how environmental testing will help your radar's reliability, contact Duncan Aviation avionics tech reps.

Dan Magnus is an avionics instrument technical representative located at Duncan Aviation's Lincoln, Neb., location. He specializes in ADF, Comms, Control Heads, CVR, DME Gables Control Heads, Receivers, Nav-Comm/Receivers, Radar Systems, GPS, GNS, Transponders and UNS Components and Systems Specialist. His aviation career began in 1976.

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Troubleshooting

Consequences of Vague Instructions: Sending Aircraft Units for Repair

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Fri, Feb 07, 2014 @ 01:51 PM

Submitted by Jerry Cable, accessories tech rep

describe the image

Avoiding vague or incomplete instructions when sending in aircraft units in for repair and overhaul will save you hours of troubleshooting time and unnecessary expense.

Here. Fix This. 

This reminder may sound obvious, but it is amazing how many accessory units are sent into Duncan Aviation with no explanation or only very little instruction. Within the last year we’ve had a starter generator show up with no paperwork. Is it here for the 2,000 hour overhaul or 1,050 bearing change? What about the actuator with a note that simply said “repair.” Repair what? What is the squawk? When does it occur? 

When this happens we run a function test and hope the results identify the issue. However, this isn’t always a guarantee. Not all squawks can be duplicated on the bench. And many times the problem is related to other aspects of the flight or external conditions and may only fail on the bench when these conditions can be recreated. Taking note of the conditions when the component or system fails, is essential to the effective and timely resolution of the problem.

When removing any units from your aircraft, whether it’s an accessory, avionics, instrument, etc., that is to be sent in for repair or overhaul, always identify the squawk or inspection that needs attention. Having the right information about the circumstances surrounding a squawk can save your tech rep many hours of troubleshooting time and yourself a considerable amount of money.

Duncan Aviation provides accessory unit repairs and overhauls for most popular business aviation airframes. All accessory test equipment is calibrated using NIST certificate traceability. This includes three stab actuator test stands and several sets of test equipment unique to Duncan Aviation.

Jerry Cable is an Accessories Tech Rep located at Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln, Nebr., facility. He is a landing gear and accessory components and systems specialist. His aviation career began in 1991.

Tags: Parts & Accessories, Avionics & Instruments, Aircraft Parts, Troubleshooting

Aircraft Parts On Speed Dial

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, Dec 03, 2013 @ 09:39 PM

Kassim Khan

"My customers continue to return to me for service because I turn to Duncan Aviation. They've never let me down."
Kassim Khan, Aviation Parts & Supply

If you’ve ever had to hunt for a specific aircraft part, component or avionics unit, you are well aware of how difficult it is to do a thorough research, locate a reputable supplier, negotiate pricing and schedule delivery. Most of the time, you are under a strict time constraints and need the aircraft part or avionics unit now and you don’t want to deal with all the issues that can complicate the process along the way; issues, such as no available inventory, managing billbacks, no traceability documents and lack of warranty support.

Kassim Khan, co-owner of Aviation Parts & Supply, an aviation parts broker supporting several corporate flight departments, has relied solely upon Duncan Aviation for 18 years to provide the parts needed to serve their customers. “The bottom line is that Duncan Aviation has never let us down,” says Khan.

Read Aircraft Parts on Speed Dial on page 29 of the Fall 2013 issue of Duncan Debrief and find out why Kassim has only one number in his phone when it comes to finding aircraft parts. 

Duncan Aviation maintains a large inventory of aircraft parts for sale. Our streamlined services and competitive turntimes satisfy hundreds of requests throughout the world 24 hours a day, 7 seven days a week. Our many awards testify to the quality of our service.

Tags: Customer Testimony, Parts & Accessories, Avionics & Instruments, Aircraft Parts, Customer Service

Duncan Aviation Explains Cabin Management Systems at AEA

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, Sep 17, 2013 @ 11:12 AM

Nick Grzebielski

Nick Grzebielski, systems engineer

Duncan Aviation Systems Engineer, Nick Grzebielski will be attending the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) U.S. East Regional Meeting at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, presenting a course on Cabin Management Systems (CMS).

A CMS controls all of the powered items in the cabin of an aircraft such as the lighting, cabin temperature, call and even lavatory flush. It also controls the cabin entertainment items such as LCD monitor video select, speaker audio select, volume, head set control, DVD and Bluray players and XM radio. During his course, Nick will cover the basics of CMS getting into the nuts and bolts of installing, interfacing and supporting various cabin management systems. Discussions will include everything from switching to displays, Wi-Fi and more. The session will conclude with time for questions and the critical exchange of pilot and crew debriefs.

In response to the recent explosion of new and exciting CMS entertainment and control options for business aircraft, Duncan Aviation has written a Straight Talk e-book to help guide operators through their many options. Every day, Duncan Aviation Tech Reps field questions on cabin management and entertainment, and these resources cover the most common equipment requested by Duncan Aviation customers and explain what equipment is available and how it can benefit aircraft cabin systems.

To read the Straight Talk About Cabin Management Systems e-book, go to www.DuncanAviation.aero/resources.

For avionics installation support, contact a Duncan Aviation expert http://www.duncanaviation.aero/contact/tech_reps-avionics.php.

Nick Grzebielski is a systems engineer for Duncan Aviation located in Lincoln, Neb. He has designed full-up CMS systems in multiple Part 25 airframes and has recently been involved in the design and certification of multiple Wi-Fi STCs. His aviation career began in 2007.

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Avionics Installation, Conventions & Exhibitions

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