The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

Did you know that we have the exclusive rights to reconfigure AIM® 1100/1200 series attitude indicators and gyros to meet your platform requirements? 

Have you heard that legacy aircraft operators have another transponder option to meet the ADS-B mandates?  

No? Then you haven't read the December issue of the Duncan Intelligence.

Didn't receive the Duncan Intelligence? 

HTF7000 Service Bulletin Update There are a number of Honeywell HTF7000 SBs that have become hot items. These can be accomplished at our Turbine Engine services shop, or any one of our Engine Rapid Response locations across the United States. Don’t Delay When Sending Control Rod Assemblies In For Repair/Overhaul If these units are ever pulled for operational failure, they should be sent in immediately for evaluation. The longer they sit, the more likely corrosion will invade causing more problems at disassembly. NXT-700 Mode S Transponder Satisfies the DO-260B Mandate for ADS-B The ACSS NXT-700 AML STC is complete and ready to meet the ADS-B mandate for many legacy aircraft operators. AIM (Extant) Attitude Indicators Repair/Mod/Loaner Capabilities We have the exclusive rights to reconfigure these loaner units to meet the lighting, power configurations, and tilt angles based on your platform requirements. Keeping Out-Of-Production Parts Available When these units require replacement, your only options are to: 1) buy a whole new servo unit or 2) upgrade the entire avionics package of the aircraft.

No matter what devilish ghouls come your way this haunted Halloween, rest assured that we at Duncan Aviation have your back (and wings and landing gear and engines and interior and pretty much anything else you need us to cover).

Have a spook-tacular night, and we'll see you in Orlando at NBAA tomorrow.

After 50 years at Duncan Aviation, Don Fiedler retired on September 30, 2016. He was not allowed to go gentle into the good night. Instead he was sent off with celebrations and a reception in his honor.

During his last “Years of Service” celebration he was given the floor to speak to everyone in attendance about the highlights of his career and why it will be difficult to leave.

“I was part of something remarkably special,” says Don. “The Duncan Aviation way epitomizes excellence in the aviation industry—the company simply did everything right. Duncan Aviation treats its customers and employees with great respect and has created a culture and friendly environment that bring out the very best in everyone.”

On his last day in the office, hundreds gathered to shake his hand one more time and wish him well. He is an employee who will not soon, if ever, be forgotten. CEO Todd Duncan is especially appreciative of Don’s dedication to Duncan Aviation over the years.

“It’s really hard to find the words to thank Don for everything he’s done for Duncan Aviation and our family; he was more than a good friend,” says Todd. “Don exemplified Duncan Aviation’s core values of delivering quality service, respecting customers and co-workers, and being proud to be the best in the business.”

Don Fiedler Scholarship

As a tribute to Don and the many years he mentored and guided team members at Duncan Aviation, the Duncan Family Trust has decided to award a scholarship to the Southeast Community College Career Academy in Don’s name. The Don Fiedler Scholarship will directly benefit an employee here at the company, and the first Don Fiedler Scholarship will be awarded at the Karen K. Duncan Scholarship breakfast in the spring of 2017.

Read more about the impact Don Fiedler had on Duncan Aviation during his 50 years.

We are currently holding our 6^th European Customer Advisory Board (ECAB) meeting in Barcelona, Spain, today (October 13) and tomorrow. Members of the Duncan Aviation ECAB have traveled from Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Malta, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, and other parts of Spain to participate in the meeting.

The board was created due to our commitment to our customers and to improve service. It represents various business jet stakeholders who provide a broad perspective of the industry. Board members play a big role in exchange of information about important industry and service issues. This dialogue is extremely important to us as it depends heavily on ECAB’s input when making critical decisions related to the business.

Over the last few years we learned that European operators like to see more harmonization between the competent authorities of individual countries. Last year we invited Patrick Ky, Executive Director of EASA, and had the opportunity to talk about several EASA rule making topics. Patrick shared with the group his view on developments in future rulemaking. In follow up on ECAB 2015 we compiled a document with Top 10 EASA topics.

After last year’s event, we remained in close contact with both EASA and GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association) to talk about these Top 10 issues. During this year’s ECAB, we are talking with Eugenia Diaz Alcazar, Regulations Officer–Continuing Airworthiness of EASA.

Besides harmonization on EASA rulemaking, there are other interesting topics on the agenda. These include the Duncan Aviation Alliance Group program, 2020 Mandates Solutions, Creating Competitive Advantage and discussing the potential benefits of creating a European Maintenance Managers Conference (EMMC).

Our European Regional Manager, Arjen Groeneveld, and facilitator of this year’s ECAB meeting, describes the Duncan Aviation ECAB as an open community where several maintenance managers come together with differing viewpoints of the industry. “People learn from each other’s perspectives, share the challenges they see in their day-to-day operations and develop new friendships. It is really nice to see over the years that ECAB is a great moment to come together and develop added value to the business aviation industry.”

To learn more about Duncan Aviation, visit www.DuncanAviation.aero or stop by the Duncan Aviation booth (#3126) at NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition to be held Nov. 1-3 in Orlando. Visit www.DuncanAviation.aero/nbaa to see Duncan Aviation attendees and show announcements.

Securaplane (Meggitt) has released Service Letter, SL-9750W0370-24-13,1 which changes the cell block nut installation process to help prevent over torquing of the studs when installing the reblock kits in Securaplane batteries.

The heart of the revised procedure is to reduce the running torque, the torque needed to turn the Binx nut onto the stud until it contacts the washer on the cell to 15 in-lbs. If, during the installation, the running torque reaches 15 in-lbs., then the nut is to be removed, its threads cleaned, and reinstalled.

The final tightening torque remains the same as originally called for in the CMM (usually 32 or 35 in-lbs). The final torque becomes the sum of the running (twisting) torque, and tension torque as the nut tightens.

Originally the running torque to install the Binx nut was the same as the final torque. It was possible the running torque could reach the 35 in-lb. limit while installing the nut, with none of the torque being final, tightening torque. If this would happen, the running torque could create a broken stud.

This Service Letter procedure should eliminate any risk of a broken stud.

An aircraft charter company recently sent a Baker Audio Panel to our avionics instrument shop in Lincoln, Nebr., that was inop. We immediately sent a loaner back so the aircraft would not miss any flights. When the squawked unit was opened, Duncan Aviation avionics instrument technicians found it was full of corrosion in the back end.

On several make/model aircraft, the Baker Audio Panel sits directly below the windshield. And over time as condensation collects on the window, it has to drip somewhere. And that somewhere is directly on this unit below.

Although you cannot prevent corrosion, you can slow its growth by being aware of any moisture near avionics units. As condensation collects on the windshield, clean it off.

It is also a good idea to visual inspect the outside covers of the avionics units that sit under your aircraft’s windshield. If you see any evidence that water has been dripping on them, you can just about bet there will be evidence of corrosion on the inside. At your next scheduled maintenance, have these units sent to us for a thorough inspection and cleaning.

As for the unit above, we cleaned and repaired the circuit board and coated it with Humiseal for an extra barrier to the moisture.

Replacement Units On A Shelf

Don’t be fooled into thinking replacement avionics units sitting on a shelf are safe from corrosion just because they are not installed on an aircraft. Humidity is another cause of corrosion, especially if they are stored in coastal areas.

For more information on our repair capabilities, download the Avionics Instruments Information & Capabilities Facts Sheet or conduct an online search of our repair and overhaul capabilities.

Latest Edition

Read more about it in the August 2016 issue of the Duncan Intelligence

• Hawker Airbrake Woes
• Service Letter Issued To Prevent Over Torquing of Battery Studs
• Three Steps to One-Day Turntime on TDR-94/TDR-94D Transponders
• Window Condensation Can Cause Avionics Instrument Corrosion
• Falcon: Detailed Inspection of the Horizontal Box and Front/Rear Spars

The Duncan Aviation avionics instrument shop is now able to provide operators with TDR-94/TDR-94D transponder service that includes same-day evaluation and three-day turntimes, with AOG options available when needed.

Our technicians, having serviced the -003 TDR-94 units for the last several years, have developed a very efficient repair process that will even allow a one-day repair, provided the following steps are taken by the operator:  

1. Call Duncan Aviation Customer Account Reps to schedule the unit into shop. 800.562.6377 or 402.475.2611

2. Provide ID tag information ahead of time. This gives us time to ensure we have parts on hand when the transponder arrives.

3. Ship your unit to this address:

Duncan Aviation 

Shipping and Receiving

4001 N Park Rd

Lincoln, NE  68500

We offer the repair and service of these units at our main avionics instrument shop in Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as through our satellite avionics facilities located throughout the United States.

We are also able to modify earlier transponders to the -500-501 series, which will meet the ADS-B mandate for 2020 when the unit is properly installed and certified.

The Rockwell Collins TDR-94/TDR-94D transponder is a solid-state, crystal-controlled receiver/transmitter specifically designed for TCAS-II-equipped business aircraft.  We are authorized to repair and service transponders with the Rockwell Collins part numbers of 622-9352-002 through -008; -108; -207; -308-311; -408-411; -500-501 and 622-9210-002 through -008; -108; -207; -308-311; -408-411; -500-501.

A Citation CJ3 Duncan Aviation has been retrofitting since mid-May with Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion flight deck upgrade took to the skies above Lincoln last week as this first-ever installation began its flight testing phase.

“The system performed flawlessly on our one-hour, 10-minute (initial) flight in the CJ3,” said Scott Simpson, principal flight test pilot for Rockwell Collins. “The test flight included three approaches with synthetic vision displayed for both pilots, graphically-entered flight plan updates, and other avionics checkout procedures. In addition to ensuring ADS-B compliance, owners who upgrade will find it an absolute joy to fly.”

Duncan Aviation Captain Jon Kroesche flew second in commad during the flight. "The Proline Fusion upgrade is a joy to fly. There is a wealth of information right at your fingertips. The three large touchscreens allow for easily changing flights and flight plans. This will be a great product to show off at the upcoming NBAA Conference in Orlando." 

Announced last fall, Duncan Aviation will complete certification for Pro Line Fusion flight deck in the CJ3 by the end of 2016, providing operators with a new aftermarket option for meeting mandates while enhancing their ownership and flying experience. The upgrade replaces the factory-installed portrait displays with larger 14.1-inch landscape touchscreen primary flight displays. The new system includes intuitive, touch-interactive maps, and easy-to-use icons, giving the pilot the ability to control items on the screen through touch.  Also, it eliminates the need for Flight Management System (FMS) control display units originally installed in the pedestal.

“The Pro Line Fusion flight deck upgrade has been met with much enthusiasm from CJ3 operators,” says Jeff Simmons, a Duncan Aviation Avionics Sales Rep. “They are excited about transforming their aircraft and their flight experience while meeting the upcoming NextGen mandates. Flight testing of the system is an exciting milestone in this installation and certification process. The collaboration, effort and professionalism shown between the Rockwell Collins and Duncan Aviation teams have been impressive and are the reasons the program has successfully reached this point.”

To see progress of the CJ3 Pro Line Fusion flight deck upgrade, and to see more information about the upgrade and the 25 early adopter incentive packages for interested operators, visit www.DuncanAviation.aero/cj3prolinefusion

On a weekly basis, I travel to meet with some of the most interesting and influential people in our industry; individuals who work hard providing leadership for business aviation’s powerful associations and lobbying efforts, key customers who understand the benefits of business aircraft ownership and aviation enthusiasts who simply love to fly. I truly enjoy the people in our industry and the support they have shown us for years.

Rarely does a week go by when I don’t hear someone mention a Duncan Aviation team member by name. Describing their experience at one of our facilities, they let me know they consider our people experts, resources and friends. We’re serving customers in a very real way, letting them know we value their business and helping them operate their aircraft with success.

Our reputation not only represents the highest in quality work, it is one company among many that stand united in a show of support for the future of business aviation. Every Duncan Aviation team member comes to work knowing that their dedication, hard work and knowledge matter not only to their customers and their company, but to the entire industry.

Watch this video below and listen to several Duncan Aviation team members speak with pride about what quality means to them. 

2016 is a special year. It is Duncan Aviation’s 60th year of helping business aircraft operators be safe, efficient and productive. For six decades, customers have asked us for solutions and services. We are celebrating our 60 years by telling the stories about the people of Duncan Aviation who listened and took action.

Celebrate with us by subscribing to the Duncan Download blog, following us on Facebook and Twitter (@DuncanAviation) and visiting our anniversary website at www.DuncanAviation.aero/60.