The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

How does Duncan Aviation meet the needs of its South American customers, from the northernmost Punta Gallinas, Colombia to the southernmost Cape Horn and everywhere in between?

Meet Allan Orsi.

Recruited in 2008 by a family friend, Allan worked as an agent for Duncan Aviation throughout South America. After four years of hard work and a whole lot of travel, Allan became a Regional Manager in August 2012.

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

 

Nondestructive testing, or NDT, is a method of testing for defects in materials without destruction of the materials.

There is some form of NDT testing on nearly every aircraft inspection. It is often required to test aircraft parts, assemblies and other materials to determine if useful life remains or if cracks or corrosion hide below the surfaces.

Eddy current, dye penetrant, ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspections are all NDT methods used for required NDT testing. For major structural inspections on several aircraft models, NDT x-rays are required.

Duncan Aviation has one of the highest skilled in-house non-destructive testing teams in the industry. All technicians are trained and certified for basic Falcon NDT and several certified for advanced Falcon NDT testing. 

It is what they do full-time every day, day in and day out. They do not divide their time with other areas and work NDT part-time. 

The team currently has 8 certified NDT technicians, but to meet increasing demands, both internal and external, more certified NDT technicians are being added. 

Capabilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, are being expanded to include Bombardier Global and Embraer aircraft. And an NDT lab will open soon in Provo Utah. 

Duncan Aviation believes that being prepared to meet the smallest needs of every customer has the biggest impact and has invested millions of dollars in tools, equipment and talent to quickly and efficiently provide for required aviation maintenance services.

Keep reading about Duncan Aviation’s  NDT capabilities  and what sets us apart from other MRO service providers.

When buying or selling an aircraft, nothing can be more stressful than the "moment of truth"–that point in the transaction where the buyer and seller are presented with the aircraft squawk list and it is time for them to negotiate and finalize. Partnering with a service provider who knows how to clearly present its findings and communicate well with all parties involved can allow the key players to breathe a bit easier.

"Pre-purchase evaluations are complex, there’s no way around it," says Tim Klenke, an airframe service sales representative with Duncan Aviation. "Stress can be tempered somewhat, though, when the pre-buy evaluation occurs at a facility with a good reputation, excellent communication and integrity."

Pre-purchase events and aircraft purchases are uncharted territory for many operators. There are a lot of people involved, lots of choices to make and usually some surprises along the way.  

Here are Tim's suggestions on what to look for when selecting a service provider for a pre-buy evaluation.

Top 6 Things When Selecting a Pre-Buy Provider

1. Reputation. How is the facility viewed within the industry?
2. Experience. How many pre-buys does a facility perform? Do the buyer and seller feel comfortable with the provider and have confidence in the provider’s ability to understand and execute the pre-buy according to the terms and conditions of the buyer/seller agreement?
3. Post pre-buy capabilities. Can the facility perform interior work, exterior paint, avionics upgrades and larger inspections?
4. Import/export proficiency. Does the facility have these services if the airplane is coming from or going overseas?
5. Communication. This skill is critical in pre-buys; everything must be crystal clear and understandable for all parties – buyers, sellers, brokers, lawyers and the service facility.
6. Technical support. Does the facility offer in-house Technical Representatives for each model airplane who can engage quickly with OEMs and teams to resolve unexpected issues without disruption in schedule?

EARN 10 AVTRIP POINTS PER GALLON DURING DUNCAN AVIATION’S OPEN HOUSE EVENT JULY 14- 18

Fly in on Tuesday, July 15, and celebrate the opening of Duncan Aviation’s newest maintenance hangar facility with special events, including:

• Informational sessions
• Vendor displays
• Evening reception with music, food, drinks and great conversation

View the full agenda at www.DuncanAviation.aero/open-house.

Fly in any time during July 14-18 and receive FIVE TIMES the AVTRIP* points on contract, retail or maintenance purchases.  Make certain to tour our brand new maintenance facility during your fuel stop.

In June of 2014, Duncan Aviation completed the largest expansion project its Lincoln, Nebraska, campus has ever seen. The 175,000-square-foot facility will be comprised of two 40,000-square-foot maintenance hangars and a 95,000-square-foot office and shop space.

The expansion comes in response to customer requests and changing customer needs. As the industry continues to shift toward larger business aircraft, a trend fueled by technological advances and increased globalization, Duncan Aviation’s previous hangars were unable to accommodate the volume of maintenance, modifications and completions work our customers require.

*How Do AVTRIP Rewards Work? 

• Earn two (2) points per gallon or 1 point for every 2 liters each time you refuel at an FBO offering the AVTRIP rewards program.
• Points are awarded on retail and contract fuel purchases at participating Avfuel branded locations.
• Earn 1 point for every dollar on any international service arranged with Avplan Trip Support.
•  AVTRIP offers frequent promotions for bonus points and has many non-fuel earning opportunities - so points accumulate fast.

 Find out more or sign up for AVTRIP at www.avfuel.com/avtrip

 

Aircraft paint can beautifully reflect hours of painstaking care and preparation—or it can cover a multitude of sins. The trouble is, you can’t always tell which applies to your aircraft until long after the job is finished.

According to George Bajo, completions sales representative for Duncan Aviation, “Anyone can shoot a glossy coat of paint. But the value is in the details.”  

He goes on to suggest operators conduct a visual inspection for dirt specs in the paint finish as one identifier of a quality job. “While a few dirt specs should be expected, a large number is cause for concern.”

The attention to detail at the sealed windows and cleanliness of the painted landing gear are also evidence of a job done right. New stair treads, dressed boots, wiped down wheels and wheel wells, painting inside of gear doors, radome boots that don’t yellow and erosion tape are also extras that customers should expect.

“It’s all about the details,” George says. “That’s what you pay for.”

Duncan Aviation Field Guides

To help aircraft owners identify a quality paint job and decide when to take an aircraft in for a touchup or full repaint, Duncan Aviation industry experts answer questions about pressing paint maintenance issues in the recently updated “More Than Skin Deep: Paint Maintenance and Turbine Aircraft Value” field guide.

This field guide explores routine maintenance and turbine aircraft market value, paint processes, and criteria to consider when selecting an aircraft paint service provider.

Paint Maintenance Topics

• Paint Maintenance Topics
• How to Recognize A Quality Aircraft Paint Finish
• How Long Does Aircraft Paint Last?
• Routine Maintenance & Paint Integrity
• Aircraft Paint Services

Duncan Aviation's field guides address topics of importance to business aircraft operators around the globe and are written by our very own technical experts.

These documents are available as free PDF downloads. 

 

 

This summer, Duncan Aviation will complete the largest expansion project its Lincoln, Nebraska, campus has ever seen. The 175,000-square-foot facility will be comprised of two 40,000-square-foot maintenance hangars and a 95,000-square-foot office and shop space.

As the industry continued to trend toward larger business aircraft, Duncan Aviation recognized their current hangars would soon be unable to accommodate the volume of maintenance, modifications and completions work their customers requested and required. This industry shift is fueled by technological advances and increased globalization

Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Lake said the company decided to build now because the size and number of aircraft they are working on and will continue to work on simply did not fit well in the current hangar space.  

“We anticipated this trend, which is why we invested in the new 45,000-square-foot aircraft paint facility two years ago. Now it was time to support the maintenance side,” Lake said.

Duncan Aviation already boasts a row of hangars that dot the runway at Lincoln’s Municipal airport. Now as the expansion is nearing completion, they will add two more.

To view the progress through photos and a time lapse video, visit http://www.duncanaviation.aero/airframe/promotions/maintenance_hangar_construction.php

To get information and register to attend the Open House Celebration, go here.  

Going Green

When Duncan Aviation’s Senior Team decided it was time to invest in a new, larger hangar facility, they wanted to ensure it was of the highest quality, just like the aircraft services provided inside. That priority also aligned well with the company’s desire to make “green” decisions whenever possible.

“Things that are good for the environment are good for our employees, and that translates into an excellent experience for customers as well,” Lake said.

Kyle Link, Tectonic Management Group, Inc.’s designer/builder senior project manager for the expansion said the materials and design elements chosen are a new concept in hangar environment. From the LED lighting that senses daylight and automatically dims itself to the radiant floor heating, it’s top of the line.

“You can’t cost effectively dim fluorescent lights. You would have to shut off individual bulbs. But LED lights can be dimmed gradually, saving energy and making it less apparent to team members,” Link said. That combined with the skylights and windows, makes the hangar brighter with all the lights off than any of the other hangars with every bulb lit.

During construction, Duncan Aviation made deliberate decisions to go above and beyond the energy code and choose more cost and energy-saving options such as skylights, sidewall daylight panels and radiant floor heat.

“It was really an easy decision to invest a bit more up front and do what’s right for our environment, especially if it means we’ll save money in the long run,” Lake said. “With as quickly as technology changes, we need to be a bit ahead of the game.”

Read more about Duncan Aviation’s Green Hangar in the Spring 2014 Duncan Debrief.

So We Built It!

On Monday, May 12, Duncan Aviation welcomed a Bombardier Global and Bombardier Challenger aircraft, as well as Dassault Falcon jets into its newest 40,000-square-foot maintenance hangars in Lincoln, Nebraska.

This is the second 40,000-square-foot maintenance hangar to open in Lincoln this year. The first hangar opened in January. The total project is a 175,000-square-foot facility that includes 95,000-square-feet of office and shop space.

You can read more about this state-of-the-art green maintenance facility here.

And view a time-lapse construction video here. 

Come Celebrate!

Join Duncan Aviation on Tuesday, July 15, for a special day of events during an Open House Celebration and facility tour.

Throughout the day attend informational sessions, tour Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln facility and visit with industry vendors and OEMs. The fun spills into the evening during a reception with music, food, drinks and great conversation.

Thank You to Our Event Sponsors

While visiting Duncan Aviation, plan on attending the informational sessions given by following event sponsors.

Pro Line 21 Hints, Tips & Techniques	The Legacy 500 – Setting a New Standard in Business Aviation
Products & Service Updates	FANS / CPDLC Solutions
Falcon 5X	Technology Updates & Best Practices for Airborne Internet
Winglets 101	Turbine Solutions
Window Services	Next Generation Lighting
Technical sales training for Ovation Select & Cabin connectivity systems	Aging Wiring Systems for Transport Category Aircraft Damage Tolerance