"I have permission to get an airplane."

Ask the A&Ps

This episode a perspective owner wonders about the cost of tying down outside. Plus fuel pump problems, major versus minor, and more. Email [e-mail] for a chance to be on the show.

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Full notes below:

Steve’s primer in his Saratoga sat for a long time and was pumping air when he came back to fly it. He had to track a fitting to get it to pump fuel again. Paul thought that since the pump is lower than the level of the fuel tank, then it should have probably been ok with the long break from flying. He suggested that air had gotten in the system somewhere other than the pump. Although the problem hasn’t re-occurred, he wants to be sure there aren’t underlying problems. The hosts think since there aren’t any stains from leaking fuel that he probably doesn’t have an issue.

Dennis is looking to buy an airplane and he’s trying to establish the maintenance costs difference between having a hangar and being on a tie-down. They recommended a cabin cover to try and keep the water and UV out of the interior. Dennis is worried about the freeze-thaw cycle during his cold winters, but the hosts aren’t concerned. Paul said not to worry about all the snow that sits on airplanes during the winter either. Dennis asks about glass versus steam, and they suggest that maybe glass would fare better in cold weather.

Mark wants to install an air conditioner as a minor alteration in an Aerostar. He and the hosts talk in detail about the challenging issue of minor versus major alterations and what’s involved in that decision. Mark’s concern is that the air conditioner should have a few operating recommendations about usage, recharge, and so on, and he is worried about pushing into the major category. Adding limitations and a flight manual supplement would do that, but the hosts think he could legally offer operating suggestions that don’t cross into limitations.

Andrew works at a flight school with some airplanes have that airspeed in knots and some in miles per hour, and he is looking for a way to make life easier for his students. They discuss the issues involved with glass displays that are incorrectly labeled, and what that does to the legality of the airplane. Mike thinks so long as the original backup instrument is still legal that is probably ok.