Read the Latest Flight Levels Online
A flight school is probably one of the last places you’d expect to see a Shrike, but for Corsair Aviation in Van Nuys, California, the airplane makes perfect sense on the ramp as a key part of their growth strategy. Corsair recently purchased the Shrike as a tool to expand the school’s light-airplane charter business, and eventually to gain more government contracts, including fire spotting. Read about founder Mike Killian’s vision for the airplane.
Also in this issue, follow along with Twin Commander Aircraft’s Bob Wilson as he visits U.S.-based Twin Commander Factory Authorized Service Centers, and discover what surprised him most about their capabilities. One of those service centers, Winner Aviation, once again has a familiar face at the helm, and he is looking to capitalize on the company’s past success. Go over a post-maintenance checklist with expert technician Rob Louviaux. Learn how to, or how to not, make your own checklist from Barry Lane. Avoid the tax pitfalls associated with charitable flying. Finally, plan a trip to the Bahamas, learn the basics of autopilots, and much more in the spring issue out now.
Parts Availability Improving
Twin Commander reports that the transition of parts sales from the factory to new partner AAR is going well. The two teams have identified a number of process improvements and efficiencies, all of which is contributing to better lead times. “We’re making great progress,” said Value Stream Manager Bob Wilson. “I’m proud of the hard work and long hours the team has put in on-site with AAR to better serve Twin Commander owners and operators.” Staff have been working closely with AAR to improve lead times, and Wilson said parts availability is clearly better than it was just a few weeks ago. He expects that trend to continue as the teams work closely together over the next few months, and as AAR and the Twin Commander Factory Authorized Service Centers strengthen their relationships with AAR. “Ultimately we expect this to be a positive transition for owners and operators,” Wilson said. “AAR will do what it does best and fulfill parts quickly and efficiently, while Twin Commander can focus on engineering and other product support.”
Spring Weather Brings New Challenges
As temperatures around the country begin to climb, thunderstorms are becoming more prevalent, and upper-level icing is a concern. Now is the time to make sure your Commander’s systems are in top shape. Are your boots looking a little worse for wear? You’ll find them in stock at many service centers. It’s also a great time to have that deferred radar work done before we get into the worst of the summer weather. Contact your favorite Twin Commander Factory Authorized Service Center for the best price and availability for all your parts needs. Find the full list of service centers online.
Mark Your Calendar for the Endeavor Awards
Flying can be fun, satisfying, practical, and a powerful business tool. But an airplane can also be a great source of good for the community. Friday, June 9, the Endeavor Awards in Los Angeles, California, celebrate the wonderful world of charitable flying by recognizing incredible pilots and organizations that give so much of their time and resources, using aviation as a conduit. This year marks the ninth annual awards and fundraiser, with all the proceeds benefiting Angel Flight West. The black-tie event features a silent auction and night airshow, and is hosted by astronauts Garrett Reisman and Michael Massimino. Go to EndeavorAwards.org to learn more. And if you’re interested in giving back, a Commander is an excellent platform for charitable flying. Read about the tax benefits in the latest issue of Flight Levels Online.
