Gulfstream PlaneConnect Now Offers Summary Fleet Information Through My Gulfstream.com

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

Gulfstream has announced that, PlaneConnect, the air-to-ground maintenance data link Gulfstream introduced in September 2007, now offers summary fleet information to Gulfstream operators through myGulfstream.com, the secure Gulfstream customer communications website.

According to Gulfstream, PlaneConnect automatically relays messages generated by the Crew Alerting System (CAS) and Central Maintenance Computer (CMC) to operation centers on the ground and then via e-mail to operators. With myGulfstream.com, operators can now see summary-level messages across the Gulfstream fleet for a particular model, as well as messages for each of their own PlaneConnect-equipped aircraft. The fleet data accessible by operators contains no aircraft or operator identification information.

“With this new fleet capability, operators have even more information, which is always good,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “Along with providing a searchable record of the last six months of their aircraft operations, access to information from more than 70,000 unique flights is available for comparison purposes. We’ve seen how this type of tool benefits aircraft support by identifying the cause of an intermittent issue and, in some cases, identifying issues before they are apparent to the flight crew.”

Source: Gulfstream

New Cessna RightNow Interiors Program Reduces Time On Refurbishments of Citations

Cessna has announced a program to reduce lead times required for interior refurbishments of classic Citations.

According to Cessna, the new RightNow Interiors program, Cessna’s Citation Service Centers will stock pre-selected, certified interior design materials, eliminating long-lead times – typically eight to 12 weeks – traditionally necessary to order materials for interior refurbishments.

“This program is another way to add flexibility into the maintenance process for our customers, or to fast-track a refurbishment for a new customer eager to get an airplane updated with a new look,” said Stan Younger, Cessna’s vice president of Service Facilities. “A customer will find it easier to schedule interior refurbishments at the last minute to coincide with their personal schedules.”

Source: Cessna

AOPA Sweepstakes prize Cessna coated by Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings

A 1977 Cessna Cardinal 177B aircraft, being given away by the world’s largest pilots association, AOPA, hasbeen refurbished with coatings donated by ANAC (Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings) through their distributor network.

US based AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) is giving away a Cessna Cardinal aircraft in their annual sweepstakes. The sweepstakes, which features a different restored aircraft each year, is the mainspring of the annual membership drive with every member entered. The members, who own and operate primarily single and twin-engine planes for business and personal use, are able to follow the progress of the work on line and through AOPA’s publications, taking notes for their own projects. AOPA has a membership of 414,000, two thirds of all pilots in the U.S.

The paint design, applied by Advanced Aircraft Refinishers of Georgia, was created by Scheme Designers, owned and operated by Craig Barnett of Cresskill, New Jersey, who also works with OEMs on paint schemes. His inspiration for this project was the Cessna Cardinal logo, originally displayed on the tail in a smaller form.

After the complete disassembly of the airframe into more than 280 parts, each piece of the airplane was put through a thorough the paint refurbishing process to ensure the best possible protective finish was achieved.

Following the removal of the existing paint layers, the surfaces were chemically cleaned and a conversion coating applied. A zinc chromate epoxy primer was followed by ANAC’s Alumigrip Matterhorn White topcoat, producing a superb, high gloss finish. The white was then masked for the application of the red, gold and black trim, all in ANAC paints. The paints were donated by ANAC distributor Aero Performance.

The high gloss finish delighted the entire restoration team. “The result was a long-lasting shine most aircraft owners would envy,” commented Julie Boatman of AOPA.

The refurbishment of the Cessna was the biggest that AOPA has undertaken so far.

The ‘Catch-a-Cardinal’ sweepstakes will be drawn in January 2008. In the meantime, the beautiful and fully restored airplane has been on display at aviation events around the U.S.

Source: ANAC AOPA

Replacing a small plane alternator

A pilot in Northern California writes about his experience doing field repairs on his plane on his personal blog.

The story on Jack's Flying Blog details how he detected a low voltage indication on his engine. After landing, he discovered his alternator needed replacing.

Lucky for the pilot, he had friends in the area who could do the maintenance on his plane and installed a new alternator.