As an aircraft owner, maintenance is the key to an aircraft’s safety and longevity.
When you don’t perform proper and regular aircraft maintenance, then you’re putting yourself in danger and welcoming the most common aircraft problems. An aircraft, like any vehicle, needs to be cared for as long as it’s in your possession.
Today, we’re going to discuss some of the more common aircraft maintenance mistakes and how to avoid them. When it comes to an aircraft, you can never be too safe, so keep reading and learn how to properly maintain it for safety and longevity.
1. Failing to Create Maintenance Plan
If you take a look at the Federal Aviation Administration’s definition of private jet maintenance, it’s all about preserving, inspecting, overhauling, and repairing your airplane. Taking an all-encompassing approach to maintenance is obviously important and to do that, you need a plan.
You should be constantly performing preventative maintenance – experts say every 25 flight hours – and schedule out other minor inspections and repairs. If you keep on top of your maintenance plan, then you’ll be able to keep your aircraft in great condition and avoid major repairs.
2. Ignoring Routine Inspections
Aside from the regular preventative maintenance, you should be having regular inspections on your aircraft. Routine maintenance is one thing, but you aren’t going to get into the nitty-gritty unless you have a professional inspection done.
Keep these consistent and you’ll avoid any mishaps in the air. These inspections will be all-encompassing and even help you stay on top of the degradation and replacement of smaller parts like spark plugs, fasteners, and rubber hoses.
3. Communication Breakdown
Part of ensuring that you’re covering every aspect of your routine maintenance and inspections is communicating with your technician. If you notice anything off with your aircraft, you have to make note of it and let your tech know so they can specifically inspect that area.
When you have disjointed communication with your technician(s), then it’s hard for them to do a thorough job. When it comes to maintaining this aircraft, everything has to be on the table at all times.
4. Lack of Knowledge
In purchasing an aircraft, you get to enjoy its many perks. Whether it’s learning how to fly on your own or using premier FBO services, there’s no end to the enjoyment of flying a plane.
On the other hand, when you own an aircraft, you assume responsibility for learning how things work. This means knowing what to do in emergencies in the air, but it also means taking the time to learn how to properly maintain it yourself, communicate with technicians, and feel when something’s not right.
5. Only Using One Shop
Assuming that your one technician can handle every aspect of plane maintenance is another big mistake. Not every repair can be done in the same shop by the same person, so build yourself a network of highly qualified technicians and don’t be afraid to outsource when necessary.
Aircraft Maintenance Mistakes Are Costly and Deadly
Now that you’re more aware of some of the most common aircraft maintenance mistakes, you can take the right measures to ensure that your aircraft is properly looked after. If you do make these mistakes, you’re putting yourself and anyone that flies with you in danger, so take the advice we’ve given and stay on top of your maintenance.
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