Maintaining Your Aircraft This Summer
Summer is upon us and that means lots of flying! Many of your Cirrus airplanes have air conditioning systems, and if you feel like yours isn’t quite doing the job, give us a call! Please note that appointments must be made in advance as we don’t keep the equipment on site, so make sure to… Read more »
Springtime Aircraft Preparation
Flying is more than a hobby or career — it’s a lifestyle. And when spring comes around, it’s the perfect time to prep your Cirrus for warm weather flying. At Sweet Aviation, we want to make sure your aircraft is ready for flight and looking its best. Follow these quick tips for your routine annual… Read more »
Preparing Your Aircraft for Winter
Winter is coming. Now is a good time to make sure your airplane is ready for the cold. At Sweet Aviation, your safety and satisfaction are our top priority, and we’ll give you everything you need to make sure your winter season flying is just as enjoyable as always — from helpful tips on winterizing… Read more »
Preventive Maintenance Dos and Don’ts
Pilots and aircraft owners are allowed to perform quite a few maintenance tasks on the aircraft they fly. A full list of what the FAA allows can be found in 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix A, Paragraph (c). Many of the tasks can safely and easily be performed by handy individuals. However, below I’ll highlight… Read more »
Brakes – Safety Check
Though performing a thorough preflight inspection is critical to the safety of every flight, there are some items that are especially important to check before settling into the cockpit for engine startup. For example, on the Diamond DA-20, the brake linings (or brake pads) should be thoroughly examined before each flight. Because the DA-20 has… Read more »
Blue Skies and Blue Gas: A Pilot’s Favorite Scenario
A pilot is enticed to fly by clear, blue skies. What else about the color blue is important to a pilot? Before each flight, pilots check to ensure their aircraft contains the correct type as well as quality of fuel. To make it easy, the aircraft has a placard placed at each fueling port that… Read more »
Seatbelts: Safely Connected, Ready to Fly!
Does it get any better than climbing into an aircraft, clicking your seatbelt together, and settling into the cockpit for another extraordinary flying experience? Although the seatbelt portion may seem simple, there are a few important items to keep in mind for you and your passengers. For adjustable buckles, tighten the lapbelt portion(s) in order… Read more »
Carbureted vs Fuel Injected
Starting In carbureted engines, the fuel/air mixture meets in the carburetor. The mixture then goes to each cylinder through the air intakes. In the fuel injected engine, the fuel and air do not mix until they reach the cylinder. Since fuel injection systems shoot fuel directly into the cylinders, they are easier to flood (too… Read more »
A Frosty Situation
Here we are, on the edge of another season change. The air is cooling, the nights are crisp, and the leaves are starting to turn. Now is the time to start thinking ahead to the days of winter. As a pilot, this can mean more days of bad weather and less days for flying. Winter… Read more »
Heating It Up
While the recent drop in temperatures may be a welcome change for some, the cooler weather does present some unique challenges to flying. The most evident of these challenges is the difficulty in starting a cold aircraft engine. Besides hard starting, it is said that one cold start can cause up to 300 hours of… Read more »