MaxNews

Bringing you knowledge of the latest in avionics technology

Volume 3, Number 2

April 2013

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IN THIS ISSUE
Where will we be next?
Upcoming events
Aviation Humour
New Products
The Agusta 109
The EC120
Technical Side
Vendor Profile
Who’s Who at Maxcraft?
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Avionics to the Max!
Come and see us at our state of the art facility, where our friendly staff are here to help with your needs!
250-18799 Airport Way
Pitt Meadows Airport (CYPK)
Pitt Meadows, BC,
V3Y 2B4
604-465-3080
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WHERE WILL WE BE NEXT? 

  

COPA

 

Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

2013 AGM

June 21 – 23, 2013

Dawson Creek

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CBAA

Canadian Business Aviation Association

June 25-27, 2013

Vancouver, BC

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UPCOMING EVENTS 

  

BCFA

British Columbia Floatplane Association

Rust Remover

May 25, 2013

Held in Pitt Meadows right here at Maxcraft Avionics!

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The Ninety-Nines

Annual Poker Run Fund Raiser

May 18th

End your poker run at

Pitt Meadows YPK

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 AVIATION HUMOUR

 

While taxiing at London’s Airport, the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727.

An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming: “US Air 2771, where the hell are you going? I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it’s difficult for you to tell the difference between C and D, but get it right!”

Continuing her rage to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically: “God! Now you’ve screwed everything up! It’ll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don’t move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the humbled crew responded.

Naturally, the ground control communications frequency fell terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to chance engaging the irate ground controller in her current state of mind. Tension in every cockpit out around Gatwick was definitely running high. Just then, an unknown pilot broke the silence and keyed his microphone, asking:

“Wasn’t I married to you once?” 

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REBATES

Spring Promotions! 
 
SPOT
 
The SPOT price has dropped!
See us for details

 

Spot2
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Cobham

 

Cobham has a 2013 spring autopilot promotion
order a  System 55X Autopilot and save $1000
Offer ends May 31, 2013

 

Cobham
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Aspen Avionics
has a $500 Rebate on 1000 MFD purchases by existing PFD-only customers, also
two new lines of NextGen products are introduced:
Connected Panel & Certifified ADS-B Solutions
Aspen Logo
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Lightspeed
 
Spring time savings!
$100 savings on a Zulu.2 headset!
 Offer from 
April 1 – May 31, 2013 
 
zulu2
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Garmin
 
Purchase more and save!
save up to $7000 min 2 products (G500/GTS/GTN/GWX)
call us to learn how to save
on these products!

 

Rebate available
 from
April 1 – May 31, 2013

 

Garmin logo
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QUICK LINKS

Jupiter Avionics

Garmin

SPOT

Cobham

Lightspeed

LET US KNOW

Have a joke you would like to share?   
Send us an email and we will feature your joke in the upcoming newsletters.

 

New Products

 

 

Products from AEA in Vegas! AEA Las Vegas

It’s that time again! The 56th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show is a unique opportunity for Maxcraft to connect with manufacturers, distributors, and other shops to learn what is new in avionics. We sent our service managers; Clarke and Ryan down to bring the knowledge back to train our technicians and inform you what is new. Here is a short summary but as always feel free to call to learn more:

FlightReview

  • Universal Avionics FlightReview™ is a FMS Flight Data Reduction and Playback Software that gives you the ability to access and review past flights and approaches

     

 

  • ADS-B Solutions – Many new solutions from Aspen, Garmin, Avidyne, etc. These boxes will provide compliance for the US requirement and provide traffic and wx without subscription fees
  • Garmin – They have been busy this year with many new products worth looking at.
    • G3X – New avionics for the homebuilt market. GMC305The G3X price has been reduced and many new sub products have been added – ADHARS, Angle of Attack, Engine interface modules, and most importantly a digital autopilot at an amazingly low price
    • GTN750/650 certification for helicopters – Garmin has optimized GTN750the GTN GPS/NAV/COM touchscreen series with new features and capabilities that address the specific needs of helicopter operations. These enhancements include; environmental qualification, meeting stringent helicopter vibration and temperature testing standards optional Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatibility, optional built-in Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS). Read more here
    • GRA5500 – All-digital radar altimeter by Garmin. Garmin altimeterThe new high performance, all digital GRA 5500 radar altimeter for helicopters general aviation and more. The GRA 5500 works to provide smooth altitude tracking resulting in consistent and high accurate altitude above ground indication.  Read more here
    • GTS825/855 – Enhanced traffic systems with higher power and greater range.
  • Cabin entertainment systems – The good news is that there are many choices for wifi, satcom, and entertainment systems. It’s vitally important you match the system for your needs and have a shop install it who knows the technology. Call us to discuss.
  • Digital Audio Panels – We have been big fans of digital audio systems for complex, high demand cockpits often found in helicopters. There are now a numerous companies offering this technology such as Becker, Cobham, Geneva, and Jupiter.
  • Jupiter -The JA95-001 pictured below may look similar to other audio controllers.  However, there are some MAJOR differences that set this unit above its competitors. Product Configuration Software (ProCS™), which is Windows™ based, is used to define or change all adjustable parameters in the audio controller. JA95-001No trimpots or dip switches! Also, units can be cloned or adjusted in the field without removal from the aircraft. This means that only one unit needs to be ordered to cover many different mission configurations. These features mean no more waiting (or paying) for customized units to be manufactured. Formal qualification testing has been successfully completed and CAN-TSO C-139 (technical standard order) has been granted by Transport Canada.  The JA95-001 uses newer technology, has more features and is lighter and less expensive than any comparable product on the market!

The Agusta 109
Agusta 109E

This aircraft is privately owned but managed professionally by Blackcomb Aviation.  The 2003 Agusta 109E helicopter, is known as “the limousine in the air”. Maxcraft installed a Latitude S100 Satcom tracking system and L3 Skywatch Traffic Advisory System. We also installed provisions for a VHF FM portable transceiver and power converter.

Agusta 109E

 

We did some audio system modifications, tested the weather radar system and updated the Americas database on his moving map (where the traffic is also displayed). 

 

The EC130
 

This aircraft was flown down from Penticton during one of the few clear days this winter. This customer had his primary wish list of a glass panel to install but he also had a significant list of “while you’re in there” list. 

EC130

 

The Garmin G500H glass panel went in quickly as we know our wayaround that product having installed more than anyone else in Canada. We also installed the new GTN750 GPS/Nav/Com and installed remote mounted GMA35 audio panel and GTX32 transponder that are both controlled by the touch screen on the GTN750. Very cool!  Also on the list was repair and paint door panels, upgraded the GNS430 to WAAS , an external mirror kit and more. Panel of EC130

The customer had one more thing on his wish list. The need was to be able to see the skids while landing, adding a camera on the tail and then having it displayed on the G500H would solve that problem. Some of the additional benefits are great video of in-flight and an extra camera that shows the cockpit view. EC130

 

See the video here of our external camera.

 

Technical Side…

 

Fix or replace that old radio?  Old radio

Almost every week we see a customer wrestling with this very question. Typically they have an older transponder or VHF Com that was built in the 1970s or perhaps the early 1980s that is no longer working properly.

At Maxcraft we have a skilled team of technicians and we are very confident in their ability to repair most legacy avionics. The real question is whether it’s smart for an owner to sink good money into ancient avionics when there is a cost effective alternative available.

Some of the reasons why it can be costly to fix old avionics include:

1. It’s not possible to accurately estimate the cost of a repair without burning at least a couple hours of technician time. Intermittent failures can take much longer to diagnose.

 

2. A typical avionics box repair will consume four to six hours of labour to complete but some repairs take much longer.

 

3. When parts are needed to complete a repair, they are often no longer available from the original equipment manufacturer. The additional effort required to find alternative parts sources and make special order purchases can add to the repair cost. 

 

Even after completing an expensive repair there is no way of knowing how long it will be before the next failure will occur. Most avionics shops including Maxcraft provide warranty coverage for the specific repair completed but cannot cover other unrelated failures.

Improved reliability is probably one of the best reasons to consider installing a new replacement radio or transponder rather than opting for repair. For example, Garmin SL40 VHF Coms, SL30 NAV Coms and GTX-327 transponders have proven so reliable that failures are almost unheard of. The cost of ongoing repairs to an old radio over time will often exceed the cost of a brand new radio.

 

 

Vendor Profile

 

JAC Logo

Jupiter Avionics Corporation (JAC) is a Canadian company bringing together a team of internationally respected avionics professionals, each with more than 25 years of experience in the design, development and manufacture of airborne audio communication equipment.

All founding members of Jupiter Avionics Corporation contributed to the exceptional success of Northern Airborne Technology (NAT) in Kelowna, BC, Canada.  In response to Cobham Plc’s restructuring and closure of NAT in late 2010, several senior executives seized the unique opportunity to assemble a talented management and development team from the large number of skilled employees who had been released from NAT.

JAC’s mission is to become the industry standard for audio avionics in the airborne market. JAC will produce products that reflect high levels of quality, innovation, value and performance.   These products will be supported with exceptional customer service.

 

The design, manufacturing and test operations, located in Kelowna, BC, Canada, are vertically integrated.  Investment has been made in CAD / CAM equipment as well as a comprehensive environmental test capability.  These facilities are now proven with the completion of formal qualification testing of JAC’s flagship product, the JA95-001 seven-user audio controller.

Who’s Who at Maxcraft?

Who is Francisco? Francisco Ruiz

Francisco Ruiz is our featured employee of the month.  Francisco is an Instrument Repair Senior Technician.  His specialty is repairing and overhauling gyroscopes.  Francisco fixes navigation, engine and flight instruments.  Francisco has added to capabilities of the company and always tries to provide customers with the greatest possible coverage.  He has the ability to repair a wide variety of equipment such as airspeed indicators, altimeters, attitude indicators, HSI’s, CDI, RMI, ADI, and accessories such as tach generator, clocks, etc.

Francisco has been working on aircraft instruments and equipment for over 35 years.  His favorite part is working on gyroscopes.  Francisco feels that gyros are by far the most important and interesting part of instrument repair as they require a thorough understanding to maintain and provide pilots with the essential references necessary to establish correct orientation of an aircraft.

Francisco has had an interest in aviation since he was a child.  When he was old enough, he joined the School of Aeronautical Technicians of the Colombian Air Force located in Madrid Cundinamarca, Colombia. While there, he became a ‘Fixed Wing Aircraft Technician’ and in the final year, was sent to the Inter American Air Forces Academy which was located in Panama City (now
located in San Antonio Texas). Francisco received first place in his class among students form various other Latin America countries such as Venezuela, Guyana, and Honduras.

Since retirement from the Air Force, he has worked as a ground instructor as well as a bench and field maintenance technician for the fixed and rotary wing fleet of the Colombian National Police.  In 2007, Francisco was hired by a Canadian Avionics shop at which time he moved to this beautiful country.

Francisco is happily married to Gloria Ramirez and has 3 children.  His favorite food is Italian and he is a really good chef.  Francisco enjoys spending time with his family and tinkering with his cars.  Francisco has been with Maxcraft for over a year now and it’s a pleasure to have him as part of the team.  We look forward to tasting some of his homemade cooking!

 

This email was sent to maxnews@maxcraft.ca by maxnews@maxcraft.ca |

 

Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. | 250 – 18799 Airport Way | Pitt Meadows Airport (CYPK) | Pitt Meadows | B.C. | V3Y 2B4 | Canada