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Aviation history was made yet again in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, when a Cessna 182 with a SMA diesel engine landed on March 2 at the First Flight Airport. It is reported as being the first cooking-oil-based SkyNRG powered flight for a general aviation aircraft with a piston engine.

Covering 500 miles in just under four hours, the milestone biofuel flight resulted in a fuel burn of 7.8 gph. Created by the Dutch company SkyNRG, the biofuel has seen success with commercial aircraft, and is a 50-50 blend of used cooking oil and Jet-A. The cooking oil is refined before use.

Even more exciting, diesel engines for light aircraft using Jet-A are available today. Manufactured by the French Societe de Motorisations Aeronautiques (SMA) and referred to as a Jet-A piston engine, the diesel cycle engine isn’t certified to burn diesel fuel and is considered a compression ignition engine. Cessna announced in 2012 that a Jet-A powered 182 would be available later this year.

Currently, approximately 40 of the 182s are equipped with the first generation of SMA’s four-cylinder, turbocharged engine. An enhanced version of the engine, SR350-230E, will be on the new Cessna.

This new model is certified up to 20,000 feet, and is rated at 230 horsepower up to 10,000 feet with a dropoff between 10,000 and 20,000 feet. The SMA doesn’t expect to build any additional first-generation Jet-A piston engines.

All airman certificate holders should be aware that after March 31, 2013, all paper FAA certificates will expire, and certificate holders will not be able to use their privileges after this date. Certificates issued under 14 CFR Part 63 and 65 are included, and only holders of temporary certificates issued under parts 63.15 and 65.15 may exercise their privileges after March 31.

Plastic airman certificates issued after July 2003 meet this paper to plastic rule. Anyone with a flight engineer or flight navigator certificates issued on the basis of a foreign license will need to apply for a verification of authenticity beforehand.

More information on the paper plastic to rule can be found on the FAA website.

Replacing parts of your airplane as they wear out is an important part of its maintenance. Is an alternator on your list of things to update? Well, we are excited to announce a new rebate program for the Plane-Power gear driven 100 and 150 amp alternators.

Why Plane-Power aircraft alternators:

• Generate substantially higher power at lower engine RPM
• Generate significantly less heat while generating rated power
• Generate rated power at typical aircraft cruise RPM
  (believe it or not, your current alternator does not!)
• Generate more power at higher altitudes
  (all testing to 28,000 ft)
• Weigh up to four pounds less
• Perform much more reliably than comparable OEM models

From February 1 through April 2013 this year, anyone who purchases a Plane-Power C28-150 alternator or C14-100 alternator from Air Power is eligible to receive a $200 rebate. All you need to do is complete a simple form and mail it, along with a copy of the sales receipt, to Plane-Power. Customers who do so will receive their check in the mail.

If you have been planning on replacing the alternator on your Cessna or other small aircraft, don’t miss out on unbeatable savings and take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Are you obsessed with your plane? Do you want to show off your love for aviation with your friends, loved ones, and Facebook? Then enter the Air Power “Fly With Me” Facebook photo contest! We here at Air Power are just a wee bit obsessed with all things Cessna – from Cessna planes to Cessna parts and accessories – and if you’re like us and share our obsession we want to see pics of you with your favorite plane.

The photo contest will run from December 3 to December 20^th, and we will announce the winner on December 21^st. The grand prize is a custom leather aviation jacket, and every entrant will receive a free Air Power aviation bear.

So if you are interested, entering is easy. Just like the Air Power Facebook page for the entry form, upload a photo of you with your airplane, and fill out the necessary information. The photo with the most vote wins so be sure to tell your friends and family to vote for your picture!

Cessna Aircraft Company, an aircraft company known for their production of general aviation aircraft, is entering into a joint venture with China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA) to build and sell the Cessna Caravan in China. This development stems from a strategic framework agreement that Cessna entered into with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the parent company of CAIGA.

China has seen a growth in the desire for leisure flying over the years, and its government has slowly been freeing up airspace for civilians to use. Experts believe the demand for aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan will rise dramatically for the next five years.

Board members from both organizations will manage the joint venture company, which has yet to be named. It is expected that the company will develop business jets for the Chinese market, which will receive parts from Cessna’s headquarters in Wichita, Kansas.

As the world’s largest general aviation company, Cessna has been the leader in designing and manufacturing light and midsize business jets, utility turboprops, and single engine aircraft for over eighty years.  As such, we are proud to carry an extensive array of Cessna products, ranging from airframe parts to accessories.

It is believed that the joint venture will be finalized in the next 12 to 18 months. So while Cessna is striving to provide the Chinese market with their quality aircraft, you can browse our catalog to see how Cessna products can improve your flying experience.

As an aircraft owner and pilot, Alex Clarke knows a thing or two about aircraft engines. As an engine sales rep for Air Power for the last 12 years, he knows even more. When it came time to replace the engine in his own Cessna 172 he knew exactly what he wanted – quality, reliability, and value. Because he has spent the last 12 years learning all about available options, he knew exactly where to get it – a Lycoming factory engine from Air Power.

The Lycoming factory engine. Ain’t she a beauty?

Air Power: How long have you been a pilot?

Alex Clarke: 12 years

Air Power: What type of aircraft do you have?

Alex Clarke: Cessna 172

Air Power: How long have you had that aircraft?

Alex Clarke: 10 years

Air Power: How often do you fly?

Alex Clarke: About 30 hours a year

Alex signing for his new Lycoming factory engine. Congrats Alex!

Air Power: Why did you want to become a pilot?

Alex Clarke: I have always been interested in flying

Air Power: What do you like best about flying?

Alex Clarke: I find flying to be very relaxing while also being mentally challenging. It satisfies my inner scientist.

Air Power: What are some of the reasons you decided on a Factory Engine?

Alex Clarke: Many customers have told me of the better quality and reliability as compared to a field overhaul. There are no worries about an overhaul shop calling to tell me that the engine will cost more than the original quote because they found an expensive part that will have to be replaced. The factory engine will increase the value of my airplane.

Thanks Alex! And happy flying!

It’s common knowledge that texting and driving is a bad idea, but what about texting and flying? With strict operating protocols, is cell phone distraction even an issue for pilots?

A near-miss in 2010 involving a pilot that – while texting — forgot to lower his airplane’s landing gear shows that pilots can get distracted just as easily as drivers.

According to The Atlantic:

As the old chestnut has it, there are two kinds of retractable-gear pilots: Those who have forgotten to put the gear down, and those who will.

Precisely because of this danger, there are countless drills, mnemonic devices, cockpit alert systems, “flow checks,” and other safeguards meant to increase the likelihood that you will have “three green” before landing. These are three green lights showing that the wheels on the nose and the right and left wings are all down and locked. I’ve never been in an A320 cockpit during a fight, but here’s more or less the idea of how the three-green indicator would look in an A320. Those green triangles would be glowing and hard to ignore.

And of course all pilots are supposed to use checklists — above all two-person crews of professional airline pilots. They obviously didn’t do so in this case, and that obviously looks bad for them and the airline. At least they recognized the problem before it was really too late and went all the way down for a “gear up” landing. These need not be fatal, or even dangerous, but they certainly mess up the airplane and cause a lot of trouble.

Luckily no one was hurt in the incident, but this case of human error — which could have been easily avoided — cost the airline a significant amount of money and credibility.

While pilots are supposed to follow certain flight protocols and landing checklists, these precautions are clearly not foolproof. Any number of things can cause a pilot to become distracted — cell phones, passengers, and medical issues are just a few of the things that can lead to a mistake in the air.

Human error in vehicle operation is inevitable. So here at Air Power, we provide a diverse range of aviation equipment designed to anticipate problems before they escalate (and basically protect pilots from their worst tendencies).

We are dedicated to providing our aviation customers with a range of high-quality airframe parts and aircraft components that are designed to withstand minor miscalculations on the part of the operator — including a line of durable landing gear products. From wheels to disc brakes, each item in our catalog is reliable and built to last. We also provide a series of aircraft sensors and probes and aircraft indicators that maximize your awareness and control over what’s going on with your plane.

Air Power allows you to conduct anything from normal day-to-day procedures to mission-critical operations with the certainty that your aircraft is functioning safely and reliably. Make sure you prepare for every possibility — take a look at our complete catalog and find the landing gear components that meet your aircraft’s needs today.

Recently, Skytronics, Inc. announced that the company will be reducing the number of distributors it uses in order to improve efficiency. According to Brad Duschak, the Detroit-based company’s vice president of sales and marketing:

“Over the years, Aero-Lite, Jasco and Skyflex have become top-selling brands in the GA aftermarket. With the support of these highly-qualified distributors, I am confident that Skytronics will achieve even greater success in the future.”

For fans of the company’s excellent engine accessories, most notably its Aero-Lite ignition harnesses, there’s no reason for concern: Air Power, Inc. will remain an authorized Skytronics distributor. And, simply put, we’re unabashedly proud to be doing so.

This means that our aviation customers – both here in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex and beyond – will still have access to more than 45 of the company’s engine harnesses, including 4-cylinder Aero-Lite engine harnesses, 6-cylinder Aero-Lite engine harnesses, and even 8-cylinder Aero-Litl engine harnesses. Each of the Skytronics ignition harnesses we provide are available in red, yellow blue and black. The FAA/PMA-approved harnesses are expertly crafted out of low-loss, high-tension stranded steel conductors, and each one is warranted to TBO or three years. Custom-designed for both Continental Motors and Lycoming engines, the ignition harnesses are also available with optional 90 brass spark plug elbow fittings.

In general, we carry Skytronics because its general avionics products are innovative, time-tested and fully reliable in mission-critical situations– the same standard we demand of all general avionics products we sell, whether factory engines, airframe parts, cylinders or engine accessories. Skytronics’ distribution changes will only make working with the company better and ensure that its tradition of excellence will continue. We’re thrilled to be a part of it.

Over the last month here on the Air Power aviation blog, we’ve been exploring just a handful of the accessories we offer to pilots that can make flying easier, safer, and far more enjoyable. And we noted the oft-overlooked (forgive the pun) importance of owning a trusty, high-tech pair of aviation sunglasses.

Let’s examine just a little bit closer how aviation shades can improve flying, and what types of aviation sunglasses we’re proud to provide.

There are times you’ll find yourself flying blind through thick fog or a bewildering snow storm. But more often than not, no amount of cutting edge radar or tracking equipment is more important than a sharp, alert set of human eyes. An experienced pilot who loses power in the cockpit or experiences an electronics breakdown should still be able to effectively land their plane safely even without the help of many gadgets they might be used to in such situations.

More importantly, however, is how an excellent pair of aviation lenses can prevent some of the side effects of bright sunlight. Especially when you’re up there soaring above the clouds, the blazing sun can take an exacting toll on your brain, making you sluggish and sleepy. Even when you’re not flying directly into the sun, the glare off of a wing or nose cone, or even glare bouncing off clouds or the open sea, can have similar effects and leave you drowsy and slow to react to potential problems.

The sky is simply no place to go exploring with tired eyes or dulled senses.

We can help. We’re proud to offer a comprehensive line of sleek, attractive, safety-boosting pilot sunglasses, including cutting-edge frames from:

• Wing Aero Sunglasses
• American Aviator Eyewear
• AA Eyewear

Contact one of our aviation accessories specialists or explore the full pilot shop to learn more.

Cessna has launched an initiative to educate owners about new required inspections for the 145,000 single-engine aircraft in the 100- and 200-series that were built between 1946 and 1986. The supplemental procedures will be added into the service manuals this month for aircraft in the 100 series and in April for the 200 series. The added inspections mainly require checks of areas where corrosion and fatigue damage can occur. “The new inspection requirements we’ve developed are very simple, and are based on visual inspection that can be done quickly by a trained inspector during an annual inspection,” said Beth Gamble, Cessna’s principal engineer for airframe structures.
“Corrosion and fatigue are inevitable,” Gamble said, “but with early detection and proper maintenance, severity and effects can be minimized.” Cessna has published a PowerPoint presentation — download the .ZIP file here — and a short video to provide more details about the process for owners. The older Cessnas may be gaining popularity soon if a proposal by AOPA and EAA makes headway. The groups plan to ask the FAA to allow pilots to fly many of the older airplanes, if they have fixed gear and 180 hp or less, without a 3rd class medical.