Take out your pilot logbook. Have you logged fewer hours this year? A slow economy will do that. Making the decision to pump that disposable income — don’t you love that term? — into your airplane’s fuel tank can be difficult, especially when the disposable-income pool isn’t what it used to be. Yet if airplanes aren’t flown, airplane maintenance costs almost always increase. When money’s tight, something has to give, and it’s usually flying time.
Do-It-Yourself Airplane Maintenance
Key Takeaways:
- Inactivity significantly increases aircraft maintenance costs; owners should prioritize regular flying or properly pickling the engine to prevent issues like rust and seal degradation.
- Aircraft owners can substantially reduce maintenance expenses by performing approved preventive maintenance tasks themselves, such as oil changes, tire replacements, general cleaning, and avionics database updates.
- Owner-performed maintenance must strictly adhere to FAA regulations (FAR Part 43) by using manufacturer-prescribed methods, aircraft-quality parts, and proper tools, ideally with guidance from an A&P mechanic, and always ensuring the work is thoroughly inspected.
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