Technical Advice

I’m glad if I can help with a question or two, or perhaps some advice.

If it gets more involved, you can decide to proceed at that time.

The majority of my projects are billed 3 hours or less at $150/hr.

My #1 goal is to resolve your autopilot issues.

My #2 goal is to make you glad you called me!

Much more can be spent in shipping and unnecessary bench checks when speculation is the tactic.

Far too often I get the call where thousands of dollars have been spent unsuccessfully in autopilot repair costs including fuel, rides, and all the other aggravation of fighting one of the most complicated systems in your aircraft.

Work is done purely on an experience basis by relating the things found by myself, and a small group of friends, while battling on the front lines of an industry during the time it has progressed through light years of change.

The systems I feel I can provide the best advice for

I work with older autopilot systems including:

• King KFC 150, and KFC 200
• Century Flight Systems CI, CII, CIII, CIV, C21, C31, C41, C2000
• Bendix FCS 810
• All S-tec, SYS 55X, 1500, 2100 and older
• ARC 300A, 400A AP/IFCS, 400B AP/IFCS, 800B IFCS, 1000 IFCS

I’ve worked with Brittain and Honeywell pneumatic systems as well, and can offer helpful insights and information.

I’ve found the best way to help is by relating how to perform very specific checks, and watching for very specific results, while performing ground tests as well as flight observations. This includes isolating problems with individual autopilot components, system wiring harnesses, connectors, peripheral switches, relays, as well as, airframe issues, and sometimes even plain old pilot error.

A Pocket Full of Tools

This is what you will be equipped with to better analyze any autopilot failure. I play a mean game of 20 questions to reach an understanding of exactly what is taking place during issues. Many times we can identify it right then. If needed, the next step will be a series of observations, I like to be on the phone while in the ground check phase.

Much of what I do to help people is educate them on what to watch for when an autopilot system failure occurs, this is followed up with an explanation of the common failures associated with your specific aircraft/autopilot combination.

An expanded understanding of how and why the system works will put you further toward the resolve, as well as a better insight in it’s use.

Knowledge is Power

Feel free to reach out and discuss your autopilot/aircraft, with any questions or concerns.

These systems will perform remarkably well, especially with today’s GPS powered, digital enhancements.

When they don’t?

The trick is to find out who isn’t playing ball, then we know where to provide encouragement!