J.A.Air

Chicago's Premier FBO and General Aviation Facility

News

How to Find a Quality Aircraft Engine Maintenance Company

Just like with a car, you don’t want just anyone performing maintenance and repairs on your aircraft. However, unlike the car repair industry, it can be a lot tougher to find reliable, quality aircraft engine maintenance companies. That doesn’t make it less important to you or your vehicle. Before you decide where to take your aircraft for inspections and maintenance, try these tips to make the search for quality easier.

Location

When you are looking for an aircraft engine maintenance company, make sure you check the location. The last thing you want is to find a good match for your aircraft’s needs, only for it to be several states over, or even in another country. If you are using a database, which can be easily found online and are great resources for getting a lot of results quickly, make sure to use a location keyword. This way, you can quickly and easily see what options are nearby, and work from there.

Keep your Aircraft in Mind

However, location isn’t the only important factor. It’s also important that the maintenance company you decide to go to has familiarity with your model of plane. If you find the best-rated, most experienced company near you but they only service commercial jets, you probably need to find a better fit. Before you schedule an appointment to get your aircraft fixed or tuned-up, call ahead or research the company’s website to ensure they will be able to take care of your specific plane.

Professional Certification

Your airplane is an expensive and personally important investment. You want to make sure that whoever works on it is qualified to repair it safely and effectively. There are a few professional certifications you should look out for. The first is authorization from the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). This is the bare minimum for licensure and required for anyone working on aircraft engine maintenance. If someone has Inspection Authorization (IA) from the FAA, they can perform and sign off on your required yearly inspections and on any major repairs.

The FAA provides certifications for both airframe and powerplant mechanics, although most technicians are certified in both. A & P technicians inspect aircraft and diagnose, perform, and oversee basic and preventative maintenance. They also keep records of aircraft details—like total time in flight and time since the last inspection—for all aircraft they inspect and for all repairs they perform.

Additionally, you can look for affiliation with the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA), which focuses on recognizing aircraft maintenance technicians and promoting ethical repair practices. PAMA provides additional courses that support the required certification from the FAA, which can give certification as an aircraft maintenance engineer.

Check Out Your Options

Before deciding where to take your aircraft, go to the company in person to see it. Take a look around and talk with the owner and anyone else who would be doing maintenance on your plane. This is a good way to decide if the place is right for you. You should keep an eye out for the general organizational level and cleanliness of the space and see what other kinds of aircraft they work on regularly. Additionally, maintenance hangars should be on the larger side. Unless you’re working with a newer and smaller company, they should have space for at least two or three airplanes to be worked on at once. While smaller companies often offer a more personal experience—technically due to a smaller staff, but often also because of company values—a larger company will have more resources at its disposal. Taking a walk through the company lets you see if they have experience regularly servicing aircrafts similar to yours, if the people who work there will take good care of your aircraft, and if you want to work with this size of the company.

Ask for Recommendations

Chances are, your fellow pilots know and frequent good repair places in the area. Talk to someone else who stores their plane near yours or ask someone involved in a local flying group. If they don’t know a good company close to you, they probably know someone who does and will happily pass on the information. If you don’t have connections to the local pilot community, reach out to clubs or groups nearby to see if they are able to share recommendations with you.

Talk to the Employees

If possible, chat with the maintenance technicians when you visit or drop your aircraft off. This helps both of you put a face to the name on the other end of this service. With aircraft repair, as with most other service industry jobs, the workers are more likely to remember you—or at the very least appreciate you—and go out of their way to help you if you are friendly and kind to them.

Take a Trial Run

Before you take your aircraft in for more serious maintenance, repairs, or an inspection, try taking it to this company for a routine oil change. This will give you a good feel for the relationship between you and the maintenance technician or company owner. If you get along well and work well together, this is a good shop for you. However, you might have personality clashes or disagreement on timelines. While they are the professionals in this situation and you should go with their judgment on repairs in general, it’s helpful to have a feel for the working relationship you would have. If there are serious personality clashes or communication issues—which does happen, not everyone can get along with everyone else—you are probably better off looking for a different shop.

Aircraft Engine Maintenance Experts

Quality aircraft maintenance and repair is important—to you and to us. If you are looking for a maintenance company in your area, please contact us. We would love to help you find the right fit for you. Or, if you’re in our area, schedule an appointment to see how we can help you.

Contact Us

AOG Services and Top-Notch Support

AOG—Aircraft on Ground—services are a crucial part of the airline industry. When planes are unexpectedly delayed due to mechanical or technological issues, AOG services are there to fix things as soon as possible. AOG providers are experts in getting the right parts to the plane and installed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Using AOG Services

For private pilots, AOG is slightly less crucial because you aren’t transporting hundreds of people, but it is still important. Knowing how to use it and what your options are can help with your peace of mind and expediate fixing your aircraft’s issues when needed.

Don’t Panic

Being grounded due to technical or mechanical problems is a stressful experience. You don’t know how long the repairs will take or how much they will cost. On top of this, your plans for the day are extremely delayed, if not totally thrown out the window. It’s easy to become overwhelmed if or when this happens but remember that there are solutions. AOG services are meant to help pilots get back in the air as soon as possible after being grounded—they will help you.

Know Your Options

Ideally, you hope to never need to use AOG services, but it is important to know what you’ll do just in case. The stakes for private plane owners and pilots are lower because you don’t need to worry about the monetary loss from passengers transferring to a different airline. Still, being unexpectedly grounded complicates plans and runs up a bill. It’s a good idea to know what options are out there, and who you can work with to fix your aircraft with the most efficiency. Time is the most important part of AOG, so it’s good to be aware of the locations of AOG providers near where you normally fly.

Technology

Advanced aircraft health monitoring systems are hugely helpful when you need to use AOG services. These allow problems to be diagnosed in real time, and the information can be easily sent to and accessed by AOG providers. This helps streamline the process, so the AOG provider is ready with the parts you need as soon as you land.

Providing AOG Services

Because AOG services are a vital part of the airline market, providers need to stay on their toes to provide the best services available in the industry. Staying up to date with technological advances and maximizing efficiency with transport are both key parts of keeping a strong presence in the market.

Technological Solutions

The rapidly expanding technology market has helpful applications for AOG providers. Because time is such a priority when providing AOG support, anything you can use to cut down on it is valuable. Some good options to implement here include web-based inventory systems. Through the search and find feature, these cut down on time when you’re looking for a specific part. Web-based inventories can also help you track the location of your parts, so you can know the location of the parts you need at any given time.

Another good resource is route optimization software. While a standard GPS is helpful, route optimization software finds the most efficient routes so you can prioritize speed. It also helps circumvent any roadblocks, like accidents or closures, with more speed and accuracy than that of an everyday GPS.

The piece of technology with the most applications in AOG is 3-D printing. Using 3-D printing, you are able to make some of the parts yourself with a cost-effective material. Due to advancements in the technology used to make 3-D printers, the price tag on them has gone down and they are a fantastic investment. This technology allows parts that traditionally would need multiple molds and then to be fused together to be printed in one solid piece instead. Because of this, 3-D printing can significantly cut down on the time needed to create a part—anywhere from a few hours to over a week. 3-D printers can also use metal alloy-based materials to print, so you don’t need to worry about the quality of the parts. Of course, you can’t 3-D print every part, but for the parts you can print, it is a time- and cost- effective option.

Transit Solutions

Because time is of the essence when providing AOG, transit is one of—if not the—most important areas in which to maximize efficiency. If you’re shipping parts on the continent, you can use a two-person driver team to save on time while still following U.S. driver regulations. This is also more cost-effective than shipping via airplane, so it is worth doing if possible.

However, because most AOG providers also work outside of the continental United States, using only ground shipping isn’t an option. In that case, combined air and ground solutions are a good option. Though these require extensive coordination between drivers, pilots, and aircraft maintenance technicians, it is well worth it for the efficiency. Using a combination of expedited ground shipping and reliable air shipping, you are able to keep the part moving almost constantly, cutting down on wasted transition time and minimizing delays.

Optimizing Foreign Transportation

When you’re shipping parts and materials to different countries, you have another set of obstacles on top of standard shipping timelines: customs. Getting the required parts through customs can be an ordeal, and because time is essential, it is a frustrating added delay. While customs are unavoidable, it’s helpful to know which countries have easier customs processes. If you’re able to use this, you can create a route that stops in these countries over others as often as possible. This way, you’re able to minimize your stopping time en route and get the parts to the aircraft in need as soon as possible.

AOG services are a necessary part of the airline community. For pilots who use AOG services and providers alike, maximizing communication and solutions are vital. If you have any questions about AOG services, you can check out our maintenance page or contact us. We look forward to helping you optimize your flight experience.

Contact Us

What you Need to Know Before you Rent a Plane

So, you finished your pilot training and received a pilot’s license. Congratulations! Now, the only thing standing between you and the sky is access to an airplane. Buying an airplane, while very attractive in theory, is a huge financial commitment. Ownership can be unrealistic at first, especially once you add costs for storage, fuel, maintenance, repairs, and insurance to the flat cost of a plane. The good news is you have another, far more affordable, option: aircraft rental.

Can you Rent a Plane?

Yes! Plane rentals are growing in popularity, and they are a fantastic option for pilots interested in flying on their own time but without the financial means to buy their own plane. Renting has other benefits, too, like maintenance, provided storage, variety of plane model, and sometimes included fuel. You may need to do some research to find an airplane rental place near you, but flight schools and local aviation centers—like J. A. Air Center—are a good place to start.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Plane?

The short answer is: a lot less than buying a plane. Renting is exceptionally cost-effective. If you purchase a plane, you’re looking at paying a blanket price for the plane—depending on the year, model, and engine, probably upwards of $50,000. On top of that, you need to rent hangar space, pay monthly pilot’s insurance installments, buy gas as needed, and pay for maintenance and repairs, putting your annual spending well over $20,000. If you know you can afford it, and the ability to fly whenever and wherever you want is worth it—and it certainly can be—buying a plane is worth serious consideration. However, the financial commitment of owning a plane is very overwhelming, especially to new pilots. Renting provides a far less expensive option, albeit with less consistent availability.

Plane rentals usually charge by the hour, so you only pay for the time you use the plane. Though the exact numbers vary from company to company, rentals usually run between $150 and $500 per hour, depending on the size and engine capacity of the plane. If you, like most other recreational pilots in America, fly about fifty hours each year, depending on the plane or planes you rent, you’re looking at between $7,500 and $25,000 a year in expenses. If you’re consistently renting the most expensive options, purchasing a plane might be worth the cost, since there isn’t much cost difference. However, if you plan on renting smaller or less expensive models, renting is much cheaper than owning a plane. Some rental companies have options to pay for a set amount of time per month, and if you know how much you will fly, this is a good option as well.

An important consideration is wet renting versus dry renting. In wet renting, the cost of oil and fuel is included or reimbursed in the total charge. You don’t have to worry about budgeting specifically for these in addition to the actual rental, but you are still paying for them. If you are dry renting, oil and fuel are not included in the price and the pilot is responsible for covering both as needed. Both options have benefits. Wet renting lets the pilot show up to a full tank of gas, or depending on the company’s policy, request the amount of gas he or she would like. Dry renting allows the pilot to find cheaper options for gas and helps teach fuel management and knowledge.

Other Benefits of Renting

  • Maintenance. If you own a plane, you are responsible for maintaining it and finding qualified mechanics to repair it. You don’t need to worry about this when renting. Because the rental company is required to keep planes up to current standards in order to rent them out, they take care of maintenance and repairs, leaving you to simply enjoy your time in the air.
  • Storage. When renting a plane, you don’t need to worry about having access to a hangar to store your plane, paying to rent space on top of your other airplane expenses, or maintaining and checking on it when you aren’t using it regularly. The rental company stores and cares for the plane whenever it’s not in use.
  • Variety. When renting instead of buying, you can try out several models of plane, depending on the availability at your rental company. If you plan to buy a plane at some point in your future, renting is an excellent chance to get to know different plane models. Rental companies offer personal training with the plane you rent, as a way to prevent any liability issues, but it means you get a chance to learn both how to comfortably fly with different plane models and which one you are interested in buying.
  • Instructors. When you rent a plane model for the first time, the rental company will provide you with an instructor, so you know how to use the specific controls for that model. This means that you are guaranteed to have an instructor no matter what plane you rent, something you can’t count on if you buy a plane.
  • Options. You can pick the vehicle to suit your needs for each trip. If you plan on going on a solo day trip, you can rent a smaller—and potentially faster—airplane. If you’re carpooling (plane-pooling?) with coworkers for a conference, you probably need more seats—most rental companies will have models with up to four seats. By renting instead of buying, you can use your flight skills for different types of trips.

Renting a plane has a lot of benefits. On top of the thousands of dollars you can save, on maintenance and storage as well as the plane itself, you get other perks, like getting to find out what type of plane you like flying, or using different sized planes to take friends and family with you. If you’re interested in learning more about airplane rental, check out our rental options, or contact us. We look forward to working with you!

aircraft rental - rent a plane

Contact Us

Multi Engine Rating Requirements

Single-engine aircraft are like riding a bike; in terms of flying, it’s the first aircraft you learn to operate and handle. Multi engine is more like driving a car. You may think that flying is flying no matter the aircraft. While this is true, multi engine planes open up a whole new world for pilots to experience. So, what are the necessary steps to be able to get a multi engine rating?

What is a Multi Engine Rating?

A multi engine rating is just that: a certificate that allows pilots to operate an aircraft with more than one engine. It is an add-on to an already existing commercial, private, or ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) license or certificate. Multi engine ratings are exciting because they allow pilots to have a different experience in the air: aircraft performance is highly improved, as well as an increase in speed, power, and climbing rate.

Once you have acquired your private certificate, you may ask yourself if you can get your multi engine rating now. The answer is yes, but to save money, you should wait until you have earned your commercial license and instrument rating.

Multi Engine Rating Requirements

Prerequisites:

The pilot seeking multi engine rating must have a current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical and provide citizenship proof (like a passport or birth certificate) or have TSA (Transportation Security Administration) approval. They are required to already have a license as a single-engine pilot. Lastly, it is strongly suggested that they be current, because if not they may need to log more hours. 

FAA Requirements:

Before taking the practical test, a pilot must pass the APT aeronautical knowledge test within two years of the practical test and present a current (unexpired) Computer Test Report. They must have the aeronautical experience stated in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which applies to that aircraft category and class rating. The pilot must also have at least a third-class medical for as much as can be completed (sometimes parts of the medical certification must occur inside the aircraft). They must be at least 23 years old and be able to speak, write, and understand English.

The FAA also requires training in each of these areas: preflight prep and procedures; airport operations; takeoffs, landings, and go-around; performance maneuvers; navigation; slow flight and stalls; emergency, multi engine, and high-altitude ops; and post-flight procedures.

General Requirements:

Both ground and flight training are to be completed. Ground training includes aircraft systems, principles of flight for normal and single-engine, aerodynamics, and weight and balance. Flight training is made up of both normal and emergency multi engine plane operations and maneuvers. Overall, it takes less than a week to complete.

Cost to Obtain

The total cost usually adds up to around $2,000-$6,000, depending on where you go. You have to pay to use the planes for training and for books and materials. Of course, you have to pay the instructor and for the aircraft rental and FAA examiner fee, both of which are part of the checkride process.

Aviation Schools for Multi Engine Rating

If you’re looking for the best aviation courses in the Chicago area, look no further than J.A. Flight Services! We offer flight training programs along with internships. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to become a commercial pilot and need to earn your MEL (Multi Engine License) contact us for more information or to get going today!

Contact Us

Aircraft Parts for Sale: Here’s What You Should Ask

If you are in the market for aircraft parts for sale, this can be a daunting process. You are probably asking yourself a lot of questions and are unsure of where to start. You also need to make sure that wherever you choose to buy from is a trusted place that will sell you legitimate and safe parts. Here are some important questions to ask—and answer—before buying aircraft parts.

Are These Sources Reliable?

When you are researching where to buy aircraft parts, it’s important to make sure that the sources you find are credible and reliable. They should be accredited or certified so you know that the parts they are offering are authentic.

There should be an inspection process included in the company before they even put parts out to be sold. Both electronics and hardware should be thoroughly inspected by labs to ensure quality, safety, and integrity of the aircraft parts for sale.

Make sure to verify the serial number and the parts to see whether they are a proper match for your aircraft. You don’t want to end up with parts that don’t fit or are not safe when matched with the other equipment and parts of your plane.

Is the Part New or Used?

This is probably the most important question to ask when looking at aircraft parts for sale, because this can help determine the quality. Whether new or used, you want to ask if the part is certified and accurately able to be used in an airplane.

If the part is used, ask if there is any corrosion, damage, or manufacturer defects. Another question to ask is if the part works properly as designed. If not, can it be repaired safely?

Does This Supplier Provide Warranty?

Warranties are important in any line of purchasing, but especially when buying aircraft parts. It is extremely important to make sure that these parts do not have any defects or damages that cause problems in the air, because this can be life-threatening. Having a warranty also shows that the company trusts their products and cares about your safety—if issues arise, they will be there to help and resolve the situation as best as they can.

Will Requests Be Handled in a Timely Manner?

Sometimes, you need a part ASAP in order to continue flying safely. For this reason, you must choose an aircraft parts seller that includes estimates for processing and shipping times and will keep you notified on the timeline. You should be able to know when your part will arrive so that you can plan for personal trips or jobs accordingly.

Aircraft Parts for Sale

At J.A. Air Center, we offer used avionics as well as other aircraft parts for sale including oil, oil filters, and spark plugs. We also sell pilot supplies and have detailing services if you’re looking to freshen up your plane. We even have a handful of airplanes for sale, so be sure to check those out. Whatever aircraft needs you have, be sure to stop by J.A. Air!

Contact Us

What is the Best Path for Becoming a Commercial Pilot?

If you’ve always dreamed about the thrill, challenges, and adventure that come with being a commercial pilot, then what are you waiting for? As long as you are 18 years old, you can obtain your private license, which is necessary before going commercial. Yes, the path to becoming a commercial pilot can be long (and expensive), but if you fantasize about exploring the skies, it will be full of excitement—and totally worth it!

What is a Commercial Pilot?

Being a commercial pilot means that the person with a commercial pilot license is allowed, by the government, to be paid for their work.

A commercial pilot can have a few titles outside of being an airline pilot. They can be cargo pilots, tour pilots, backcountry pilots, ferry pilots, glider tow pilots, or flight instructors. They can fly blimps or helicopters and transport cargo rather than just humans. Although typically, the term “commercial pilot” is most associated with airline pilots. But keep in mind that although the FAA requires you to retire from airline pilot jobs at the age of 65, you can still keep flying privately, for tours, for crop-dusting, or for any of the other jobs mentioned!

Best Licensing Path

As an aspiring commercial pilot, you can choose to pursue a degree in tandem with your commercial license. In this case, your first step is choosing a major that is related. You must obtain a bachelor’s degree in aircraft or flight operations, aviation/aviation management, aeronautical engineering, or something else that is similar. Although you can get a bachelor’s degree in anything, it makes the most sense and would be beneficial to major in something related to aircraft operations or aviation. Or, you can pursue a degree-free flight program, such as J.A. Air’s Southern Airways program. This option is more cost-effective than a degree program. However, both options are excellent pathways to pursuing your dream of commercial flying.

Becoming a Commercial Pilot: Requirements

There is a long list of tasks to be accomplished before you can become a commercial pilot.

Private Pilot Certificate: This certificate is earned by starting in a single-engine plane. It is earned after finishing ground school training, which focuses on fundamentals of aircrafts and flying, as well as setting the foundation for all of the advanced ratings and certificates to come.

Instrument Rating: Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) is a regulation that deals with all aircraft operations. It is controlled by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and says that pilots are allowed to fly under weather conditions when outside visual reference is not safe. Flight deck instruments are vital in allowing this navigation to happen. Basically, instrument rating gives pilots the ability to fly under almost any weather conditions.

Medical Certificate: In order to have any type of pilot’s license and fly solo, you are required to have a medical certificate. To obtain this, you must pass a physical exam performed by an FAA-authorized aviation medical examiner (AME). All students will have a third-class medical. For commercial pilots, you need a second-class medical certificate, which is valid for twelve months and must then be renewed yearly. In order to become a captain, you will need to have a first-class medical, which is renewed every 6 months. For pilots under the age of 40, medicals are renewed yearly, but once you pass 40, they are to be renewed every 6 months.

If you have a physical disability or health condition, in most cases, you can still get a special issuance (SI) medical certification. There are many regulations and rules within this; your AME cannot give you the certificate until it is cleared by the FAA. This must also be reevaluated every twelve months and can be withdrawn if there are any adverse changes to your condition. Be sure to check with the FAA or your aviation medical examiner for questions and next steps.

FAA Written Exams: These will happen at various times throughout your commercial pilot education. Each certificate and rating will be concluded with an exam, made up of a number of questions within a designated time limit. The tests consist of multiple-choice and some short answer questions, depending on the certificate. You need at least a 70% or higher to pass them.

Air Time: As you get started on becoming a commercial pilot, remember you need to already have your private pilot license. From here, you must be at least 18 years old and have at least 250 hours of flight time. You need 100 hours as pilot-in-command (PIC), 50 hours of cross-country time, 10 hours of instrument training, and 10 hours of solo flight.

Multi-Engine Rating: This certificate is what gives a single-engine pilot the training and ability to fly planes with more than one engine. There are a few prerequisites necessary for this such as having a medical, a pilot license, and you must take the FAA practical test. Then, you can go on to flight training and lastly, the multi-engine checkride.  

ATP Certificate: The Airline Transport Pilot certificate is the highest level of aircraft pilot certificate.

You must be at least 23 years old for a non-restricted ATP and already have an instrument rating. You are required to have 1,500 hours of pilot flight time, 500 hours of cross-country flight time, 100 hours of night flying time (or 75 hours and 45 full stop landings at night), and 75 hours of instrument flight time (or 50 flight and 25 simulator hours). You are also required to complete the ATP Certification Training Program and then pass ATP knowledge and practical tests.

Checkride: This is the final step in earning your commercial pilot license and, depending on your program of choice, your degree. It is the practical test, where you are the captain of the plane and the copilot’s place will be held by a check-airman or designated pilot examiner. They are there to make sure that you demonstrate competency in all of the skills required for Airman Certification Standards.

Become a Commercial Pilot with J.A. Air Center

J.A. Air offers flight training programs that allow for FAA certification as well as aircraft rental. Our program allows students to learn flight instruction operation for a lower price and in less than 4 years. Veteran pilots can also come back to receive additional certificates or advance their knowledge! We also offer flight programs in partnership with Liberty University, Southern Airways, and Skywest Airlines. Students who enroll in Liberty, Southern, or Skywest experience incredible career opportunities. Don’t hesitate to start your career in becoming a commercial pilot with J.A. Air Center!

Contact Us