Wingtip ADS-B: Page 23 Is the Skybeacon the Money-Saving Solution the Market Has Been Waiting For?
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December 2017 Volume XLIX Number 12 The consumer resource for pilots and aircraft owners 2017 Editorial Index Wingtip ADS-B: Page 23 Is the skyBeacon the money-saving solution the market has been waiting for?... page 13 Which bud’s for you?… page 4 Upgrading the belts… page 9 Chasing engine idling trouble ... page 22 4 IN-EAR HEADSETS 16 LIKE-NEW DAKOTA 22 CARBURETOR TUNING There’s a clear winner in the A look at Premier Aircraft’s How to determine if your carb minimalist headset market Piper Dakota refurb program needs an idle adjustment 9 RESTRAINT SYSTEMS 19 PART 135 LEASE-BACKS 24 CESSNA 120/140 A lifesaving guide to seat belt The realities of putting an A vintage taildragger that’s replacement and upkeep aircraft up for charter affordable and easy to fly FIRST WORD EDITOR Larry Anglisano NAVWORX SAGA: FAA ENFORCEMENT TO THE MAX In the November 2017 issue of Aviation Consumer, we were happy to report that SENIOR EDITOR ADS-B manufacturer NavWorx announced a fix for its AD-stricken ADS600-B Rick Durden ADS-B system. The replacement model—the ADS600-B 2.0—was seemingly the upgraded transceiver NavWorx buyers were hoping for. The first-gen systems EDITORIAL DIRECTOR were essentially useless after the FAA ruled that the internal WAAS GPS module Timothy Cole NavWorx used in the transmitter didn’t meet the required TSO spec. As you’ve probably figured out, the November issue of the magazine didn’t even make it off CONTRIBUTING EDITOR the presses before the company announced it had shut its doors. Paul Bertorelli Just one week before we went to press, NavWorx President Bill SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT Moffitt spoke reassuring words in a press release to the many P.O. Box 8535 hundreds (perhaps thousands) of customers who Big Sandy, TX 75755-8535 bought ADS600-B ADS-B transceiver systems. 800-829-9081 In part, Moffitt said his company made “signifi- www.aviationconsumer.com/cs cant progress with certification of the ADS600- B 2.0,” and said NavWorx had found a viable FOR CANADA solution to the long-delayed actions with the FAA. Subscription Services Not so fast, said the FAA. A last strike, the replacement Box 7820 STN Main WAAS receiver was also deemed unworthy of meeting London, ON 5W1 the stringent ADS-B position source specs. Not even worthy Canada for experimental aircraft, where an official TSO stamp isn’t re- quired. I suspect the technical proof would be in the paperwork and the FAA obviously didn’t find what it was looking for. REPRINTS: Aviation Consumer can provide you or your organization Showing that it’s not fooling around, the FAA in an October 2017 press with reprints. Minimum order is 1000 release of its own proposed a $3.7 million civil penalty against NavWorx for copies. Contact Jennifer Jimolka, 203-857-3144 allegedly producing and selling ADS-B units that did not meet the FAA’s ADS- B Out requirements. In the release, the FAA alleged that NavWorx misled its customers about the certification status of these products. The FAA went on AVIATION CONSUMER to say that NavWorx advertisements omitted and materially misrepresented (ISSN #0147-9911) is the essential fact that its units contain a GPS chip that is incapable of meeting published monthly by the FAA’s standards. “Customers of these products must be able to trust that Belvoir Aviation Group their equipment meets our safety standards,” said FAA Administrator Michael LLC, an affiliate of Bel- Huerta. It’s not the first time the FAA flexed its regulatory muscles at a manu- voir Media Group, 535 Connecticut Avenue, facturer. Recall that avionics supplier AmerKing met its demise last year when the FAA determined many of its products were misrepresented as being FAA Norwalk, CT 06854-1713. Robert Eng- approved when in fact they were not. lander, Chairman and CEO; Timothy H. The NavWorx saga has racked up many chapters and it’s one example of why I Cole, Executive Vice President, Editorial don’t run news stories in Aviation Consumer, given the time lapse between editing Director; Philip L. Penny, Chief Operating and final production. That’s why we’re trying to make good use of the internet by Officer; Greg King, Executive Vice Presi- supplementing our magazine with the obligatory social media presence on Face- dent, Marketing Director; Ron Goldberg, book. Aside from posting video productions to chase some of the print articles Chief Financial Officer; Tom Canfield, Vice only subscribers will have access to, we’ll update the Facebook page between President, Circulation. monthly issues to keep you posted on industry news like this odd NavWorx story. Still, this story was too important for us not to cover because I know it affected Periodicals postage paid at Norwalk, CT, some of our readers who shelled out real money to equip for the ADS-B mandate and at additional mailing offices. Rev- with a NavWorx solution. You pay us for sorting through these kinds of issues. enue Canada GST Account #128044658. There’s a lesson here. To me this story is as much about a relationship with Subscriptions: $84 annually. Bulk rate sub- the FAA that went off the rails as it is about the FAA’s zero tolerance for unap- scriptions for organizations are available. proved parts. In November 2016, the FAA issued an emergency order suspend- Copyright © 2017 Belvoir Aviation Group ing NavWorx’s manufacturing authority to build the affected ADS-B units after LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in the company repeatedly refused (it eventually cooperated) to allow the FAA to inspect its records and manufacturing facilities. From my experience dealing with whole or in part is prohibited. Printed in FAA inspectors on the shop level, neither is a recipe for success. the USA. In the end, this situation hurts both the market and the FAA. Closer yet to the 2020 mandate, the fleet still lags behind in ADS-B equipage. A small operation, Postmaster: Send address corrections to NavWorx sold in relatively small numbers, but it also means nearly 1000 more AVIATION CONSUMER, P.O. Box 8535, Big aircraft will need to find an alternative means of equipage. It sure would be easy Sandy, TX 75755-8535. In Canada, P.O. Box if another manufacturer stepped up with a replacement product that could drop 39 Norwich, ON NOJ1PO, Canada. Publish- into the ADS600-B wiring. There is chatter that it could be in the works. I’m ing Agreement Number #40016479 watching this closely—and suspect the FAA is, too. —Larry Anglisano 2 • The Aviation Consumer www.aviationconsumer.com December 2017 LETTERS MORE ON LAKE AMPHIBS is 40 gallons as standard, and 54 gal- any airplane I can think of, and while As a Lake owner with 25 years experi- lons with optional aux fuel. Only two offering great transportation options, ence flying it from South Florida to or three EPs have been converted to the Lake is more fun than any of the all corners of the continent, I would hold 88 (not 90) gallons, which results dozens of other single-and twin-en- like to correct certain information from installing Renegade wings (with gine aircraft types that I have flown. published about Lake amphibians in their integral fuel tanks) on the EP. the September 2017 Aviation Consumer. The article quoted me as saying that Marc Rodstein Some of my quotes in that review my forward CG condition goes away via email were made over 10 years ago and when loading passengers in the rear. deserve a refresh. This is incorrect We reached out (via the last contact infor- The Lake Am- as my Lake EP mation we have) to the Lake Amphibian phibian Flyers Club has a rear CG Flyers Club and haven’t gotten a response (LAFC)—from when empty as we go to press. which I retired after and requires 15 years of man- forward bal- NAVWORX BAILOUT aging it—was left last when I fly I bought and installed a NavWorx with a rich heritage, solo. Adding ADS600-B system carrying part num- but in my view passengers ber 200-0012. Since your last Nav- lost the trust it had eliminates the Worx article, it looks like the company earned from Lake rearward CG, went out of business. What options do owners and pilots but can result I have for replacing the system? in its previous 27-year history. Mem- in a forward CG and the need for aft Are other manufacturers willing to bers have reported that service center ballast. But, the point was well taken take on these consumers at a reduced and flight instruction listings haven’t that the airplane is not a load-and-go price to get them to switch? been updated, phone calls and emails airplane but requires careful calcula- are unreturned and the Lakeathon tion of CG for all different loading Barney Schewenzer annual four-day fly-in and safety scenarios, both for takeoff fuel and via email seminar (which had been held for 27 landing fuel loads. consecutive years)—along with the The structural cracks that you re- ADS-B manufacturer uAvionix told long-published bimonthly Lake Flyer ferred to in the article were addressed us distributor Dallas Avionics (www. newsletter—has been discontinued. In many years ago by two ADs, one on dallasavionics.com) will be announcing 2016, some dissatisfied former LAFC the tail and one on the spar cap. By a limited-time program for NavWorx members formed the Lake Amphibian now all Lakes should have had these Find ownersus on Facebook Badge with experimental aircraft.