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FLIGHT DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT
AVBUYER.com
Considerations When Picking Your Airplane’s Base Beyond the obvious decisions over hangarage, ground services, physical location and FBOs, what are some more subtle considerations aircraft owners and operators should weigh up in choosing a home airfield to base their airplane? Dave Higdon explores…
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he operator had been happily based at an airport located a very convenient 20-minute drive from the company’s headquarters, helping to ensure key personnel could be flown quickly and efficiently to visit clients and prospects all around the United States in the Super Mid-Size Jet that had recently been acquired. Fuel costs were competitive, and a friendly team at the onfield Fixed Base Operation were both capable and efficient. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble. Operations seemed to run seamlessly for a while… until the day the jet had its first breakdown and the local maintenance shop seemed unequipped to identify the faulty part, replace it, and get it back in the air as quickly as the company needed. Well-respected, and vastly experienced in many aircraft makes and models, that experience didn’t seem to be so deep when applied to the make/model of the company’s broken-down Super Mid-Size Jet. As the time and costs to fix the problem started to mount, a dream relationship with the local airport began to sour. This example highlights how an operator must ensure their research of potential airfields is extensive, stretching beyond
82 Vol 26 Issue 4 2022 AVBUYER MAGAZINE
the obvious questions about the available facilities, and touches upon several 'What if?' scenarios. While far from comprehensive, the following are just a few examples of areas requiring deeper thought to ensure you receive the service and support you need for your aircraft operations from a home-base airfield…
Maintenance Needs
While many airports enjoy the convenience of an on-field maintenance provider, not all maintenance shops are created equal – and this needs to be a consideration when thinking about where to base the aircraft. For example, larger, more experienced shops may offer an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic who holds an Inspection Authorization (IA). A&P mechanics who hold IAs are permitted to inspect and approve aircraft and parts for return to service following a major repair or alteration, and they may also perform annual and progressive inspections. One operator I know suffered a breakdown during the preflight inspection one afternoon when they planned to fly the airplane home. An overnight package service delivered the needed part early the next morning, but the A&P/IA had to
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