What We Offer | King Air Academy

The Academy is proud to utilize the procedures and techniques outlined by Tom Clements. Every new Initial student at the King Air Academy will receive an electronic version of Tom’s “The King Air Book – Volume 1“.

TRAINING

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Our Recurrent program is designed to benefit pilots who have completed an Initial training program for the King Air model they regularly fly. Upon completing both the program’s Ground and Flight Training Portions, a Certificate of Completion is issued for insurance purposes.

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Our Initial program is designed for pilots who currently fly multi-engine airplanes, but are new to the King Air. Upon completing both the program’s Ground and Flight Training portions, a Certificate of Completion is issued for insurance purposes.

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We have Type Rating programs designed for both the Professional Pilot and the Owner Pilot.

SERVICES

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The Pre-Purchase Flight Evaluation is an independent, unbiased evaluation of the aircraft utilizing our vast expertise with all King Air models.

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After the inspection and maintenance are completed, the Acceptance Flight is done to ensure the aircraft’s systems are performing as intended and that all items in the Issues list are corrected. The Acceptance Flight results in a comprehensive report of all identified issues.

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The first flight after maintenance is your most dangerous flight. Most facilities do not fly the aircraft after maintenance. Most facilities do not fly the aircraft after maintenance, and the Post Maintenance flight determines if the airplane is truly ready to leave the shop.

SIMULATORS

At King Air Academy, we offer a variety of static and motion simulators to fit your training needs. For clients that desire actual “in aircraft” training in addition to simulator training or that are new to King Airs and would like to perform ‘real world’ flight scenarios with one of our qualified instructors, we offer training in your King Air.

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RECURRENT - 2 DAY COURSE

Our Recurrent Training course is customized for each client based upon the frequency and type of flying activity in the previous year, as well as specific subjects requested. Each year, your instructor will work with you to develop a customized plan.

Ground training can be used to discuss aircraft systems from a more practical approach – “You are flying along when xxxx happens. What should you do about it if you are IFR at the time, or at night? Would you divert? Should you declare an emergency?” Ground training can also include non-system based topics such as – Tips for using ForeFlight effectively, King Air accident reviews, or a brush-up on pertinent FARs.

Our simulators contain virtually every public airport in the USA, which allows for customized flight training scenarios in geographical areas from the flatlands of Florida, to the mountains of Colorado. Having this flexibility allows us to keep the subject matter fresh from year to year, making your training more meaningful and relevant.

INITIAL 5 DAY COURSE

All King Airs were identical – until Beechcraft built the second one! There have been so many different variations through the years for each model, which requires expertise like ours to keep track of them. Add to that the many aftermarket modifications available for these fine aircraft, and it does not take long to realize that simply learning a ‘generic’ King Air is insufficient for your needs. Our Initial Training course is customized to your specific King Air model and serial number, including any aftermarket modifications.

GROUND TRAINING

A comprehensive discussion of all aircraft systems operation
Weight and Balance using your aircraft information
Aircraft performance
All sections of the aircraft Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH)
Installed aftermarket equipment (Blackhawk, BLR, Garmin, Raisbeck, etc.)
Recommended operating tips from Tom Clements and King Air Academy – Save $$$

SIMULATOR FLIGHT TRAINING

Normal procedures and checklist practice for all phases of flight
Emergency and Abnormal procedures and checklist practice during engine or system malfunctions
Maneuvers included in the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for your certificate (private, commercial, ATP)
Use of King Air Academy’s ‘Magic Numbers’ for two engine and single engine operation
Instrument approaches (ILS, LPV, LNAV/VNAV, VOR, etc.)
Crew Resource Management (CRM) if training as a paired crew
Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM) if training as a single pilot

300/350 TYPE RATING

PRO PILOT

Configured for the Professional Pilot, the condensed 8-day (plus check-ride) syllabus combines intensive ground/systems training, brief simulator sessions, and specific in-aircraft training scenarios with detailed flight briefing/debriefing discussions. Prior to training, a detailed training document comprised of limitations, memory items, and general type specific information will be sent. All these items must be completed prior to training. To help ensure your successful completion of ground training, all of these items must be committed to memory prior to arrival for training.

OWNER PILOT

The training syllabus for the Owner Pilot course has been uniquely created for the pilot that has King Air or other turbine-powered multi-engine aircraft experience. This pilot typically does not have any other "Type" ratings. The 13 days (plus check-ride) syllabus was authored to perform all required ground/systems training, simulator sessions and in-aircraft training at a more comfortable pace. This training also includes sample "oral" exams, detailed topic reviews, and nightly homework.

PRE-PURCHASE FLIGHT EVALUATIONS (PPFE)

The Pre-Purchase Flight Evaluation does not replace the Pre-Buy inspection services provided by a competent King Air maintenance facility. However, the maintenance inspection is not enough. Unless the King Air goes through a thorough evaluation by a knowledgeable pilot experienced in this type of model, it cannot be determined if some systems are performing properly. Three of the most important of these are autopilot and avionics operation, pressurization, and engine performance at cruise altitude. The PPFE is an independent, unbiased, evaluation of the aircraft utilizing our vast expertise with all King Air models. To the right is a summary of the activities performed during the PPFE. Each activity includes a detailed written summary of our findings, pictures/videos, and a professional evaluation. A King Air PPFE is typically a 1.5-day engagement and prices range from $2,500 to $3,500 (plus expenses) depending upon the model, installed options, and any special emphasis requested. The flight test portion typically requires about two to three hours of time but much of this is spent doing ground inspections and runups. The Flight Hour Meter usually records between 1.0 and 1.5 hours.

The PPFE includes:

Preliminary Log Book Review
Interior / Exterior / Avionics Condition Inspection
All Normal Checklist procedures per the complete expanded lists described in the POH (Pilot’s Operating Handbook)
Engine & Systems Functional Checks
Functional Inflight systems and equipment tests

The result of the PFI is a detailed document listing the results of all tests completed. The PPFE Summary is a comprehensive evaluation of the airplane, which may be utilized as an “Issues List” that the Buyer and Seller must consider and negotiate.

ACCEPTANCE FLIGHTS (AF)

The Buyer and Seller will agree on a maintenance facility to address issues found in the PPFE, as well as any other inspection and maintenance work required. After completing the work, the maintenance facility will call to say that the airplane is ready for delivery to the buyer. Unfortunately, we have found through experience that many times when the shop tells the buyer that everything is ‘good to go’, the aircraft still has uncorrected maintenance issues. Often as much as an additional week of work delays the delivery, resulting in increased cost and wasted time. It is at this stage that an Acceptance Flight (AF) becomes invaluable. Performing an AF ensures that the aircraft’s systems are indeed functioning properly and that all items on the Issues list have been corrected. The scope of an AF is one full day, with prices ranging from $2,000 to $2,500 (plus expenses), depending on the model.

The AF includes:

Review of the shop’s Log Book entries
Overall Condition Inspection
Performance of all POH Normal checklist procedures
Engine & Systems Functional Checks
Functional Inflight Evaluation

The result of the AF is a comprehensive report of all identified issues. The AF Report allows the Buyer and Seller to know whether the shop’s work is over…or not.

POST MAINTENANCE FLIGHTS (PMF)

King Air Academy commonly refers to the first flight after maintenance work as “your most dangerous flight.” Many King Air maintenance facilities are thorough and professional, but some are not. Just as we do in the Acceptance Flight previously presented, now is the time to determine if the airplane is truly ready to leave the shop after completion of the latest Phase Inspection. PMF has the potential to be an exciting flight or just a routine systems check. Most maintenance facilities do not fly the aircraft after maintenance. Ground Checks and Run-ups are standard, but generally, there is no in-flight evaluation of the aircraft or the work performed. PMF is done to ensure the aircraft systems are performing as intended and that all items involved with the most recent maintenance work are functioning as they should. After the PMF a discrepancy report is produced. Each PMF is allocated a full day to perform the system checks, to allow time to make any small adjustments or repairs and to conduct a second PMF as needed on the same day. Prices range from $2,000 to $2,500 (plus expenses) depending on the model.

The PMF is conducted in the same manner as the AF:

Review of the shop’s Log Book entries
Overall Condition Inspection
Performance of all POH Normal checklist procedures
Engine & Systems Functional Checks
Functional Inflight Evaluations

“Gee, I never had an outsider help with my airplanes in the past. Why spend this money when I can do it myself?” this is a reasonable question often heard. In fact, we hope that with enough training, experience, and a proper mindset that indeed you, yourself, could take over these functions in time. However, few pilots who are stepping into their first King Air or a different model King Air don’t yet have the necessary level of knowledge. Unless someone with the proper training, experience, and mindset steps in to help, it is common to have the airplane return for repeat shop visits to work on discrepancies that should have been discovered and corrected. The costs of unnecessary, shop visits – not to mention the additional downtime and expenses involved – make our fees very reasonable. In fact, we believe that in the long run, our services will more than save you more money than they cost.

STATIC AATD SIMULATORS

Currently, the King Air Academy owns and operates two King Air AATD simulators which were custom built to the academy’s standards. These simulators replicate the cockpit design, systems, and flight characteristics of the King Air with ultra high-resolution graphics. Both simulators include precision and non-precision approaches with WAAS GPS capabilities and geo-referenced functionality on ForeFlight.

FAA LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION

LEVEL 3 DOF MOTION SIMULATOR

In addition to the AATD (non-motion) simulators, KAA also operates a PFC-3-DOF motion simulator which currently replicates several King Air model configurations, triple fed electrical systems, and includes all available precision and non-precision approaches with WAAS GPS capabilities and geo-referenced functionality on ForeFlight.

6DOF Full Motion G1000NXi Simulators

King Air Academy has taken the lead in providing Full Motion G1000NXi training. We have three state of the art, 6DOF full motion platforms, supporting multiple King Air model platforms. It does not replicate the Garmin System but is a Garmin G1000NXi. Separately configured for both the triple fed and the dual bus systems. Pilots will have the ability to train and fly using the full G1000NXi avionics package with standby ESIS systems.

King Air C90/A/B/GT Series with Garmin 1000NXi

King Air 200 Series with Garmin 1000NXi

G1000 Desktop Trainer

The GT2 G1000 Desktop Trainer is the most accurate G1000 desktop training system available. Train G1000 systems and functionality without the engine running. The trainer includes:

Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT)
TAWS-B (Terrain)
TCAS (Traffic)
FlightCharts
SafeTaxi