Savvy conducts a program of FREE monthly maintenance webinars, hosted by EAA. These free webinars normally occur on the first Wednesday of each month starting at 6 pm Pacific / 8 pm Central / 9 pm Eastern time and lasting approximately one hour. Each month, we choose a different maintenance-related topic to discuss. Each webinar starts off with a presentation lasting about 60 minutes, followed by about 30 minutes of Q&A by webinar participants.
The webinars are recorded in video form and posted for viewing shortly after each event has completed. An archive of past monthly webinars is accessible at the bottom of this page.
The next free webinar on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012, is titled "All About Batteries" and discusses battery types, chemistries, construction, flooded-cell vs. sealed (AGM), charge, discharge, self-discharge, sulfation, when to retire/replace, how to install, instructions for continued airworthiness, battery chargers and conditioners, etc. The one after that will be on April 4th titled "All About Alternators."
IMPORTANT: Advance registration is required. Instructions for joining the webinar will be emailed to all pre-registered participants prior to the event. Be sure to enter your email address correctly when you register, otherwise you won't receive the information necessary to join the webinar. Access requires only a standard web browser.
To register for the upcoming free webinars, please use the registration links at top right.
Please join us if you can.
Archive of Past Webinars
- All About Oil -- (September 8, 2011) single vs multigrade, mineral vs synthetic, oil additives, recommended oil level, oil consumption, air-oil separators, oil-change intervals, oil filter inspection, oil analysis, etc.
- All About Cylinders -- (October 6, 2011) construction, failure modes (head cracks and separations, exhaust valve failure, barrel wear), maintenance-induced failures, factors affecting longevity, repair, replacement, top overhauls, etc.
- All About Annuals -- (November 10, 2011) regulations, procedures, choosing the right shop or IA, managing the process, resolving disputes, getting the best results for the least cost, etc.
- The EGT Myth -- (December 7, 2011) debumks myths about CHT and EGT, explains what they really mean and how they should be used in the operation and troubleshooting of piston aircraft engines, etc.
- All About Magnetos -- (January 4, 2012) how they work, function of key components, failure modes, preventive maintenance, pre-flight and in-flight mag checks, high-altitude misfire causes and cures, troubleshooting ignition problems, etc.
- All About Batteries -- battery types, chemistries, construction, flooded-cell vs. sealed (AGM), charge, discharge, self-discharge, sulfation, when to retire/replace, how to install, instructions for continued airworthiness, battery chargers and conditioners, etc.
- All About Alternators -- principles of operation, major components, installation, failure modes, troubleshooting, repair options, TBO, etc.
- All About Tires -- tire construction, differences between brands and types, causes and cures of flat tires, traction waves and underinflation, tire pressure management, tire wear patterns and condition assessment, how to change a tire properly, tire markings and date codes, tire sizes and ratings (ply, load, speed), what tire to buy, operation tips for maximum tire longevity, etc.
- Leaning Basics -- leaning without fear, the Embry-Riddle experience, a minimal leaning checklist, why full-rich is too rich, how mixture affects power, interesting mixtures (stoichiometric, best-power, best-economy), how mixture affects key engine parameters, how mixture affects the combustion event, leaning made simple, frequently-asked questions, etc.
- Engine Monitors -- history, types of equipment, routine in-flight monitoring (start, taxi, runup, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent and landing), recommended alarm settings, flight-test profiles, troubleshooting case studies, etc.
- Corrosion -- causes, chemistry, types, passivation and prevention strategies, corrosion preventive compounds, etc.
- Troubleshooting Basics -- principles of troubleshooting, and will discuss troubleshooting responsibilities (owner vs. mechanic), data acquisition, fault isolation, intermittents, owner-mechanic handoffs, etc.
- Troubleshooting Engine Problems -- how to troubleshoot common engine problems, including hard starting/won't start, bad mag check, rough running or missing, high CHT, high oil temperature, poor power or performance, etc.
- Troubleshooting Electrical Problems -- how to troubleshoot common electrical problems, including charging system failures, short battery life, short alternator life, noise and whine in the radios, etc.
- Owner-Produced Parts for Certificated Aircraft -- review of the latest FAA rules (massively amended as of April 2011) concerning what parts are legal to install in a certificated aircraft, with emphasis on the rules concerning owner-produced parts.
- Deciding When To Overhaul -- discusses show to decide when it's time to overhaul your piston aircraft engine. (Hint: "When it reaches TBO" is NOT the correct answer!)