Approach Aviation is the leading resource for aircraft ownership education. The Approach Aviation Learning Center contains informative articles, documents and links to other aviation resources.


Articles

• NEW!!! Ram-Air STC for Grumman AA-5 Traveler and AA-5A Cheetah Owners!

  Approach Aviation received an STC on October 29th, 2004 for an Alternate Air system for all Grumman AA-5 Traveler and AA-5A Cheetahs.

  This Alternate Air System is designed to provide an alternate source of induction air into the engine without the restriction of the standard induction air filter. This system allows the pilot to bypass the induction air filter without the reduction in available engine power caused by resorting to carburetor heat. A cable control in the cockpit opens/closes a valve into the airbox that supplies unfiltered air from the available air in front of the forward engine baffling.
  
  In addition, the inlet location provides a source of "Ram-Air" which has been tested to increase manifold pressure by approximately 1/2"+. This equates to approximately 4hp more power (see Lycoming power chart).

  Click on the links below for more information!

  Click here to see the STC Certificate
  Newly installed System (valve cover clamp ont yet installed)
  Control Valve Close-up
  Cockpit Control
  New Induction Air Inlet
  New Induction Air Inlet
  Optional Inlet Scoop
  Inlet Location Testing
  Lycoming Engine Power Chart
  

  This new system, complete with all necessary hardware, is available to the first ten customers for the introductory price of $750.
  Installation time is approximately 4-6 hours.

  
  
  
  

• Our Aging Aircraft ­ Part I: Staying ahead of the curve
  
  
• Grumman AA-5-series Aircraft Owners: The 100hour Aileron Inspection AD has been amended!
  Click here for the new Alternate Means of Compliance for AD 79-22-04
  Click here to the the FAA approval letter for the AMOC
  
  I am very pleased to announce that, after years of persistence, we have succeeded in gaining approval for an alternate means of compliance (AMOC) AD 79-22-04 to provide for removal of the recurring aileron inspection! The FAA has accepted the proposed alternate means of compliance to AD 79-22-04. The accepted alternate means requires compliance to Service Bulletin 163/Service Kit 144 for aircraft with riveted aileron torque tubes. It also provides instructions for a contour inspection of the ailerons. If both ailerons are found to be in contour then further repetitive inspections of the control system as specified by the AD are no longer required. Essentially, the AMOC requires a one-time inspection of the ailerons to ensure that they are within production tolerances. This check can be completed with a simple straight edge tool, as defined in the AMOC documentation. One the ailerons have passed this inspection, AD 79-22-04 has been complied with fully. 100hr inspections will be a thing of the past.
  Special thanks to John Rock at Tiger Aircraft for working with me through the years to make this happen!
  
  
• American General Tiger Owners:
  Click here for the new Throttle Cable Service Bulletin 190
  Click here for the new Throttle Cable Service Kit Information SK-156
  Click here to see a failed throttle cable
  Click here to see a newly installed and properly safetied throttle cable
  
  
• Century IIB Setup and Adjustment Procedures:
  Click here to download/view to procedures
  

Organizations

• AOPA (Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association)
  
• EAA (Experimental Aviation Association)
  
• American Yankee Association (Grumman Owner's Group)

Other Resources

• Trade-A-Plane
  
• Lear Chemical Research Corp. (Makers of ACF-50)
  
• Unison Industries