Spring 2012 - Volume 17, Number 2
NOAA Commanders Go Low and Slow to Measure Snow
It's late February, a bit northwest of Caribou, Maine, and a lone Commander 1000 JetProp, wearing the livery of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), lopes along at 110 knots just 500 feet above the trees. No, they're not searching for a downed aircraft or lost hiker. This NOAA Commander is using sophisticated instrumentation to measure the water content of snow packs. And it's the perfect airplane for the mission.
FROM THE FLIGHTLINE
Eagle Creek: A Quarter-Century at the Top
In the 25 years that Eagle Creek Aviation Services has been owned and operated by Matt Hagans, it has evolved from a dormant Twin Commander service center to the most active facility in Twin Commander's worldwide network of authorized service centers. Eagle Creek is the undisputed leader in Twin Commander sales, service, and upgrade activity, including Grand Renaissance conversions.
A Commanding Presence: Matt Hagans
Hagans has built the largest Twin Commander sales and service organizations on the planet, and a major reason for his success is the strength of his commitment to the brand and his vision to continuously upgrade it to maintain its value to operators and potential customers.
Airborne WX Radar: Know How to Use Your Avoidance Tools
Springtime is here and along with it comes some of the most violent weather found anywhere in the world. The setup is nearly perfect: cold, dry, arctic air clashes violently with warm, tropical air and the battleground where they meet is right here in the U.S. At our disposal: some of the most advanced technology and best convective weather forecasting found anywhere in the world. Our objective should be to efficiently use all available resources to minimize risks associated with hazardous weather.
Adventure Travel: Ilulissat, Greenland
I have an amazing job, often dreaming of new destinations, new hotels, new attractions and, of course, new challenges. (Cuba? Coming..soon!)
Of all the journeys we organize, crossing the Atlantic is still the most challenging because of the unpredictable weather, the rugged terrain we fly over, and the cold water of the north Atlantic.
Garmin Tips & Tricks: Practice Approaches
Flying a series of practice approaches at an airport or two near home is a common flight for IFR training or currency purposes. It presents challenges in the transition between approaches when compared to a simple flight plan that ends with a single approach. Repeating an approach, or flying a different one at a given airport, is a little easier than proceeding to a new airport for further approaches, so here we'll do a round-robin flight to illustrate all options.
Need Parts? Mike Sekulic Gets Them On Their Way
When you gotta have it—a part that will get your airplane back up in the air again, that is—you gotta have it, and Mike Sekulic is one of the people who makes sure that you do indeed get it, and get it quick.
SimCom Up and Running With Commander Sims and Pilot Training Programs
SimCom Training Centers reports that all three of its Twin Commander simulators--a non-motion 690A, a full-motion 690B, and a full-motion 1000--are now operational at its new training center just north of Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport. SimCom is now booking customers for pilot initial and recurrent training courses using all three simulators.
Camera Mod Turns Twin Commanders Into Capable Eyes in the Skies
The high-wing configuration that distinguishes all Twin Commanders gives crew and passengers an unobstructed view of the earth passing swiftly by far below. That visibility, unmatched in other aircraft in its class, makes Twin Commanders the ideal platform for utility operators whose work involves ground observation missions.
Market Report: Is Stability Returning to the Market?
Since 2009, we have seen a gradual decline in available inventory for sale. While it's no surprise that markets across the board have seen soft pricing in recent years, what is surprising is the stability of inventory in the Commander market. Aircraft market data source JETNET showed a 27 to 40 pct increase in available inventory for the competitive turboprop-model markets oer the last few years, but the Commander inventory has remained stable over the period.
