Helps Owners Become Maintenance-Savvy

Respected aviation author, editor and speaker Mike Busch is conducting an innovative series of weekend seminars for general aviation aircraft owners, designed to help owners become more maintenance-savvy, to empower them to take control of the maintenance of their aircraft, and to get better maintenance for less money. Busch is best known as founder and editor-in-chief of AVweb (1995-2002) and longtime technical representative for the Cessna Pilots Association.

Seminars are scheduled for April 24-25 in Memphis, Tenn; May 15-16 in Van Nuys, Calif.; June 12-13 in Harrisburg, Pa.; July 24-25 in Oshkosh, Wis. (in conjunction with EAA AirVenture 2004); August 21-22 in Seattle, Wash.; September 18-19 in Denver, Colo.; and October 23-25 in Long Beach, Calif. (in conjunction with AOPA Expo 2004). Each session is limited to 40 participants. The seminars are open to all aircraft owners and are not type-specific.

As an aircraft owner for 35 years, Busch knows firsthand the frustration and "sticker shock" that owners often face when dealing with mechanical problems, replacement parts, or annual inspections. As the Cessna Pilots Association's resident twin expert for more than a decade and through his dozens of maintenance-related articles in AVweb, he's helped countless aircraft owners troubleshoot and fix the thorniest maintenance problems that their own A&Ps have been unable to solve. As an A&P mechanic himself, Busch understands how owners and their mechanics can best work together to get the job done while minimizing frustration and expense.

Busch is convinced that many (perhaps most) owners are too passive for their own good when dealing with maintenance issues, often deferring blindly to the judgment of a mechanic without questioning or seeking a second opinion. When the invoice is twice what was expected and the problem still isn't fixed, the owner often feels powerless, victimized, and "over a barrel."

"My goal in doing these seminars is to help owners feel more confident and empowered when making maintenance-related decisions about their aircraft, and dealing with mechanics and maintenance shops,"Busch said. "I help them learn what to look for when choosing an A&P or maintenance facility, how to participate actively in troubleshooting problems, what questions to ask before approving labor or parts replacement, when and how to seek an expert second opinion, and what to do in case of a disagreement with their mechanic or shop. I also discuss how to cope with the skyrocketing cost of parts and how to deal with mechanical problems away from home base."

In two intense days of presentations, problem-solving sessions and breakout groups, attendees will learn how to have a better-maintained aircraft while spending less on maintenance. They'll take away dozens of specific tips and techniques for dealing with frustrating maintenance problems, and saving thousands of dollars.

FMI: www.savvyaviator.com