Page 34 - Volume 21 Number 11

32 • TWIN & TURBINE
November 2017
From the Flight Deck
by Kevin R. Dingman
Deferred Maintenance
“Pay me now, or pay me later.” (Fram oil filter slogan, Circa 1971)
DMI (Deferred Maintenance Item) – postponing maintenance activities in order to save costs, maintain a schedule or to meet budget constraints. The failure to perform such repairs could lead to higher long-term costs, component deterioration and ultimately, component failure.
Lately, the Duke has been enjoying some fixes and upgrades: new boots, overhauls on the mags and props, avionics upgrades including a nav/comm, WAAS GPS and an ADS-B. But the air conditioning compressor blew a gasket (literally), the 48-year-old KWX-50 black-and-white
weather radar only receives The Dick Van Dyke Show and the engines are nearing TBO. With just 300 hours to go, I’m staring at $160,000 for two overhauled TIO-541’s and $25,000 for a new color radar. Everything is relative and we have readers who regularly spend much more than this; I get that. But to carry four people and luggage, at 20,000 feet and 220 kts, on an airline pilot’s salary, the Duke suits me.
Long past its useful life, Kevin Dingman’s 48-year-old KWX-50 black-and-white weather radar is only good for watching The Dick Van Dyke Show.
A Budget Far, Far Away
Many readers have written describing their experiences and difficulties maintaining, upgrading and even sustaining, their airplanes. When our receivables under-fly the payables, difficult decisions must be made. We often purchase a little bit more airplane than we can afford, forgetting that component issues, new technologies, regulations, insurance, training and other owner-pilot needs and whims will prompt unforeseen spending. I’m not immune to this forgetfulness and whimsical spending because the Duke and I are sometimes far apart on a budget. As described above, my $250,000 airplane currently “needs” yet another $185,000 worth of stuff in addition to the regular items that break. But asking your shop to defer maintenance items to massage the budget can put your AMT (Aviation Maintenance