Why Owner-Performed Maintenance is Essential, with Jeff Simon

By John Zimmerman
Nov 19, 2024
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Pilot's Discretion Podcast, episode 91

A critical shortage of A&Ps means airplane owners have no choice but to get involved in maintenance. Mechanic, pilot, and writer Jeff Simon explains how to get started, how to find the right shop, and what the impact could be from proposed FAA rules on remote maintenance. Jeff is also the founder of SocialFlight, so he shares his tips for keeping flying fun and involving family in the adventure—including his “no magenta line” trip. In the Ready to Copy segment, Jeff talks about why you should never jump start a dead battery, why the compass is no longer needed, and his lessons learned from building an airplane in his living room.

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Quotes:

The state of GA maintenance: “Right now we are facing a crisis in general aviation maintenance. There is a very, very serious shortage of aviation maintenance technicians.”
How to get started with owner-performed maintenance: “The first thing that you need to do is start learning… and it’s OK to pay for that shop time.”
Do new owners know less about maintenance? “We have a large influx of people, and we haven’t had time to educate them.”
Fixing the mechanic shortage: “I think anything in a free market economy is solvable. I really do. And I think that it will catch up, but we will go through a period of pain during that adjustment.”
Finding the right shop: “A shop that’s open to owner-assisted work has to… love to teach.”
Remote maintenance: “The idea that we’re operating under these regulations from 60-70 years ago, and we are expecting them to apply to today’s world of technology—we’re fortunate that it sort of can, but it requires some interpretation.”
Finding a reason to fly: “The biggest thing holding people back from flying—and I think this still holds true today—is a mission.”
What general aviation is all about: “This is a magic carpet. This actually can take you somewhere you’ve never been before. And that’s intoxicating and energizing.”
Flying a “no magenta line” trip: “We didn’t know where we were going to land. We didn’t know where we were going to stay. We didn’t know what was going to happen. And I will tell you, that was the most amazing adventure I have ever done.”
Why you shouldn’t jump a dead battery: “If your battery has gone all the way to the point it cannot start your aircraft, there’s a chance you’ve damaged it.”
Knowing what normal feels like in your airplane: “When something doesn’t feel right, it isn’t. Period.”
Should you build an airplane? “If it’s even remotely on your radar, dive in.”