The Duncan Intelligence is a free, technical newsletter for business aircraft owners and operators. Written in-house by Duncan Aviation's technical representatives, each edition includes technical tips and advice on topics and trends in business aviation. It is a free, monthly e-mail subscription for aviation enthusiasts around the world.
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As 2025 comes to an end, ACS Rep Rene Cardona reflects on what shaped this year’s preowned business jet market. The fourth quarter is always busy, but this year brought a unique level of intensity, driven by economic uncertainty early on and a surge of confident buyers later. Here’s his perspective on what we experienced in 2025—and what to expect as we head into 2026.
Don't get grounded by confusing nose wheel vibrations! A true nose gear shimmy—that rapid, side-to-side oscillation—is a serious issue often linked to play in the torque links, requiring immediate mechanical attention. In contrast, a simple vertical shudder felt during taxi or initial climb is often just an easily corrected wheel imbalance. This quick guide details the key differences and the essential steps to accurately troubleshoot the condition, starting with a simple inspection of the nose gear scissors.
Is your aircraft compliant? Missing small inspections tied to STCs or life-limited parts can lead to costly downtime and mandatory replacements. Learn why detailed records research is essential.
Don't Let Your Spare Aircraft Batteries Go Flat! Keeping a stock of essential aircraft batteries is crucial for operational readiness, but did you know that improper storage can drastically cut their lifespan and capacity? While temperature affects performance in the air, the storage environment is key to minimizing self-discharge and maintenance needs. Discover how optimizing storage temperature—from the effects of higher heat to the benefits of cold storage—can save you money, extend battery life, and ensure your spares are ready to deliver maximum performance when you need them most.
Honeywell has issued two Category II Reliability Service Bulletins, TFE731-79-3070 R1 and TFE731-79-5120, for the installation of new instruction plate decals on oil tanks to help prevent oil over-servicing.
The P&W Service Bulletin 30382 introduces a seal between the turbine exhaust case and the turbine exhaust mixer assembly to keep hot exhaust gases from sensitive areas.
Carrying the RVSM manual on board is only a regulatory requirement when the Operations Specifications, Letter Of Authorization or the FAA-approved RVSM maintenance manual states that you must have it on board. Having the RVSM manual on board, however, can be quite valuable in certain situations and is always a good idea.
Proper dynamic balancing of the props on a King Air is an excellent way to extend the life of the overall aircraft. Duncan Aviation technicians have seen King Airs come in with issues related to the dynamic balancing.
Dave Schiver, Duncan Aviation Learjet Tech Rep, answers your questions in regards to RVSM pitot probe alignment inspections on aircraft that have the Bombardier STC solutions installed.
A recent Astra SPX customer had incoming discrepancies for the #1 & #2 Engine DEEC buffers filling up every flight. Also, the thrust reversers weren’t deploying on touch down until about 80 knots. The main landing gear ground contact switches were to blame.
Pratt & Whitney recently released SB30393, recommending that the Electronic Engine Control (EEC) support brackets be replaced within 300 hours to help eliminate problems due to vibratory stresses.
During inspections of the Falcon 50 baggage door, Duncan Aviation technicians have found a formed rib to be cracked in the radius. During the next 2A+, make sure to conduct a thorough visual inspection of this area. Because the baggage door is part of the pressure vessel, it requires the manufacture to be notified...
There have been some questions raised lately about the flap tracks on the Lear 40 series aircraft, particularly regarding the Perma Silk G coating.
Honeywell has introduced new N2 monopoles with internal enhancements that improve N2 monopole durability. But double-check the P/N of the N2 monopole to avoid signal issues.
If you operate a Hawker 750, 800XP, 850XP or 900XP, please take note. Hawker Beechcraft Corporation recently released Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 24-3968 titled Electrical Power-Introduction of In-Line Fuses...