AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE

Our Services

Aircraft Weighing
Sheet Metal / Composites
Engine Fuel Setups
Inspections
Repairs & Maintenance
Propeller Balancing

Annual Inspections

It’s coming up!

You need an Annual Inspection and now you're on the hunt for a shop to work with. We believe in giving our customers all the information needed to make the best choice when it comes time for your inspection.

Let’s be honest, most people don’t really want to pay to have their aircraft inspected every year. However, an aircraft's reliability and longevity depend on routine inspections, servicing, and quality maintenance, and in the event that you get ramp checked, the peace of mind knowing you will pass with flying colors is worth every penny. We believe that a quality Annual Inspection should be done in a maintenance facility by licensed, professional A&P mechanics. There are many factors which contribute to receiving a quality inspection. Proper lighting (an FAA requirement!), current technical data, calibrated tools, availability of parts and hardware, and a critical eye are the factors which make our service stand out. It would be incredibly difficult, and much less efficient, to perform an Annual in a customer's T-Hangar. The overhead and tooling we have makes it impossible to work at the same shop rate as other self-employed mechanics in the area. We set our hourly rate based on our quality of workmanship and the level of service we provide.

We are always excited to meet new customers, so please don’t hesitate to ask us questions or drop by and check out our facilities.

Purchasing an Aircraft

We encourage all of our customers to talk with us before purchasing an aircraft. We may be able to provide valuable insight, especially if this is going to be your first plane. There are many factors first time buyers may not be aware of. For example, it seems like most everyone is aware of the recommended hours for time between overhauls (TBO), but very few know that there is a recommendation by date in service as well, which is typically 12 years. This is just as important, if not more so, than the total number of operating hours on an engine.

Expected cost of ownership and maintenance.
Quirks associated with certain models.
Regulatory compliance.
Pre-buy inspection recommendations.

The Right Plane for You

Whether you are a licensed pilot or a new student looking to purchase an aircraft for training versus renting, we tell customers that the only way to truly inspect the aircraft during a pre-buy inspection, is to pay for an Annual Inspection. This allows us to take a full in-depth look at the aircraft and to identify any potential maintenance issues which could dramatically increase the cost of the plane. While an Annual pre-buy inspection is an ideal situation, financial or time constraints can sometimes prohibit the ability to perform the entire scope of an Annual Inspection. In this situation we ask for a minimum of 3-4 hours of shop time to get a general look at the aircraft and the basic checks out of the way. If at any point we run into something that would cause us personally to question the deal, we stop and let you know where we are at so you don’t spend any more money than necessary to make your decision.

There is no approved checklist for performing a pre-buy inspection. So know that if you decide to do anything less than an Annual, there will likely be unexpected maintenance and potentially costly repairs which could occur after the deal is done. You may decide to purchase the aircraft regardless of what we find, but at least you will have a better idea of what to expect.

The Importance of ADS-B

The traffic at the Bend Airport has been growing at an unbelievably high rate. A large part of that growth is due to the high demand for flight training and the ideal, nearly year-round, VFR weather conditions that make Central Oregon the best place to learn. The FAA recently held a conference about the growing traffic in our skies, as it is now one of the busiest and most dangerous airspaces in the Seattle Corridor. Last year more than 50% of the TCAS RA events recorded for the entire Seattle ARTCC airspace (nearly all of the Pacific Northwest) occurred within a 15 nautical mile radius of the Deschutes VOR. For this reason, ATC strongly encourages all pilots in the Bend and Redmond area to broadcast their ADS-B callsign and monitor the frequency 126.15 when not receiving flight following.

Due to this growing safety concern, all planes in the Bend Aircraft fleet are equipped with ADS-B traffic and weather. ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, shifts aircraft separation and air traffic control from ground based radar to satellite-derived positions. This technology broadcasts an aircraft’s WAAS-enhanced GPS position to the ground, where it is displayed to ATC. It is also transmitted to aircraft with ADS-B receivers, either directly or relayed by ground stations, which will help you, as a pilot, maintain a higher degree of situational awareness (AOPA.org, 2020 para. 1).

As of January of 2020, ADS-B is required for flight in:

Class A, B, and C airspace
Class E airspace at or above 10,000 ft MSL, excluding airspace at and below 2,500 ft AGL.
Within 30 nautical miles of a Class B primary airport.
Above the ceiling and within the lateral boundaries of Class B or Class C airspace up to 10,000 ft.

EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST

Come fly with us and experience the joys of aviation! At Bend Aircraft we believe that safety comes first, which is why we pride ourselves on providing well maintained aircraft to our students and instructors.

@bendaircraft

@bendaircraftscenic

63330 Powell Butte Hwy
Bend, OR 97701

8am to 5pm
Monday thru Friday