I feel fortunate vs nightmare stories

[Bob Noel]

I no longer own my little cherokee 140.

But I read the nightmare stories about avionics shops or repair facilities and I realize how good my avionics shops and mechanics were*. I had a good relationship with them all. And it's not like I'm the most gregarious/social person, but I'm also not a pita nitpicking chiseler either.

Doppler Avionics on KBED was awesome, but sadly is closed. They did multiple installations/upgrade on my lowly 140.

Penn Yan did the engine overhaul and upgrade STC to 160hp and was awesome to deal with. Way back in 2002 it only took a couple of months (3?) to get the engine back with new cylinders and the STC.

And the repair stations on the field were good (not cheap, but still good... with the exception of dr death).

It probably helped that I was willing to do owner-assisted maintenance but always followed instruction from the A&P and IA.

Reading nightmare stories that people have experienced today would have scared the bejeezus out of me.



*yes, there was one exception with an IA that I later learned was locally known as "dr death"

 

[unsafervguy]

It probably helped that I was willing to do owner-assisted maintenance but always followed instruction from the A&P and IA.

thats the key. not just in aviation, in everthing. if your not engaged and have skin in the game you will get taken advantage of.

 

[Bell206]

Reading nightmare stories that people have experienced today would have scared the bejeezus out of me.

You'll find the only stories you read about are the bad ones. Rarely do the good ones get posted as you have. All in all the bad ones are still a small minority and usually are due to the repetitive issues.