Biennial Owner/Operator Conference Focuses On Flying, Maintaining, Upgrading The Type

More than 120 Twin Commander owners, operators and factory and service center representatives went back to school recently to learn more about their favorite subject: their Twin Commanders. “School” was the Twin Commander University, a biennial owner/operator conference that features educational seminars on flying, maintaining, and upgrading Twin Commanders. The campus for the University – the 11th since the inaugural event more than 20 years ago – was Scottsdale, Arizona.

Other presenters included SimCom Training Centers, the exclusive provider of simulator-based Twin Commander pilot training; Dr. John Raniolo, a Phoenix-area cardiologist and Senior Aviation Medical Examiner; NationAir Aviation Insurance, which manages an insurance program for Twin Commander owners and operators; Garmin International’s Creighton Scarpone, who spoke on ADS-B; Advocate Consulting’s Jonathan Levy, who dissected recent IRS opinions affecting business aircraft operators; Air Journey Founder Thierry Pouille, who gave a presentation on flying to South Africa; and David Tenenbaum, a Twin Commander owner-pilot who has certified a special belly-mounted pod for shooting unobstructed, high-definition in-flight video. SimCom instructor Johnnie Adams also taught a “Right-Seat Responders” class on how to react in the event of pilot incapacitation.

Twin Commander factory and service center representatives briefed attendees on the latest engineering initiatives and upgrades under development, and a panel of experienced Twin Commander pilots discussed operational tips and techniques.

“The 11th Twin Commander University was an outstanding success, both in terms of participation and the quality of the sessions,” commented Twin Commander Aircraft President Matt Isley. “The University is a central component in our support of the worldwide fleet,” Isley added. “We work hard to ensure that owners and operators are backed by factory-provided engineering, technical resources, and parts, and that they can obtain inspections, maintenance, modifications and upgrades for their aircraft at factory authorized service centers. The University is the third leg of the support stool, specifically focused on helping owners and operators fly their aircraft safely and efficiently.”

The 2013 University class celebrated with a banquet at the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aviation Museum at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa. Joining the beautifully restored airworthy warbirds on display was a Twin Commander 1000 that has been fitted with a Garmin 1000 panel and S-TEC 2100 Digital Flight Control System. Eagle Creek Aviation Services in Indianapolis, an authorized Twin Commander service center, is seeking FAA Supplemental Type Certification of the panel modification. The Commander Garmin 1000 will be the first Garmin 1000 retrofit to incorporate Honeywell TPE331 engine instrumentation.

More than two-dozen Twin Commanders were parked on the Executive Aircraft Maintenance (EAM) ramp (pictured) at nearby Scottsdale Airport. EAM is an authorized Twin Commander Service Center. The next Twin Commander University will be held in the spring of 2015, at a location still to be determined.

(Images provided by Twin Commander)

FMI: www.twincommanderaircraft.com