231flyer

Peevee, In most business you don't get paid till you deliver your product. Ask Boeing (787) or Airbus (380) about their financial woes due to delivery issues. Cirrus is trying to get beyond the 60 SF50 jets a year rate.....basically they are still delivering one jet a week. The V2 upgrade is to get RVSM altitudes, Auto throttles, and slightly faster speeds. Btw Alan's contract as Chairman was not renewed in 2009(so sent packing). Dale was ceremonial CEO/President/Consultant/Advisor/Nutured starting 2011(google to learn of his trials). Alan announced major economic difficulties in 2008 and furloughed over 200 employees. The Cirrus story has almost as many twists and turns as Mooney. Its difficult building an aircraft company. Eclipse spent $1.3B built 256 jets and has gone bankrupt yet again (Alan). Three of four VLJ manufacturers (Eclipse, Piper, Diamond) had to abandon their jets. Cirrus took a major hit and delay getting the SF50 to market. Cirrus could not make it as a standalone company thus the sale to the Chinese Government! Their model is as flawed as the others.....they just happen to have a sugardaddy now!

Both Cirrus and Mooney are Chinese owned companies. Cirrus is owned by AVIC-CAIGA a Chinese SOE (State Owned Enterprise) and Mooney by Henan Meijing Group (primarily Real estate and construction). Cirrus had its share of "near-death" encounters till it was bought by the Chinese Government and the Klapmeiers sent packing. The Chinese gov't needed to infuse generous sums of money to bail out the company and the SF50 Visionjet program. Their business model is far from profitable (see Diamond Aircraft for indicative financials including the DiamondJet saga). Fortunately Cirrus is owned by the Chinese state and have ready access to "stay alive" or "zombie" capital. The real estate market in China is in distress and defaults amongst large Property/Construction firms commonplace. Its just a matter of time before HMG can no longer continue to support Mooney. I assume HMG started trying to unload Mooney right after they unloaded Vivek Saxena (CEO). The future does not look promising despite our zealous affection for the brand. As Richard Branson says; "the way to make a small fortune in aviation is to start with a really big one"

https://mooneyspace.com/topic/23720-hurricane-irma/?do=findComment&comment=378278

Relief efforts for the devastated gulf coast have begun and pilots and their aircraft are again needed. Please consider supporting the efforts of the following fine organizations…...I have personal experience volunteering with both during Harvey and Irma relief. www.aerobridge.org www.operation-airdrop.com Thanks Deepak

Agree the 252 is better/easier than the 231. Current market : 231 ~$90k, 252 ~$130k, 231 Rocket ~$150k, Bravo ~$190k, Acclaim ~$450k, Ovation Ultra ~$720k We should expect to get more and better a/c for more money! A reasonable C model can still be acquired for ~$50k Managing the 231 is not difficult, just takes a light touch and extra vigilance on the MP......good habits to develop regardless of a/c.

I bought my 231 before I had even completed my private ticket (aprox 30 hrs into training) in 1992. I finished my instrument training in my 231 and still own the aircraft. The 231 does have some quirks but is a great instrument platform and inspires confidence in the way it flies. I would absolutely recommend it as your first aircraft...….just make sure you get extensive competent professional training. I am in the process of updating the avionics and passing it on to my 18yr old daughter …….. her first aircraft and instrument trainer.

Thanks Jetdriven....I should have mentioned Operation Airdrop too....great bunch of guys based at my homebase and I signed up with them too. I am very proud of our flying fraternity in this hour of need. I remember feeling helpless during Katrina and being refused permission to land in NOLA. We tried to get both our TX Senators involved but to no avail. Pilots and their planes made a BIG difference in TX and I hope we do the same in FL.

Aerobridge.org is trying to get aircraft positioned to help with relief efforts once the storm passes. Please sign up! This 231 made multiple trips to Beaumont (KBPT) and Orange TX (KORG) delivering relief supplies. Her bigger sister (Malibu Mirage) made multiple rescue trips to the Houston area. Btw. its always amazing to me how much stuff can fit into our a/c......a pallet full in this case! Fly safe and GODSPEED

Wanted for purchase a serviceable right flap for my Mooney 231. Part num 240014-510 (same as the 201).

My wife, an attorney, advises me CBP is typically within its authorizations in many of these cases. The laws on illegal search and seizure tends to favor law enforcement agencies and legal action can be lengthy and expensive. There is no law requiring CBP to be courteous and some agents do stretch the power they are given. Hopefully this a minority and smooths out over time. My dealings with the CBP and FAA thus far has been quite professional. I often fly internationally (both airline and private) and have been ramp checked by the FAA over a half dozen times in my 23 years as a pilot. CBP has a program called "Global Entry" that allows frequent travelers to sail through immigration and customs by completing a rigorous background check and registration. The FBI conducts the investigation and you get to use the automated entry kiosks on your return stateside. Its an absolute intrusion of privacy but I do get to skip the hour+ long lines at DFW,JFK,MIA etc.. A side benefit of the trusted traveler program is the aforementioned CBP "ramp checks". Eg. on our arrival back from the Bahamas into FtPierce, the CBP officer cleared our family in less than 5 minutes and told me I had been pre-cleared due to my global-entry registration. It seems the eAPIS program is linked and the inbound manifest flags a trusted traveler. Global-Entry is too intrusive for some but an option and seems to help with CBP ramp checks.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-aircraft-searches-20140415,0,7828658.story#ixzz2zEzu16Oq

Glad you are ok and made a successful emergency landing. My 231 has an AirWolf Oil Separator that is connected to the vac on the outflow side. Many years ago my vac shaft sheared off (seems this only occurs in IMC) and I too had to declare an emergency and land in Paducah KY. The loss of vac resulted in the oil separator blowing oil/smoke into the cabin and also caused considerable engine roughness. I remember thinking I was going to lose the engine once I had opened the vents and cleared the smoke. It turned out to be a simple vac failure (right at 500 hrs TT) and the local mechanic had a replacement in stock. The engine test ran smoothly after the replacement and he thought the rough engine was caused by the loss of pressure to the oil separator. Anyways the fix worked and I was able to continue on from Dayton to Corpus Christi. Obviously I don't have all the details, your two issues might be unrelated but co-incident. Btw Sal's Aircraft Cylinder service in Prosper (214) 630-7880 does great work and I had my TSIO 360LB topped in 2007. All cylinders still hold 76" or better.

File a claim in small-claims court if your damages are below $10,000 (applies to most states). Posting on Airnav, BBB, etc helps but you are still out the repair costs. If the FBO is negligent and unresponsive you will win a default judgement and will be able to place a lien on them. Absolutely no reason why you should suffer the consequences of their neglect. Document everything!!!!!!

Latest Requirements at: http://www.aopa.org/Flight-Planning/Mexico.aspx Pilot-in-Command The pilot in command must have a current: Passport Pilot certificate with an English proficient endorsement Medical certificate Restricted radiotelephone operators permit Note: Student pilots are not permitted to make international flights. Passengers Each passenger must have a current passport. Tourist visas are required and may be obtained at the first airport of entry. Children traveling with only one parent must have a notarized statement of approval from the absent parent stating the dates of the trip. Aircraft All U.S. registered aircraft must have: A standard airworthiness certificate A permanent registration certificate (no temporary certificates/pink slips) A radio station license Operating limitations information Weight and balance information Transponder with Mode C Two-way radio equipment If the aircraft is registered in another person’s or corporation’s name, AOPA recommends that you have a notarized letter authorizing use of the aircraft for flights in Mexico. An ID data plate 12-inch registration marks are required for crossing the ADIZ into Mexico. Aircraft with fuel tanks installed in the baggage or passenger compartments must have Form 337 on board. Regarding experimental aircraft: Unless the aircraft has been prohibited from making an international flight to Mexico by the FAA, the aircraft is welcome to Mexico provided that the pilot abides by the limitations applied by the FAA in its operating limitations. The Mexican government has recently postponed the requirement for 406 MHz ELTs. Pilots with aircraft used exclusively for private flights now have until June 30, 2013, to replace their 121.5-MHz ELT with a 406-MHz model or until their existing 121.5-MHz ELT needs to be replaced, whichever comes first. See the blue box at the top of the page for more complete information. Deferred till 2015."""""" Insurance Verify that Mexico is included in your policy’s territory. Check that your policy has liability limits of at least $300,000. Carry your aircraft insurance policy in the aircraft. Present your insurance policy for validation upon arrival in Mexico. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires An annual user fee decal ($27.50) – allow a few weeks for delivery. CPB encourages all applicants to use the online renewal process, which is fast, secure, and accurate. Pre-printed paper applications will be mailed only by request - not automatically sent as in previous years. To request a pre-printed paper renewal application, call the User Fee Help Desk at 317/298-1245, option 3; or email decals@dhs.gov. eAPIS CBP’s Electronic Advance Passenger Information System. For your return trip back to the U.S., plan to land at the first airport of entry after crossing the U.S. border to clear customs.

Congratulations! Sounds like a fun wedding and honeymoon. No specific HF requirement to make the crossing but you will be out of Houston Oceanic coverage for about 30-40 minutes till Merida picks you up. Usual reporting point from Houston area is KEHLI intersection.....I assume you will report at IRDOV coming in from KNEW. Lots of airline traffic in the area so you won't be lonely but open waters for 2 hrs + so hope you are comfortable with that and have all the requisite emergency equipment including a raft. AOPA has excellent and current info on the requirements, my last flight into Mexico was a couple of years ago. They are not very GA friendly anymore and you WILL pay lots of expensive fees. I assume you have researched the document requirements for entry into Mexico and also your all important marriage license. Be sure to get your Radio License, Insurance endorsed for Mexico, and make arrangements for the blood tests etc. The hotel concierge should be able to handle all your marriage related requirements while the FBO at MMUN will handle all your A/C requirements (for a friendly fee ofcourse). Best to pre-arrange everything. My wife and I got married in Cancun in 1995 and flew to Yellowstone for our honeymoon. CONGRATULATIONS again and Godspeed.