PaulB Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 On my flight yesterday my vacuum pump gave up the ghost. No big deal as I have an electric backup, was in VMC, and have an STEC rate based AP. I have been planning on putting it in the shop for several small things but now I've got to put it in if I want to use it. I need to IRAN the mags, upgrade my engine monitor, and probably overhaul the alternator. I foresee about 3-4 weeks of down time for maintenance given past experiences. Here's my issue. My annual is due in December. Any thoughts on putting it in for all of this stuff and the annual now or am I wasting money doing it early?
Andy95W Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 Why not just replace the vacuum pump and stay on your normal schedule? Your 201 cowling is pretty quick to remove and install. Your mags, engine monitor, and alternator can go another 3 months, unless they are showing signs of distress or have already crapped out.
Mooneymite Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 I agree. Your annual is $X/12 months. If you only get 8 months our of your annual, it's a much more expensive annual. The Vac pump is easy/quick to replace; there's nothing pushing those other items, so I'd just replace the vac pump now and get those other items at the scheduled annual. Another factor: Weather. October is a glorious month to fly; Dec/January.....maybe not so good.
carusoam Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) Let's see... 1) a basic annual's costs distributed out over 12 months is about $200 per month... 2) if you got started today on the annual you could have it finished with an October date. That would 'waste' two months of the existing annual. A $400 cost that is hard to keep track of... 3) if you keep track of these type of costs, you typically fly out to the end of the month the annual is due. Perform the annual in the next month. By perfecting your schedule, you get a 13 month annual. Buy 12 get one free... 4) redoing the numbers, like before, you are throwing away three months of the existing annual. A $600 cost. 5) many people hold off on simple maintenance items allow them to collect for the annual. 6) if you have maintenance items that need attention, don't wait. When you run tight on money, waiting is what happens. And 13 month annual's are the norm. 7) I found January and February to be the best month for annuals, because I flew less in winter. The effective down time was minimized by lighter use. 8) Is there a difference in your accounting for money that is spent already? If you are using a budget and staying with it, it matters. If you check the airplane account and only spend what's accumulated, it doesn't know. If you are using credit to cover the issue, you need a different form of help... This is basically one CB's math from a decade ago. Balance the convenience of getting it done all at once, with the cost of doing it early. There doesn't seem to be a bunch of good reasons to do an annual early... best regard, -a- Edited October 6, 2015 by carusoam 2
larryb Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 My plane is in the shop for an early annual right now. I had a bunch of things I wanted done now. I was on a trip via airlines and didn't need the plane for a while. I lost two months of annual but the scheduling and down time made it worth it to me. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1
N201MKTurbo Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 Stay on the original schedule to move the annual past the holidays. Everybody wants to use the plane during the holidays and nobody wants to work during the holidays. But in January everybody is fresh and wants to work hard and do a good job.
RobertGary1 Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 Funny that I usually do the opposite. I try to ensure everything is fixed and working perfect before going into annual. Mostly because I'm usually begging, borrowing, or stealing a hanger and trying to get out as soon as possible. But fixing little 1-2 hour things during the year is trivial and easy. -Robert 1
Bob_Belville Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 I've been taking the plane down at the end of the annual month to get a sign off in the next month. 1
DrBill Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 It's not worth changing your annual sked for a vacuum pump swap. Keep your sked. Bill
Danb Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 Anthony, I also do the 13/12 month swap at annual time, but as you stated you like Jan or Feb. so do I but I'm now into August,so next yr. will be Sept. doing it that way your doing an annual in every month over a 12 yr period. Mine is a 2005, so I'm entering my eleventh different month. It does suck having your plane down in good flying months. In a couple yrs. if I'm still flying I'll most likely stay on the 12 month sch. so the plane will be down in Jan.until I'm done flying that's the new plan.
PaulB Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Posted October 6, 2015 Thanks guys. I figured it was a little excessive to do the annual now.
ArtVandelay Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 I've been taking the plane down at the end of the annual month to get a sign off in the next month. Tough to make the Dec-Jan transition, many shops close the last week in December
WardHolbrook Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 I hate deferring maintenance, but I agree Let's see... 1) a basic annual's costs distributed out over 12 months is about $200 per month... 2) if you got started today on the annual you could have it finished with an October date. That would 'waste' two months of the existing annual. A $400 cost that is hard to keep track of... 3) if you keep track of these type of costs, you typically fly out to the end of the month the annual is due. Perform the annual in the next month. By perfecting your schedule, you get a 13 month annual. Buy 12 get one free... 4) redoing the numbers, like before, you are throwing away three months of the existing annual. A $600 cost. 5) many people hold off on simple maintenance items allow them to collect for the annual. 6) if you have maintenance items that need attention, don't wait. When you run tight on money, waiting is what happens. And 13 month annual's are the norm. 7) I found January and February to be the best month for annuals, because I flew less in winter. The effective down time was minimized by lighter use. 8) Is there a difference in your accounting for money that is spent already? If you are using a budget and staying with it, it matters. If you check the airplane account and only spend what's accumulated, it doesn't know. If you are using credit to cover the issue, you need a different form of help... This is basically one CB's math from a decade ago. Balance the convenience of getting it done all at once, with the cost of doing it early. There doesn't seem to be a bunch of good reasons to do an annual early... best regard, -a- I hate deferring maintenance, but this seems like it's the smart thing to do - unless, of course, you end up deferring stuff that ought not to be deferred. To me it sounds like it makes sense to replace the vacuum pump now and continue keeping an eye on the other stuff. Put it in the shop during the latter part of December and take that extra month. Personally, I've always tried to work our annuals into the January or February time frame.
RobertGary1 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) Even at annual nothing says you have to fix everything at annual. Most items can be diferred and fixed during the year to avoid the annual report taking a year. Btw: nothing says the IA needs to fix any critical items either. He can write the inspection as complete and list required items. Than any A&P can finish it up by logging those items as done. The IA can simply log what he finds and you say "thank you and goodbye". -Robert Edited October 7, 2015 by RobertGary1 1
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