Corporate MU2 info.
 

Any MU2 pilots out there that would recommend initial training with Howell or SimCom ? Why?

I had an MU-2 opportunity a number of years ago. One of the home patch greybeards suggested that I search the NTSB Db for MU-2 accidents over the last 30 years...you might want to do the same if you haven't already.

There are thousands of NTSB accidents in many different airplanes. Everyone has an opinion on airplanes and causes of accidents. A lot of the NTSB accidents end with Pilot error. I recall like many others, when all the MU2 icing problems were happening, etc, etc. Still does not make the MU2 the problem. Many articles have been published, I recall in the late 80's reading many of them. Many AD's have been issued, etc.

The question was about training at one of the 2 facilities.

While I was at SimCom for TBM initial, there were a few MU-2 guys going through that were prior experienced guys. I can't remember with whom they were employed through, but it was their recurrent center of choice.

Initial with Reese Howell is a good way to go if you want to fly the real airplane. Reese probably has more time in the MU-2 than anybody. Great guy to work with too. He'll teach you things about the MU-2 that the sim guys never heard of.

Westwind II, I have heard the same. Howell is highly recommended, apparently there is an insurance company out there that will not cover you unless you have done the Howell training. I know a 26,000 hr (most in the world). and 6000,hr. MU2 pilot that both want me to attend the Howell program, if the position pans out.

RH program is 12 hours in the airplane. Don't know what they do but sounds like fun. Simcom told me 7.5 hours in the airplane.

Thanks

Don't let anyone discourage you from flying the MU-2. It is a phenomenal aircraft, but demands respect, as I'm sure your friends will attest. You simply cannot fly it like a Cheyenne or Kingair when you lose an engine. Best of luck.

You must mean, if I lose an engine. Never had an engine problem in KA
or Cheyenne. The TPE331 is different. I had the opportunity to fly a marquise, go through all the manuavers, 9 landings, spent 3 hrs. flying. Not a bad plane.

Funny this topic should come up. I was just having coffee the other day with the CP of a company here in New England that has two MU-2's (used to be more). They've been flying them a long time. He's got well over twenty thousand hours in the -2, and loves it. He did say that they use Howell. He didn't have a lot of respect for these so called "experts" that write articles to trash the airplane, that don't have any real experience with it.

So, look into Howell I'd say.

That has to be the same person I flew with last week. Check your PM's