Recently, my flight school has dropped using a BA-55 Baron as our multi-trainer. I was bummed because I just finished getting my MEI in it and was settling in. NOW, the GM for the school has picked up a DA-42 (Diamond) Twin-Star of all planes. I went up to start getting my 5 hours PIC in the airplane so I could teach in it and the first thing that happens is during an engine out simulation, the G1000 tells us we've had a problem with one of the two computers (ECU's) that controls the left engine (the one still running). The engine hesitates (went to 50% hp) and goes to the back up ECU. TheG1000 now reports that ECU #2 has also failed, but the engine keeps on running. Not in the plane 1 hour and this happens. Needless to say my trust in this tweeked out oddity has been dashed.

Considering it's such an unconventional aircraft, is this even a trainer? Am I just setting my students up for failure when they arrive in The Regional or Part 135 world and ask, "Uh. What are the blue levers (prop controls) for?" I can understand ATP applicants liking it but shouldn't everyone have the rudimentary understandings of prop control? DA-42 lovers, convince me otherwise. Thanks.

 

The BE55 is about a hundred times the plane the Twin-Star is.... although the Baron is a little.... maybe not meant for primary stuff.... good experience though if you must

 

My sister did a little bit of instructing in the DA42 a while back and had a partial engine failure on one engine on more than one occasion. I thought they got all that worked out though with some AD's, but perhaps not! I also spoke to a ERAU student who once got the engine fire warning and had to shut an engine down in IMC... Sounds like the DA42 has some issues. It's a great airplane to fly when it's working correctly though!

 

You know you like the Baron better

 

Is it an early one with the 1.7 litre engines? The 2.0 L models have some of the kinks worked out. Mind you, we've seen our share of engine failures (1), bogus fire warnings (1) and generator failures (1) in 300 hrs of owning a 2.0 L 2008 model. None happened without warning, though...they all gave some hint that something was amiss, but the mechanics were not able to fix these latent failures until they very obviously broke in flight.

As for whether it's a good trainer or not, I leave that up to the CFIs among you. I already had "blue knob" experience when I used a DA42 to add a multi to my commercial, so I didn't miss it, but since it's the only twin I've flown (80 hrs now) I can't tell if I'd be overwhelmed by transition a Baron, 310, Aztec, etc.

I think that training people to fly regional jets was part of its design intent. Aside from the FADEC, its glass cockpit, lots of busses, and the lack of good visual cues ahead of the glareshield were (I'm told...hearsay) intended to prepare future regional jet pilots.

I also have a bit of exposure to the new Austro-engined version, which is intended to fix the engine, gearbox, and ECU woes. So far so good, but we've only got 50 hrs or so on it.

 

I cant even begin to imagine what your flight training cost is. Those are arguably two of the most expensive twins for rent anywhere in the country.

Great planes, but not cheap planes.

 

Yeah. With instructor, you're looking at approx. $380 an hour for either.

 

The DA-42 was designed as a trainer, the baron not so much. The diamond might be more economical in the long run (over many years).

Everything I've heard is good so far, you know what they say about flying the A-model...

 

True. DA42s rent for $300/hr and up, not counting the instructor.

 

I've not flown a DA-42, but in terms of multi-engine training, I hope that's not the first time students are seeing a prop lever. If the student's are doing add-ons, then they have to have complex time (where an adjustable prop is required). If however, they are doing everything in a multi, then that is a major blow to their experience. Make sure they have a really good grasp of how changes in prop pitch are controlled and why they are beneficial. You could even go so far as to teach the same way you would for the baron and then, once they understand the principle, explain how the DA-42's FADEC operates.