Navajo Systems
 

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of some study material for the Navajo. I will be starting training for a new job soon and want to get a jump on the systems and general operating procedures for the bird. Checklists, flows, systems, etc. Is there any good info on the internet or is there a place I can order some stuff without dishing out a lot of coin? I'm going to be transitioning from a supercub so I'm going to need all the help I can get. It is a part 91 operation and I know this is the 135 thread, but I know there are a lot of 135 operators using the PA-31 so I'm posting here. If any of you guys flying this bird can point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. PMs are welcome too.

hey the banner gig is over??? how was it?

It's not quite over. I still work weekends. I live at home and they fly me out to Las Vegas to tow over UNLV games/NHRA/PBR, etc. This will go on till mid-december. After that they will offer me jobs as they come up. In between my trips I'm going to start training with this other company. The Navajo thing will be part time as well but they have said it will become full time pretty soon after starting (hoping they are right). I also still fly the 310 for lifeguard stuff when I'm home. So I'm about to have 3 part time jobs! That's got to equal one full time right?? Times are tough and I'm going to try and keep all 3 going in case any one of them falls through. To answer your other question, it's been a great experience. Awesome company to work for if you want to drag rags. Banner towing sometimes gets a bad rap due to safety issues and incidents in the past but they've come a long way at this company. That said it has been a hard job, lots of work and no cake walk as well as a lot of time away from home (at least 4-6 weeks at a time). In short I'll just say it's been the most fun I never want to have again.

Most pilot shops carry the Navajo operators manual (Copy for study purpose, not airplane specific). Not exspensive, I think less than $30.00. Has everything you want to know about the Navajo. HTH

What kind?
 

Is your Navajo a Panther conversion? If so, you can get information from Colemill Enterprises. Check out their website. You can contact them with your N number and they will email you the supplement information. I did all my training in-house with a copy of the aircraft POH.

Its not a panther conversion. Wish it was cause i live pretty close to cornelia fort where they are based i believe. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Now THAT is spoken like a REAL pilot!

The Navajo is a pretty straight forward airplane. Someone once described it to me as a Seneca on steroids. But yea, just study the POH and you'll be fine, there isn't anything really tricky to understand. Do you know if the airplane your going to be operating has the "up gross" kit on it your is it standard? What kind of flying are you going to be doing?

Watch the CG
 

While the airplane does fly very well, you have to be careful of the CG limitations if it is one of the short models (Not Chieftain). Do your weight and balance carefully for takeoff and landing. Remember the outboards have a different moment arm than the inboards, so you will need to determine how you will burn fuel so you can correctly calculate your landing W&B. It can make a difference. Lightly loaded I have to put 100 lbs of sand in the aft cargo area to keep it within CG. To me it flies more like an Aztec than a Seneca. It lands easier than a Seneca, too. Very stable and straight forward to fly. Pretty good on one engine, but the single engine missed approach is a bear. I've never flown the 310 h.p. model, though, only the 325 CR and the Chieftain. Study the POH and take your time. You'll have a blast!

Buy what Pipers an "Information Manual" -- a non-serial-number-specific POH reprint . . . but be sure what you buy is for the same year model as the airplane you're studying for. There are a few systems and other differences depending upon how old the airplane is.

The CG issue mentioned in another reply is also worth attention. Although the airplane has very benign handling qualities and (for turbocharged models) a comfortably high single engine ceiling, you can become very unhappy in either Navajos or Chieftains as you come over the fence with the CG aft beyond limits, the yoke all the way forward, and the nose still rising. . . .