Frequently-asked questions

Why did you develop this seminar?

For years, I've been convinced that there is a huge "hole" in our aviation educational system. There are excellent training programs available to teach pilots how to fly, and to teach mechanics how to swing wrenches. The FAA has well-structured certification programs for both pilots and mechanics. But there are very few resources available to teach people how to be savvy aircraft owners.

There's a whole lot more to aircraft ownership than being a proficient pilot. An owner must keep his aircraft in airworthy condition, oversee its maintenance, and make all sorts of high-ticket technical and logistical decisions that most owners are totally ill-equipped to make. Most first-time aircraft buyers don't have a clue about what they're getting into. (I sure didn't in 1968 when I bought my first airplane, a Cessna 182.)

Most aircraft owners can't define what the term "airworthy" means, despite the fact that the FAA holds them responsible for keeping their aircraft in airworthy condition. Most have only the vaguest familiarity with the myriad responsibilities of an owner/operator under the FARs. Most cannot enumerate the criteria for deciding when an engine needs to be overhauled, or describe the pros and cons of a factory rebuilt engine vs. a field overhaul, or ... well, you get the idea.

The purpose of our Savvy Owner Seminar is to fill this educational void by creating a training course for aircraft owners (as distinguished from pilots) that focuses on all the stuff that owners really need to know but are never taught in pilot training.

What are the seminar hours?

The two-day course consists of 17 intense hours of presentations, discussions and problem-solving exercises. Nominal class hours are 8 am to 6 pm on the first day, and 8 am to 5 pm on the second day, with a one-hour lunch break each day. Optional and informal Q&A sessions generally continue over lunch and often for an hour or two after class. You'll probably feel like you're drinking from a fire hose, but you won't regret it!

Who will benefit from attending this seminar?

This seminar should be worthwhile to anyone who owns a piston-powered aircraft, and most of the material is also applicable to owner-flown turbine aircraft. Naturally, the more complex, sophisticated and maintenance-intensive your aircraft is, the more valuable the seminar will be. For this reason, the majority of seminar attendees tend to be owners of high-performance singles and twins.

I've already attended a type-specific systems course. Will I benefit from this seminar?

I was one of the original architects of the Cessna Pilots Association's renowned model-specific systems and procedures courses for Cessna owners, and have been an instructor in dozens of these courses. Every pilot who attends them thinks they're terrific. I consider model-specific training like this to be absolutely essential, and I strongly encourage every pilot and aircraft owner to undergo such training.

The Savvy Owner Seminar is an entirely different animal. Its focus is not on aircraft systems or pilot procedures (although it's very important to be knowledgeable about those systems and procedures), but rather on the skills and knowledge required to manage and oversee the maintenance of an aircraft, to make smart and enlightened maintenance decisions, and to deal with maintenance problems with a minimum of aggravation and expense.

I've already attended the Advanced Pilot Seminars course. Will I benefit from this seminar?

I've also attended the Advanced Pilot Seminars powerplant management course in Ada, Oklahoma. It's nothing short of sensational, and I recommend it highly to every piston-engine pilot, especially if you fly a high-performance and/or turbocharged airplane.

The Savvy Owner Seminar is quite different. Its focus is not on pilot technique, but rather on maintenance. If you FLY a piston-powered airplane (especially one that is high-performance and/or turbocharged), you really ought to take the APS course. If you OWN a piston-powered aircraft (especially one that is high-performance and/or turbocharged), you really ought to take the Savvy Owner Seminar.

I don't have the aptitude or the time to swing wrenches on my airplane. Will I benefit from this seminar?

Absolutely! Except for one short segment on owner-performed preventive maintenance, the Savvy Owner Seminar is not about swinging wrenches on your airplane. It's mostly about how to work in partnership with your A&P mechanic to get the best possible maintenance at the least possible cost. My goal with this seminar is not to turn you into a mechanic (unless that's what you want), but rather to turn you into a savvy and confident "Owner-In-Command" who has the knowledge and skills to make smart and enlightened maintenance decisions about your aircraft.

$595 seems like a lot for a two-day weekend seminar. Why is the cost so high?

If you're an aircraft owner, this seminar won't cost you money . . . it'll save you money. What you learn will help you have a more reliable, better-maintained aircraft while at the same time spending less (often a lot less) on maintenance labor and parts. You'll become better informed about your aircraft's health, and much more comfortable and confident discussing maintenance issues with your A&P. You'll get far more enjoyment from flying and owning your aircraft when it's fixed and squawk-free. Best of all, what you learn at this seminar will  continue to pay you these dividends year after year for as long as you own an aircraft. Take a look at what other aircraft owners have had to say after attending this seminar.

When will you be offering a seminar in my area?

You'll find our current seminar schedule here. To be notified of upcoming classes and new seminars by email, we encourage you to subscribe to our free email newsletter. In each monthly issue, Mike Busch will share "war stories," do's and dont's, maintenance tips and other items of interest to savvy aircraft owner (and those who aspire to be).