M20 Newsroom
"Real-Time News Affecting The Mooney Owners Of America
As Well As All Owners and Enthusiasts Around The Globe...."
(User Note:  This section is being constantly revised. Use your browsers "refresh" often to see the latest revisions)

With The Current Homeland Securety Situation Being What It Is, Things Can Quickly Change.  So, Before You Fly...Check Out The Latest TFR/NOTAMS Courtesy of MOA & AOPA:  Due to the ongoing national emergency, MOA has entered into a cooperative arrangement with AOPA and will re-print the latest TFR/NOTAMS (Temporary Flight Restriction's) as they become available. Until further notice, we advise all Mooney pilot to check in here or with their local FAA/FSS prior to flights for the latest TFR's.  This is especially important for all cross-country flights near major metro, sporting, military, or nuclear facility areas. Click Here for MOA's latest TFR/NOTAMS via AOPA and MOA.  Note:  "TFR" is an official FAA/DOT term, Temporary Flight Restriction.

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MOA Now As Table Of Contents (TOC) Index On-Line For Fast Look-up Of Past Articles
While it has been an on-going project for some time, we are now proud to announce that we publish an on-line index "year by year" listing monthly TOC topics of THE MOONEY PILOT for fast reference.  Users of this site can now check back issue topics easily and quickly in our Magazine Section without having to search through their own print archives or down-load back issues individually via Acrobat PDF just to find a topic of interest.   We remind users that only MOA Members in good standing have access to all 12 issues and we hope if you aren't already a member, you JOIN MOA Now.  While we hope to have a search engine up and running soon, in the mien time this feature should greatly assist you in the care and feeding of your favorite Mooney. 

Meet The Movers And Shakers At Kerrville
Dennis E. Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer Mooney
We met MAC's new CEO at a recent airshow and frankly, we were impressed. We agree that Dennis an industry star who lives and breathes aviation. Before joining Mooney, this veteran leader spent nearly a decade as president of Airshow, Inc., an avionics manufacturing company that provides integrated information systems and services for business jets and commercial airlines. He led Airshow's evolution from an $11 million entrepreneurial business into an $80 million market leader, growing the company's sales, bookings, return on sales and assets by at least 20 percent four years in succession. He managed the sale of the firm to Rockwell Collins in 2002, retaining its key employees and sustaining its financial performance through the transition of ownership. Ferguson also served as general manager of Intercon Security and a variety of senior management positions at Sundstrand Corporation. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado with a bachelor of science degree in engineering science. He served in the United States Air Force for more than 10 years as a chief navigator, flight examiner and instructor and holds a masters of science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California. Prior to his tenure at MAC, Dennis lived near his father and daughter at beautiful Lake Of The Ozarks in central Missouri.

David J. Copeland, Vice President of Sales and Marketing
(Shown here on left along with Dennis Ferguson CEO)
It doesn't take you long after meeting him to get the picture that David grew up in the aviation industry. His family owned and operated a private airport and fixed-base operations in his hometown of Wichita, Kan. Obviously, his parents, both avid aviators, taught him the love of flying. He later earned his airline transport rated license and flew for American Airlines for four years. Most recently, Copeland served as vice president-worldwide sales and marketing for Raytheon Aircraft’s Beechcraft piston and turboprop lines. He worked at Cessna Aircraft for 13 years. As international area manager he supervised direct sales for Central and South America. He also held a sales position with Hawker and was part of a partnership that sold and distributed the Piper, Grumman and Rockwell Commander product lines. Copeland earned degrees in liberal arts and business administration from Wichita State University and attended advanced executive education programs at Harvard University and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University.

Alan Nitchman, Vice President of Customer Support
Alan has more than 20 years’ experience in managing service and support operations.  There is little doubt this background provides the foundation for Alan’s expertise in fostering and maintaining strong customer loyalty. He most recently spent the past seven years as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Elliott Aviation in Moline, Ill. Alan served as a naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of captain. We can affirm that this veteran aviation enthusiast has become an valuable asset to Mooney and complementing his GA service experience, Alan also holds a commercial and instrument license and helicopter ratings. A graduate of Slippery Rock (Penn.) University, Nitchman also earned an executive MBA from the University of Colorado in Denver. Today at Mooney, all delivery support, product, parts and service support areas report to Nitchman. The goal: move Mooney into the industry’s number one position for customer support. And Nitchman has the expertise and leadership skills to do it.
 

Dukes and Eaton Landing Gear Actuator Woes Continue...
Besides the Eaton actuator's "No-Back" spring fiasco, it turns out that MAC has been having (what purports to be) nearly insurmountable problems getting its hands on properly hardened Dukes gear transmission worm-drive sets for older pre-'78 electric gear equipped M20s.  The number of older electric gear equipped Mooneys sitting grounded awaiting parts is mounting and owners aren't happy.  To date and after numerous false starts with several prospective vendors, MAC still isn't shipping properly hardened Dukes drive gears.  After several false starts, we expect them to start shipping soon, so keep tuned.  As a side note, we have been covering the bulk of this and the Eaton actuator problems in our "Members Only" issues. So, it pays to get all 12 issues...  Hint, hint.

Eaton Type Gear Actuator "No-Back" Spring Fiasco:  When pilots can't get their gear down no matter what they do in the cockpit, they get upset; and rightly so!  We don't blame them and when we hear of these problems, we investigate.  While the M20 gear system has long been thought of as being bulletproof, when a problem develops within the electric gear actuator transmission, it soon becomes painfully clear that your emergency extension system also works through the same gear transmission!   Thus, in some circumstances you really don't have a true back-up gear extension system in certain problematic situations.   As it stands now, there have been rumored to have been several Mooneys who have experienced gear actuator problems which resulted in expensive belly slides.   The main problem is that Mooney doesn't really know how far back this No-Back" spring problem goes due to the fact neither Mooney or Eaton has had 100% spring QC inspections in place for some time.  While this is understandable, still the same, this problem potentially affects nearly all the electric gear equipped Mooneys out there and the jury is still out as to how to affect a "fix".   This is big news so keep tuned and JOIN MOA so you keep getting all the news.  

Bendix Falls:  We think it is a big deal when Mooney engines quit.   Since Lycomings can't run if their mags aren't attached and/or if the mags work loose to the point that a substantial amount of oil leaks out of the engine, it can ruin your day and your Mooney's pretty belly in short order.  Therefore when we hear of this problem continuing (even after our campaign to educate all "dual mag" owners), we will continue to print reports until the message gets through.  Our message is directed not only to owners, but perhaps the FAA and Lycoming alike.  Our wish is for a better "fix" to be implemented as the typical maintenance procedure of adjusting the timing tends to induce the current star lock washer to be re-used and thus be rendered somewhat less than satisfactory.  So, if you haven't joined MOA yet, please do so and keep tuned. 

December '06 MOONEY PILOT Magazine Feature Article: 
"The Block Buster Hartzell Prop/Hub AD or Recall"
MOA continues our efforts of printing important news to Mooney owners even if it is less than joyful.   This month we include an important article titled "The Block Buster Hartzell Prop/Hub AD or Recall".   This topic should be of vital interest to all 4 banger equipped owners unless they have retrofitted a 3 blade prop out front.  It is arguably the most expensive and expansive AD that has come down the pike Mooney-wise in decades and we think (to date) it may also have been one of the most overlooked AD relative to Mooney M20 aircraft.
 In any event, this could very well be one of the most far-reaching ADs in to ever  hit Mooney to date.  We recommend you get your hands on a copy.  Remember, you heard about it first here at MOA...

We also ran an "must read" article from John Green titled:  "10 Maneuvers To Keep You Sharp".  We think it may have been titled, "How To Keep You Alive..."  But then we didn't want to scare you....!  As it turns out, many of us aren't nearly as current as we would have liked and just maybe, John may know what he is talking about here.  In any event, this issue contains some of the most valuable information to hit the Mooney market in months, if not years.  Don't miss it....  

Web Notes:  If You are A MOA Member And Have Had Problems Accessing Our "Members Only" Section or Aren't Receiving Your "Members Only" Issues, Please Read On...
Due to increased traffic and user demands, MOA recently up-graded the software system driving our site from CGI scripting to adopting a more versatile ASP programming.  This allows for more multiple simultaneous users to enter our popular "Members Only" sections as well as to join and renew on-line. However, new members who have joined on or about early January 2002 will have to re-enter their pass words and be re-assigned a new MOA ID# in order to be recognized by our site.  If you are in this group and/or are having problems following the directions printed on-line, please contact us for help via email, fax (941-412-0551), or phone 941-486-1770 and make sure you include your "N number".  Our phone system takes accurate messages 24/7, so please leave detailed messages along with your phone number etc. 
Also, as of April 7, members will receive 90, 60, and 30 day automatic renewal reminders upon entering our restricted sections.  Members who haven't renewed by their expiration dates will automatically be denied entrance to the restricted areas and while in the past we have been lax curtailing sending issues to members who have failed to renew promptly, we will no longer be able to send issues to those who have failed to renew.   Thus, only MOA Members in good standing will be receiving all 12 issues.  Also, we are still working on a bug which developed not allowing multiple owners on the same "N number".  Regardless, we can only send one "free" or open issue to any one "N number" registered Mooney owner, so you hard core cheapies out there will have to share or join up with the rest of us and get all 12 issues.

Obviously since AASI is now the single largest creditor and is the prime secured creditor, they have the inside track and are the favored bidders by a long shot. For others to gain control of Mooney, they would typically have to out-bid AASI, which has most likely purchased the note from Congress Financial at a substantial discount, a point which puts them in exceedingly favorable situation at the bidding process.  "We will be at the auction and we’re going to do our best to acquire Mooney, but others are free to bid," Norris said. In MOA’s opinion, it is doubtful anyone else will end up with MAC unless they feel the value greatly exceeds the face value of the AASI/Congress Financial note.

MOA's Kerrville Climate 3/2/07:  NASCAR’s Matt Kenseth Commutes to Race Sites in Mooney Acclaim Popular Racer Travels Between North Carolina and Daytona In World’s Fastest Piston Single Matt Kenseth, who finished second in NASCAR’s NEXTEL Cup Series in 2006, isn’t leaving his “need for speed” behind the wheel of his racecar as he prepares for the upcoming Daytona 500.  The popular driver, who won four times last year, has been setting a rapid pace this month as he commutes between his home in Mooresville, North Carolina and Daytona in his new Mooney Acclaim, the world’s fastest single piston engine airplane.  He took delivery of his new airplane in December. Kenseth, a native of Wisconsin, returned to his home state last summer to ink a purchase agreement at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.   The newest addition to the Mooney product family, the turbo-normalized Acclaim will cruise at 237 knots at 25,000 feet.  It’s equipped with Garmin’s  G1000 avionics suite which features two flat panel liquid crystal displays, a GDL69A weather uplink with XM satellite radio, and a  GTX 330 mode “S” transponder.  A new GFC 700 autopilot is also standard on the Acclaim.  Premier Aircraft Sales of Fort Lauderdale, Florida helped Kenseth get together with Mooney officials and completed the deal following a meeting at Oshkosh.  In ’06, Kenseth set career highs in top-five finishes (15), laps led (1132), and average finish (9.8) in a single season.   A licensed private pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings, he owns other aircraft but says he enjoys commuting to Daytona and other NASCAR racing venues in his 280 horsepower, turbo-normalized Acclaim.  Mooney has delivered more than 20 Acclaims since receiving Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification during the last week of December, 2006.  With a maximum cruise speed of 237 knots, the Acclaim has a list price of $579,900.     Read MOA's Market Report for related information.

MOA's M20Parts Clearinghouse:  A Long-Term Answer To Mooney Parts... We feel that economical parts availability is paramount in Mooney owners minds.  Therefore in response to the latest developments at Kerrville, we at MOA are working diligently to launch our parts locating service or (parts hot-wire services),  M20Parts.com Parts Clearinghouse as soon as practical to provide you an economical, effective,  and easy to use universal venue for owners, A&P's, and Service Centers alike to locate Mooney parts.   Somewhat modeled after several other "parts wire" services in the motorcycle and specialty auto markets, this is designed to be a low cost e  asy approach to assist owners and shops alike to locate parts.  Rest assured, while others may report they are "concerned" about the situation, MOA is working on "real world" long-term solutions for you today....

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MOA Announces M20Parts.com:
M20Parts Clearinghouse Is Open For Business

In a somewhat related story and partly necessitated because of the current parts availability problems at Mooney, MOA is feverishly working on bringing M20Parts Clearinghouse up to speed.   This is a one stop "parts hot-wire" type source for owners, A&P's, and Mooney Service Centers to search the net for both new and serviceable OEM Mooney Parts, supplies, and related M20 accessories.  Somewhat modeled after various other such efforts such as Honda's and various other automotive "parts wires or parts locator" services, MOA will oversee the operation of this valuable addition to MOA's Member Benefits.   While initial users will be able to utilize this service on an introductory "no-charge" basis, there will eventually be a small "look-up" fee for buyers and a small referral fee for sellers, vendors, and suppliers who sell through this service. 

MOA will process parts inquiries and "buy orders" and distribute them in bulk to to all known reputable service centers and salvage operations who express any interest in selling their inventory of Mooney related parts and accessories.  Buyers may state level of interest from just that of exploring availability, hard purchase orders (at a reasonable market price), to that of an AOG (Aircraft On Ground) situation where a special effort will be made by MOA to locate the component and expedite delivery.   We urge you to keep tuned to this valuable service accessible off a menu item on MOA's huge web site or:  M20Parts.com your choice.  

Coming Soon:  The Opening Of 
MOA's On-Line Mooniac Store

Sun'N Fun 2004 April 13-19^{th
(Tuesday to Monday)}  

Mooniacs: Be Sure To Attend Next Year's Sun 'N Fun And Join Us For Our 4th Annual
Free Sun'N Fun Kick-Off, Mooniac Hickory BBQ Party!

All Mooney Owners and Enthusiasts Are Welcome
Watch For More Information Sun'N Fun 2004 Mooniac Southern BBQ

At 650,000 attendees and 8,000 aircraft strong, Sun'N Fun is growing by leaps and bounds! Come and meet us and the latest "I want" goodies.  All Mooney owners and enthusiasts are welcome but advance RSVP will be required to insure plenty of fix'ins. Call or Email MOA now.

Click Here For More Information and To Reserve Your Place In Line At The BBQ

MOA Offers Free Classified Ads To Its Members!

As a special introductory offer, MOA is offering FREE Classified Ads for its members.  Please check the left menu under Classified Ads  for more details. 
In addition, MOA's Hot Stuff Index is MOA's one stop location for Mooney related items, parts and services. You will never find a more comprehensive listing of all the folks within our world of Mooneys. If you're searching for the holder of an STC, a service location for your 8-day clock or the guys that have that comprehensive speed kit mod - you'll find it in the Hot Stuff Index.
As you can see, MOA is working to bring an awesome amount of service right to the members doorstep! Keep tuned for more information as it comes available.

MOA Opens M20 Price Guide As A Member Benefit

MOA's Price Guide
 A Standard Maintenance Pricing Schedule For Mooney Owners

For the first time ever, Mooney owners (MOA Members only) now have access to the typical street prices* for common Mooney maintenance, referb, avionics, and select popular mods for their particular model M20 before they order work or pay their next invoice!

Mooney owners tired of having the sinking feeling erupt in the pit of their stomach each time they pay a maintenance, refurb, or mod now have an effective tool to assist them in determining fair or typical market prices.   Nothing is more frustrating to us Mooney owners than to have a dispute with a maintenance shop or A&P over prices we feel aren't reasonable, especially; after the fact.  Equally frustrating perhaps is for us individual owners simply not knowing or having any reliable source for what parts & labor prices are fair and reasonable for work we may be contemplating, or currently have underway for our Mooneys. MOA Members now have an accurate reference tool to assist in making sure you aren't taken advantage of when ordering or paying your bills. 

Click Here for MOA's TFR News and MOA's reprint of AOPA's of FAA/DOT TFR's and NOTAMS.