Guides & resources
General aviation maintenance guides
Plain-language guides to the inspections, records and compliance work that keep a general-aviation aircraft current. Written for owners, pilots and mechanics.
A new guide every Monday: maintenance, repairs and preventive care an owner or pilot may legally do, plus in-depth background. When in doubt, always ask a certificated mechanic.
Aircraft battery care and the capacity check
How to keep an aircraft battery alive: charging habits, storage, electrolyte and terminals, what an owner may do, and what the capacity check really measures.
Oil change, filter cutting and sampling, step by step
How to do an oil change properly: the sequence, how to cut the filter open and read it, how to take a sample the lab can use, and what to log.
Aircraft brakes: inspecting pads, fluid and O-rings
How a light-aircraft brake system is inspected — pads, disc, fluid and O-rings — why fresh pads and new O-rings prevent leaks, and the signs a pilot notices first.
Engine oil analysis: why it matters
What a used-oil sample reveals about engine wear, how often to sample, what the numbers mean, and when to call your mechanic.
The 500-hour magneto inspection: why it matters
Why the 500-hour magneto inspection matters on Slick and Bendix ignition systems, what the mechanic looks at, the warning signs between inspections, and how to keep the record.
Annual inspection: what it is and how to prepare
What an annual inspection covers, who can sign it off, when it is due, and how to prepare your aircraft and records so it goes smoothly.
Buying a used aircraft: the pre-buy inspection
How a pre-buy inspection works, who should do it, what to look for, which records to review, and how to use the findings before you buy.
Aircraft logbooks and records: what to keep and how
Which record books an aircraft needs, what every maintenance entry must contain, how long records must be kept, and how to keep them organized.
Airworthiness directives: how to track them and prove compliance
What airworthiness directives are, how they apply to your aircraft and its components, what compliance must record, and how to track recurring ones.
Progressive inspections: splitting the annual into phases
How a progressive inspection program works, when it pays off, what has to be approved and what you need to track to stay inside the program.
Cylinder borescope inspection: photos and what to look for
How a borescope inspection of engine cylinders works, how to take useful photos through the spark plug hole, and what to look for on valves, walls and piston crowns.
Keep every due date in one place
VolamusApp tracks inspections, documents, discrepancies and costs for each aircraft and reminds you before anything lapses.