Scheduling your next inspection? Easy. Updating your nav database? A breeze.
Determining which modifications are best for your airplane?
Not so much.
If the thought of considering what modifications to apply makes you excited and freaked out at the same time, you're not alone. .... We all have dreams of what the perfect airplane would be for our current situation. Making that dream a reality requires some forethought and planning. Not every situation is solved with a new airplane, and even then, a new to you airplane may still need modifications to fulfill your requirements.
Here are 4 key considerations that can help you make it easy to build the aircraft of your dreams.
Mission
What is your most common mission?
Like any solid plan, your modification plan should begin with the end in mind. When evaluating options, it's important to know your typical flight profiles so that you can prioritize those items that will help you most efficiently achieve them.
For example:
Taking off and landing from short airports
That 250 mile trip to see the kids in college
Those 1,200 nm business trips to the west coast that happen a few times per year
Getting above/around the weather in the summer
Once you've established your most common mission requirements, it's time to get more specific. Ask yourself which missions are most important and how could a specific modification help you achieve it best.
If you have trouble identifying this, ask yourself what mods you need to complete these missions:
Short take off and landing capabilities
More power for faster climb to higher altitudes
Less workload in congested airspace
More useful load
Increased range capabilities
Better connectivity while enroute
Budget
Next, you'll want to determine what you want to spend to achieve this mission.
Consider things like:
How much could you save in operational costs with more efficiency, lower maintenance expenses, or more reliability?
Can you save money by increasing aircraft range and eliminating an interim fuel stop?
How much weight can you possibly save from removing old equipment or wiring?
How much safer could your flight operations be with new avionics lowering your workload?
How more efficient and comfortable could your flights be if you could climb to altitude more quickly?
How comfortable could your cabin/cockpit be with new foam cushioning and leather seating?
Establishing a budget will help you determine the best modification options available without breaking the bank.
Compatibility
A serious challenge in modifying an existing airframe is understanding which modifications are compatible for the equipment configuration for that specific airframe. Modification developers must define very specific parameters around not only the makes and models of aircraft a mod will be developed for, but also avionics configurations, autopilots, engines, propellers and other equipment. These items are spelled out in Supplemental Type Certificate data to ensure FAA or EASA approval for these defined configurations. Defining available configurations requires knowledge and expertise for which configurations are compatible.
Utilizing a platform like Modifly can provide you with the tools to help you determine which modifications are compatible with others.
Your Dream
Ultimately, you have a dream for what you want your airplane to be to fit your current situation.
Dreaming big is a fantastic idea. You have a bold vision of the modifications you want in your airplane, a vision that both scares you and excites you at the same time. Such dreams bring out your passion, imagination and creativity.
How to dream big:
Get inspired by others
Believe it’s possible
See the final destination in your mind’s eye and let it inspire and empower you
How you build your dream is up to you
With Modifly, you can build your dream and save multiple iterations until you find the configuration that achieves all your goals.
Dream big. There's no better time than now to make your dreams a reality.
Simplify your choices in modification options
To get the most bang for your buck, focus on modifications that will best fit your goals and help you achieve your dreams.
With so many different options to choose from, these considerations will help you focus to determine your modification plan more accurately. Ultimately your modification plan will be a combination of your dreams, what is compatible with your current equipment and what you can afford.
Of course it never hurts to have an expert team on your side to help you navigate the many options available!
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