PC-12 Test Flight

Take a test flight in a Surf Air PC-12NG, troubleshoot a pressurization issue and teach a co-worker how to taxi.

[@lsullivan0202]

Glad to hear Vince is sticking around, just not featuring any more. Congrats on the promotion Vincent, we will miss your smiling face and detailed explanations!

[@joshs3900]

If I imagine that all airplane technicians are like you - it makes me feel safe when I fly.

[@dvatp]

Don't be afraid to keep the technical details coming. You're a technician and attracting people to the channel (like me, 25+ year pilot / ATP with experience working on piston aircraft) who are interested in learning about what you do and maybe learning a bit more about the airplanes you work on.

[@JamesSullivans]

Will do. Thank you for the feedback!

[@ShakeyBalance]

Hey James! I'm glad I found your channel. I'm a highschool student in a trade school program for aviation maintenance. planning on introducing your videos to my instructor for a better look at what a technician does in the real world and what our students can look forward to. Thank you for the quality content and keep it up please!

[@computerjlt]

Your explanations are far from boring! get more technical lol. This stuff is fascinating!

[@angelreading5098]

James you are one of a kind,dedicated and determined in complex issues such as this,just watching you move around makes me realise what a young mans job it is these days maintaining aircraft,swopping out means you are in effect doing the job twice but needs be as carrying every single spare part is not practicle,hope that you got to the bottom of this without too much pain in the end.

[@colton9149]

Man your videos inspire me so much too stay focused on my plans of fulfilling my dream career as a A&P mechanic, I can't wait too start! Your videos are badass BTW

[@bcordoba555]

Great video! We new subscribers (well deserved huge bump in Subs!) are really appreciative of your videos; the storyline, the Pilatus, the technical details (more is great!), the sights of California.I understand you need to target the main audience so keeping balance is good but I suspect that the new crop of Subs is very different now. Keep up the good work. Best vid was when you both detailed the steps in the 100-hour inspection and the corrosion inspection. Also I would be interested in knowing more about your ratings and outlook on your pilot side of things; being able to work and fly is very cool and interesting. Thanks for the new video!!!

[@JamesSullivans]

Thanks for the positive feedback. Striking a balance is challenging and also trying to find the time to film is tough. I will do my best to include more technical details though. I have my commercial pilot license with multi engine and instrument rating as well as tailwheel endorsement. I currently fly as a hobby but that will likely change in the near future. I bleed aviation so whether I am turning wrenches or talking to ATC I am enjoying myself!

[@bcordoba555]

... and it shows; Awesome! Living the dream and sharing it; very cool!! Thanks for taking us along :o))

[@chrisduke3251]

I'm really enjoying your video's. Back in the mid 80's I worked at small airports helping A&P, and running line operations. I'll be 50 this Dec, and just getting back into it as a A&P assistant/helper/apprentice. I have more tools than God since I've wrenched on stuff all these years, but find I need more now haha. Thanks for the video's! Reminds me of the days getting free rides to Oshkosh for the big air show in Kingair. Wish now I found a way to keep doing it back then. Full circle.

[@johnlds1965]

Great content by the way, keep it coming, we love the technical details and the thinking behind such, well done from the UK. :-)

[@imjustabill247]

congrats Vince, you will have to make your own channel now. keep the great vids coming James!

[@Sithylis]

Man your vlogs are some high quality shit, loving these atm

[@kylerandle22]

Hey James, I'm a stress technician with a masters degree and I'll tell you I just hate my job and much as the pay. I'm considering doing an aviation maintenance degree eventually as aviation is my true passion. Just felt like telling you you do an awesome job explaining the systems of aircraft to me. Enjoy watching your videos and look forward to more.

[@saltypacman1661]

Love your videos I'm going to school to be an a&p mechanic. You got me inspired thanks for the great videos

[@mohammedmreh1985]

Very good job editing your videos! Every time the intro is well made. Considering ur busy job. And the time to put in editing is amazing. Keep the good job. Hope u all the best in work and utube career. Thanks for taking us into this amazing job that very few have to enjoy it.

[@JamesSullivans]

Mohammed, thank you for the compliments. I am fortunate to have such a great job and it feels great to know people enjoy coming along for the ride!

[@fili3862]

Awesome, another cool video. Best regards from Sweden.

[@johnmeye]

I love your videos. You are an excellent teacher.

[@Strippula]

This video makes me feels like I'm watching a Neistat vlog lol

[@TicoRealtors]

Love the videos!! Its like working on a mini C130!!!

[@johnellenburg4934]

Awesome video!! Very educational and enjoying.

[@dglmy1]

Great videos James!! Thank you

[@indepviewpt]

I like your videos. Thanks for making them.

[@user-yd5gl3vb5l]

really enjoy your vlogs :D Keep it up !

[@mAxkAwAzX7r]

7:26 the valve you pulled out there, is made by the company i am working for. Greetz from bavaria!

[@zzodr]

2:30. Gear Up, Yaw damper on, taxi, landing lights off. Happy flying!

[@gracesullivan9924]

great to see Catalina from the sky. I hiked that island end to end 2 years ago.

[@lsullivan0202]

Looks gorgeous from up there I can only imagine how the hike must of been ;)

[@lucasvogel8497]

Love your chanell I'd love to see more videos.

[@AirsoftMan727]

Good video keep it up man!

[@bravopapa6631]

Thanks again for the awesome content. Please don't worry about boring us with the technical side, or maybe just start another channel devoted to procedure. Then you could cut that pesky "sleep" thing back to like 12 minutes a night. lol. Thanks man. These vlogs really are inspirational for folks who are interested in this line of work, like myself.

[@JamesSullivans]

Hahah! Thanks, I've thought about doing directors cuts that have more tech info (as recommended by another commenter). Sleep is overrated anyways

[@danielribeiro2113]

Oh snap I use to repair and overhaul those actuators used on the flow valves. Ah the good old days.

[@OmarCapellan]

Great video bro

[@mojaverootz6049]

I like those pc-12

[@charlesgrieves7847]

awesome videos man. can you log any of that pc-12 time?

[@curtisccr]

Be nice to that Aerostar. It's probably had a good live, and may live again. :) (I don't think I'd own one, but they are cool!)

[@ragnaroekaut]

Again a great video :D I don't know if you already answered this question and I just missed it, but what class and type of pilot certification do you own? Noticed you piloted the plane during the testflight :)

[@jbloodwo]

ragnaroekAT I know in a different video he stared he was working on type certification on a tail dragger banner pull aircraft but it was nice to see him in the right seat getting some flight time.

[@ragnaroekaut]

Oh right, I remember that one. I was just a bit surprised that the pilot let him take off on himself, of course he sits next to him and could intervene... and like you said, nice to see him getting flight time, can't wait for the vlogs when he's eventually flying the PA-18

[@ekchuahstudios9066]

good job guys

[@cecilioferreira6664]

very nice keep it up!

[@rumblethis2023]

No tests for diagnostic tests, just keep swapping parts out until you get the problem gone!😮

[@ABomB42o]

Fuckin Catalina Wine Mixer

[@johnlds1965]

Was it the Temp Control Sensor in the end, did I miss the final conclusion?

[@JamesSullivans]

Ended up being the P2.5/P3 bleed air changeover valve.

[@michealokeefe6661]

Hey James I am a diesel tech and was planning on going back to school for my A&P at Cincinnati state, do you have any suggestions for me , great videos.

[@JamesSullivans]

Study hard and have fun!

[@jamesharkness1058]

James: What was the final fix for this issue?

[@Will-gd9dx]

Great video, hopefully you got my message!

[@JamesSullivans]

If this is Paul I did get your message ;)

[@Will-gd9dx]

Nope! not me!, i'll try sending it again :)

[@JamesSullivans]

Hmm... you emailing me or something else? I'll check my spam

[@Will-gd9dx]

No through youtube messages, what's your email? I'll send it through there

[@JamesSullivans]

Got your message and replied. Lol I didnt know youtube messaging was even a thing.

[@born2flyau]

Do you have to have a pilots licence to taxi the PC-12? If not what qualifications do you require? Are you licenced to fly the PC-12?

[@TheActualJae]

We need like "Director's Cuts" of these or something. One's that leave in the "boring" technical discussion ;). I know a lot of people are linking to this from r/flying, I think we'd be a bit more interested in the technical aspects of the issues...(though I recognize not everyone wants to hear every last detail.)

[@JamesSullivans]

Sounds like a lot of editing work but I'll make it happen. Great idea. I guess I just always felt like they were long enough videos as is and didn't want to make them even longer.

[@JamesSullivans]

Just for some example this video took me 7 hours to edit

[@JamesSullivans]

I appreciate that Jay, and you are right about it not being with it if it's not fun anymore. I have some long flights coming up (foreshadowing for epic videos abroad) that may offer me the time. Thank you for enjoying and for the feedback. It feels awesome to know they are well received.

[@nikitazing8936]

nice flihing

[@UBBERTANKER]

your diagnostic process seems more like parts swapping till its fixed lol, but i guess planes are much different than cars

[@paulc327]

Where you get your jams from?

[@rumblethis2023]

Is that really the way you guys figure out what is wrong with an aircraft! By swapping parts from plane to plane!

[@DjNab8]

James, do you get free ticket to travel as aircraft Maintenance?

[@JamesSullivans]

I have flight benefits on our aircraft for myself and a +1

[@ABomB42o]

Must have been amazing to fly that bird. loops and rolls in the next vid??

[@JamesSullivans]

Haha we'll see!

[@RG69]

I hope you wouldn't mind me asking but how much would you make in 1 month???

[@JamesSullivans]

Depends how much overtime I work ;)

[@RG69]

James Sullivan how much would you averagely get a month

[@DavidBrown-dv9rt]

Do you have a type rating for the PC12?

[@JamesSullivans]

There is no type rating required for the PC-12.

[@willarddevoe5893]

I would check for a mouse nest.

[@EnterEther]

NG lyfe sonnnn

[@JamesSullivans]

that good good ;)

[@mityza69]

Bruh does nobody steal your Camera??? :) When you feel like a Rap God 0:49 xD

[@odane6336]

So every engineering can be a test pilot

[@Jeffreykum]

I wish I can fly in a pc 12

[@IKsenephoneSI]

i cant understand whats your job ? are you a mechanic or a pilot ? how can you fly with in a test flight ? Im asking this because i am aircraft mechanic too but not in usa

[@JamesSullivans]

I'm both! I work primarily as a mechanic but fly as a contractor on the side.

[@lazystart]

shotgun maintenance time!

[@JamesSullivans]

Unfortunately... At least we have spare aircraft we can slave parts in from. Helps keep the cost down.

[@lazystart]

For real! At least it seems like you guys were able to work your way out of options in the book, first. I've seen "tribal knowledge" trouble shooting get pretty out of hand in weird situations before.

[@jamesbevilacqua3739]

James Sullivan good thing you guys have a cann bird

[@indyjons321]

Are you a certified pilot, James?

[@JamesSullivans]

Yessir commercial multi and instrument rating (also tail wheel endorsement)

[@sachinsundas4804]

do u have ur pilot license to ?

[@JamesSullivans]

Yep!

[@sachinkumarsachinkumar2167]

Hey bro what's ur salary

[@harshyagnik5188]

Where are youuuuu james??

[@JamesSullivans]

Nashville currently ;)

[@harshyagnik5188]

When will you post again and think of us aspiring AMEs againnn?😭😭

[@JamesSullivans]

I'm always thinking of you guys! Just life got busy. I'll probably start up posting in about two years when I start building a plane

[@harshyagnik5188]

@@JamesSullivans ohhhh sweeet. ALL THE BEST man! Hope to see you again soon

[@jamesdukes1869]

I want to be a aircraft mechanic but don't won't to go to college

[@JamesSullivans]

James, there are several 18 month trade schools available you can go to for an A&P or you can also get practical experience as an apprentice and then test for your license.

[@pdc451]

never see you guys use AMM's or torque wrenches, dont the feds ever audit Surf Air??

[@JamesSullivans]

Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening. That's the magic of editing. Yes we always follow the manual and the FAA works very closely with us. Several visits from the local FSDO each year.

[@Sugar87Tits]

This is how air craft mechanics work? Shotgun parts till it's fixed eh? Lol no skill kids..