Stump the experts

Join the hosts of hit podcast at AirVenture

July 1, 2024 By Ian J. Twombly

Don’t you wish you had an expert mechanic at your disposal to learn from, bounce ideas off, and turn to when the worst happens and you’re stuck on the ground with a problem? On Ask the A&Ps, AOPA’s hit podcast, you have three!

Photography by David Tulis.

Twice a month, Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling share their collective wisdom by helping one listener at a time. From the highly respected aviation maintenance firm Savvy Aviation to an aviation maintenance professor, these longtime A&P/IAs are aircraft owners, and they understand the needs of pilots. Callers get a chance to hear the experts diagnose a problem, talk and debate solutions to unusual issues, and debunk myths. And we get to follow along to share in that wisdom.

Now at more than 50 episodes, the hosts have answered questions about everything from how to operate lean of peak to curing morning sickness, and how much oil consumption is too much.

And now you can ask your questions, live, at EAA AirVenture in July. The hosts will join us at the AOPA tent for two sessions of questions from you, the audience. Join us Tuesday and Saturday at 11 a.m. of AirVenture week. The sessions are free, but come early if you want to get a seat because it’s been standing-room-only in previous years. Don’t forget to bring your best questions to try and stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen. Email [email protected] for a chance to get your question on an upcoming episode.

[email protected]

Meet the A&Ps

Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling are the hosts of Ask the A&Ps, AOPA’s twice-monthly podcast on all things aircraft ownership and maintenance.

Mike Busch, A&P/IA, is a well-known expert on aircraft maintenance (see “Super Sleuth,” p. 91). He pioneered the movement encouraging owners to take more control over their aircraft maintenance, using a data-driven approach to rethink the way we operate our airplanes. Busch is the founder and CEO of Savvy Aviation.

Paul New, A&P/IA, owns and operates Tennessee Aircraft Services and is an expert on Cessna 210s, Cirrus SR-series aircraft, and more. He is a longtime aircraft owner and is one of the country’s foremost experts on sheet metal and aircraft structural repair.

Colleen Sterling, A&P/IA, owns three aircraft and is an instructor at a Part 147 professional maintenance school. She is an expert in data analytics and holds a master’s degree in applied physics from Johns Hopkins University.

aopa.org/ask-the-a-and-ps