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Absolute Aero, with its team of experienced, FAA-licensed A&P and IA mechanics, specializes in maintaining, upgrading, and inspecting a broad range of single and multi-engine aircraft. Working from the Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD), the company uses a DynaVibe GX3 to provide dynamic balancing services to its customers, keeping the revenue in house for these procedures that they used to send out to a prop shop.  The home of Absolute Aero Maintenance at KHWD. In fact, the difficulty scheduling work through the local prop shop provided Brandon Thompson with motivation to purchase DynaVibe. “We'd always used our local propeller shop but it was too hard to schedule them when we needed them and that's why we looked into buying our own equipment.” Absolute Aero now uses DynaVibe on a regular basis, balancing a prop on average every month. DynaVibe makes dynamic propeller balancing easy. “It is intuitive, and if you just do what it says and you let it find its own solution, it does work very well,” said Thompson. In addition to making the balancing process simple, the DynaVibe GX3 streamlines the process as well through its automatic weight solution calculation feature: “There have been times where it has taken six or seven runs to get it nailed down, but a lot of times it's one or two runs and we nail it down right away.”  Lycoming engine setup for dynamic balancing (phototach and DynaVibe accelerometer visible). Thompson’s experience validates industry data that many general aviation aircraft – up to 80% – are flying around with out-of-balance props. Because of the prevalence of unbalanced props, Absolute Aero’s customers feel a difference after balancing with DynaVibe. “I actually balanced one and the owner didn't know that we had done it. He came in after flying it and he's like, ‘you must have balanced it, because it's a whole new airplane!’ We enjoy using it. When you are able to let DynaVibe process what's actually happening and follow it to the solution, it does very well.”
As a business owner, you strive to grow your company, increase revenue, and reduce costs. One way to do all three is to purchase the right equipment for use in your trade or business. In many cases, you can do this through a Section 179 deduction.  Within the rules of Section 179 of the IRS Tax Code, a business may be able to legitimately deduct, for the current tax year, the full purchase price of qualifying equipment placed into service before December 31st of the year the deduction is to be taken. Before making a new equipment purchase, talk with your tax adviser or CPA to see to if your business can use the Section 179 deduction for a tool purchase. To learn more about Section 179 deduction, read the IRS publication 946: "How to Depreciate Property."
Here are the steps for cutting your tax bill with a DynaVibe purchase:
Must be acquired for business use. Must be acquired by purchase. Tax-exempt organizations, estates, and trusts cannot elect the section 179 deduction. Business income limits may apply. Many repair stations and service centers are using DynaVibe to offer prop balancing and vibration analysis services, adding a nice revenue stream to their bottom line and a valuable service to their customers. We’ve shared some of their stories on this blog: KSFB Aircraft Maintenance Center, Stillwater Aircraft Services, Base Leg Aviation and Skywest Aviation to name just a few. We’ve collected some insight from listening to how our MRO customers are using DynaVibe to let us share the good, better and best ways to use DynaVibe to boost service revenues, grow your business and create happier customers in the process. Here is what we have learned:  Good
Simply adding “Dynamic Propeller Balancing” services to your menu of service offerings is a good thing. You’ll gain some business specifically because some customers need their propellers balanced, and when they learn you offer these services, they'll come to you for them. Promoting the fact that you offer prop balancing and vibration analysis (something the DynaVibe GX2 can do) will generate some new service revenue for you. While this approach will generate some service revenue, it is a passive approach as it depends on the customer seeking a provider of these services. Better A better approach is to recognize that many owners and pilots don’t realize their prop could be out of balance, or that they have a vibration. Paul Dye, editor-in-chief of Kitplanes Magazine, in a recent article wrote of this phenomenon of not realizing that over time, vibrations gradually creep in and grow, but go unnoticed. We covered this phenomenon if a recent blog post, and we regularly hear from those who are amazed at how smooth their airplane is after balancing. A better approach therefore is to ask every customer that comes in if they want their prop balanced while their airplane is in for service. A surprising number of them will say “yes” particularly when they understand the benefits. Best The best approach, the one that serves the MRO and owner or pilot best, is to use DynaVibe to complete a free baseline vibration survey on every airplane that comes into the shop. If there is a vibration, whether propeller imbalance induced or caused by something else, the vibration survey will show it. DynaVibe produces reports that the MRO can share with a customer that show the magnitude and type of vibrations that exist. When made aware of this information, most customers will want to have these vibrations resolved, and they often are through dynamic prop balancing. Furthermore, the vibration survey is a great preventative maintenance tool, providing a historical record to compare to a new vibration survey the next time that airplane comes into the shop. Repair stations, service centers and mechanics can maximize their service revenue using the “Best” approach with DynaVibe. Furthermore, service revenue opportunities beyond prop balancing and vibration analysis exist. Ascutney Air uses its DynaVibe system to also offer airplane tire balancing services as well. To increase your service revenue with DynaVibe, visit our online store to buy your system. If you have questions about how DynaVibe works or how to use it, please get in touch with us at [email protected], by telephone at 405.896.0026 or enter your email address by clicking on the yellow "Contact Us" tab near the bottom of this page and we’ll contact you. Perhaps you’ve had enough of the vibration that makes flying uncomfortable, or is damaging your airframe, avionics or engine. Or maybe you want better performance, recapturing horsepower lost to vibration. Perhaps a friend who has dynamically balanced his or her prop recommended that you do the same. Whatever the reason, you’re ready to make an investment in a prop balancer, and a Google search has led you here. Which DynaVibe system is right for you? RPX Technologies currently offers three models of its DynaVibe propeller balancing system. Here’s what you need to know about each one in order to choose the one that best addresses your needs. DynaVibe GX2 The DynaVibe GX2 is the state-of-the-art, flagship solution in the RPX Technologies product line. This unit comes with two accelerometers, allowing users to dynamically balance propellers while also providing full-spectrum vibration analysis capability. When prop balancing, the DynaVibe GX2 automatically calculates a recommended weight solution for achieving balance, unlike the DynaVibe Classic. This feature helps users complete the balancing process faster than is typically possible with the DynaVibe Classic, sometimes in as few as two run-ups. For mechanics, shops, repair stations and service centers where time equals money, this more efficient balancing process is highly desirable. A more advanced feature of the DynaVibe GX2 is its vibration analysis capability. When troubleshooting more complex vibrations, those caused by something other than a propeller assembly imbalance, spectral analysis is essential. It allows users to pinpoint the source, distinguishing between vibrations caused by a combustion issues (e.g. weak cylinder), prop wash induced buffeting, alternator imbalance, and many other sources of vibration. Instead of wasting time and money on trial-and-error maintenance procedures, the GX2 identifies the vibration source. The GX2 has a report generation feature to simplify printing or sharing its vibration analysis data. DynaVibe Classic The DynaVibe Classic is the original prop balancing system offered by RPX Technologies. If balancing a propeller or other rotating machinery is the only thing you need to do, the Classic model does an excellent job at the most affordable price. When it comes to the dynamic balancing process, the main difference between the models is that the Classic does not automatically calculate a weight solution. The implication is that the user may need a few more run-ups to complete the balancing process. The DynaVibe Classic does not offer full-spectrum vibration analysis. DynaVibe Roto DynaVibe Roto is a version of the DynaVibe Classic with some features specifically for rotorcraft. This unit comes with two accelerometers, one for lateral vibration and one for vertical vibration. It also includes an integrated remote control “push-to-talk” switch that can be mounted on the stick for controlling the DynaVibe unit. The DynaVibe Roto will also dynamically balance propellers on fixed-wing aircraft. Summary This table provides a quick reference to help select the right DynaVibe system to meet your needs:  If you would like to learn more about selecting the best DynaVibe model for your needs, simply enter your email address using "Contact Us" near the bottom of this page and we’ll contact you or email us with your question at [email protected] or call: 405.896.0026.
Our new infographic shows how mechanics, repair stations, shops and service centers can make more money by adding prop balancing to their service mix with DynaVibe:  At RPX Technologies, we routinely hear stories from service centers, shops, or repair stations that use DynaVibe to deliver service. These stories have a common theme: using DynaVibe to offer dynamic balancing service brings in more business, generates greater profit, and increases customer satisfaction. It doesn’t take much balancing work to create a fast payback on purchasing a DynaVibe GX2 system for balancing and vibration analysis. Just doing three dynamic balancing jobs per month provides payback in less than 5 months and adds almost $7,000 in profit during the first year. The following table summarizes the DynaVibe business case:  Under the same balancing workload assumption of three jobs per month, opting for a DynaVibe Classic provides payback in less than two months and delivers over $9,300 in first year profit!
It’s typical for a shop that uses DynaVibe to complete a prop balancing assessment for every airplane that comes in for service. If the prop is out of balance, owners are given the option to have it dynamically balanced, and often they accept. What’s also typical is that once a shop begins offering dynamic balancing service, owners will bring their planes in for that reason alone, and often other maintenance issues will surface during the visit. Shops, service centers and repair stations that use DynaVibe to offer dynamic prop balancing enjoy a number of benefits:
The DynaVibe system is easy and economical to use, adding profit to the bottom line. To learn about using DynaVibe to dynamically balance propellers, enter your email address below, visit the RPX Technologies website, or call: 405.896.0026. DynaVibe is an effective tool for dynamic propeller balancing and vibration analysis. For A&P mechanics, shops and service centers, DynaVibe is also an excellent tool for boosting customer satisfaction and service revenue. It’s not hard to understand the customer value proposition of balancing and vibration analysis – a quick scan of the DynaVibe customer testimonial page confirms the difference flying with a balanced prop assembly makes. Unlike other service procedures, fixing an unbalanced prop or a complex vibration makes a difference customers can feel. So it is with vibration analysis. Customers that have simply lived with annoying (and damaging) vibrations are grateful when mechanics are able to isolate and fix them. And they should be: vibrations are harmful, with the potential to damage the engine, instruments and airframe. Resolving complex vibrations extend the life of the aircraft. Shops, service centers and the mechanics have become a significant segment of the DynaVibe user population. We’ve profiled some of them in recent case studies, such as Skywest Aviation and Ascutney Air and a common theme is emerging: these businesses are using DynaVibe to deliver better service, resulting in more satisfied customers and increased revenues. It’s a scenario where everyone wins. Adding DynaVibe to the services mix that a shop or service center provides has the following benefits:
This video shows how DynaVibe delivers these benefits to the shops and service centers that use it: To learn more about how your shop or service center can boost profits and customer satisfaction by using DynaVibe, contact us at 405.896.0026 or [email protected].
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