Gary,
You and I are in agreement regarding owner involvement. My point is regarding the .5 hr for replacing ie. perhap a screw (finding correct screw)( which, if it is a mechanic that does many of these types of planes already know what screw it is! Then another .5hr for the write up on the bill for that screw???.
I should not have used the word outrageous, my mistake.
I can also tell you I have excellent maintenance done on my plane with similar systems as yours although without the pressurization and I have never been charged for a missing screw for an annual in all the years I've owned it!
I'm not picking on Jack's annual nor shop, I'm saying that you or I would have already replaced the screw if we saw it missing, thus owner involvement. I'm sure Jack would have replaced the screw had he seen it missing as well.
I agree as you move up in complexity of equipment expenses are going to increase. I've used these shops and had good service. However there are other shops around that provide excellent service as well.

Are you saying your mechanic charges $55 per hour?!
Is that a buddy rate or his book rate?

My plane has cost me no more than$7,500 per annual for the last 2 years. I've had other non airworthy things done to the plane during that time. However nothing close to 20K. Of course barring an engine or prop that we all deal with, I feel like a lot of twin Cessna owners are giving us a bad name by spouting off 20K-100K annuals. At that point just pay some one who knows what their doing to manage ur plane. Heck I'd do it for 20K.

It's really a few shops that do good work admittedly, but they have cornered the twin Cessna market and fooled all the owners into thinking that they are the best and everyone else has no clue.

So you basically schedule an appointment.
Tell them what you need.
They weigh and measure you.
Charge you accordingly.

It's not hard, just be present in your aircraft maintenance. I'm not saying to be turning wrenches, but I do often. Just be present in your aircraft maintenance. Unless you have more money than sense, don't settle for that 20k nonsense.

That forum is dead by comparison to this one.

So quick question, how fast do your $55 an hour mechanic turn an annual? Because IIRC is takes about 80 hours to do it properly. There is a lot to measure on the landing gear.

Really? What's a single turbo these days? How about an exhaust overhaul? How about boots? How about an autopilot servo or FD? One turbo, one exhaust crack and one autopilot servo are more than $11K for parts alone. Never seen one of the big twins that did not eat two turbos, two exhausts, half the cylinders and all the servos and flight director about every 800 hours or so. That alone is about $50K worth of work every 4 years if you run them 200 hours a year. Your $55 an hour mechanic is not overhauling your FD. Those parts are going to a repair station whether you like it or not.

So quick question, how fast do your $55 an hour mechanic turn an annual? Because IIRC is takes about 80 hours to do it properly. There is a lot to measure on the landing gear.

So quick question, how fast do your $55 an hour mechanic turn an annual? Because IIRC is takes about 80 hours to do it properly. There is a lot to measure on the landing gear.

Sounds about right. And a single guy or multiple guys working at his shop? How long does it take? Couple of weeks from start to a final discrepancy list? Then how long to turn the plane? I'm not questioning the quality of work whatsoever, I'm wondering how timelines are kept in a smaller shop. I still don't see how they can charge $55 an hour and keep a roof over their heads, roof big enough for a couple of large twins. Doesn't he have hungry kids that need braces? Does he carry liability insurance? Does he have health insurance? Large repair stations have much larger overhead and there is no way they can charge $55 an hour but they can give you a discrepancy list in two days with 5 guys going at your airplane.

Company I owned owned a 414A from 1978 until early nineties. And a little fleet of King Airs during and after that. I spend 3 days a week for 15 years in the back of that aircraft so to say the least I was pretty "involved" in making sure it wasn't going to kill me. King Airs run freight and the technicians, so I was a tad less involved. 414A was my personal commuter.

Really? What's a single turbo these days? How about an exhaust overhaul? How about boots? How about an autopilot servo or FD? One turbo, one exhaust crack and one autopilot servo are more than $11K for parts alone. Never seen one of the big twins that did not eat two turbos, two exhausts, half the cylinders and all the servos and flight director about every 800 hours or so. That alone is about $50K worth of work every 4 years if you run them 200 hours a year. Your $55 an hour mechanic is not overhauling your FD. Those parts are going to a repair station whether you like it or not.

Sounds about right. And a single guy or multiple guys working at his shop? How long does it take? Couple of weeks from start to a final discrepancy list? Then how long to turn the plane? I'm not questioning the quality of work whatsoever, I'm wondering how timelines are kept in a smaller shop. I still don't see how they can charge $55 an hour and keep a roof over their heads, roof big enough for a couple of large twins. Doesn't he have hungry kids that need braces? Does he carry liability insurance? Does he have health insurance? Large repair stations have much larger overhead and there is no way they can charge $55 an hour but they can give you a discrepancy list in two days with 5 guys going at your airplane.

You found the golden goose.

You found the golden goose.