Five Steps To Extend The Life Of Your Aircraft Batteries

June 2025

An aircraft's battery is one of THE highest-maintenance components on board, with items due every three months or 100 hours. Yet it is often ignored, abused, and left idle for long stretches of time. A well-maintained battery can provide 3-5 years of dedicated service. If you apply the simple steps below, you may get even more.

1. Make sure the master switch is in the off position before shutting down the aircraft and walking away.
2. When on the ground, disconnect the aircraft batteries and use ground batteries.
3. Use ground power assist at start-up.
4. Perform periodic voltage and visual inspection. There should be no excessive voltage difference between cells, as well as electrolyte build-up or bulging cells.
5. Don’t ignore the 100-hour inspection requirement.

Duncan Aviation has a full-service aircraft battery shop at all three MRO facilities (Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah). They operate seven days a week and have nearly every test set, battery charger, and capacity gauge available to perform capacity checks, testing, and maintenance for every aircraft battery in service on today’s business aircraft. They have dedicated rooms for lead-acid and NiCad battery services, environmental chambers, and a battery cooler.  Their advanced diagnostic test sets include a 2400W programmable DC electronic load bank, lead acid analyzers, and main NiCad charger analyzers.

Batteries sent to Duncan Aviation for service are checked, charged, and returned to customers within 5 days.

For sales, please contact PRS.SalesTeam@DuncanAviation.com or 800-228-1836
For service, please contact CustomerSalesService@DuncanAviation.com or 800-228-1836