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Tel: 800/USA-AOPA or
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Copyright � 2002 AOPA. | Training Tips
| PASSING THE PRESOLO WRITTEN TEST
 Before you solo an aircraft for the first time, you and your flight instructor must be certain that you have met the presolo requirements in Section 61.87 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and documented your training in satisfactory fashion. One of the most important of those requirements is for you to take a presolo knowledge test. The test must be administered by your flight instructor and reviewed carefully with you upon completion.
There is both flexibility and detail in the regulatory language on what this test should contain. The actual test questions may be composed by your instructor, but they must address your knowledge in three specific areas: the applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of the FARs, airspace rules for the airport at which you will solo, and flight characteristics and operational limitations of your aircraft. For some excellent resources to help in designing an appropriate test, see the "Instructor Tips" from the March 1999 AOPA Flight Training, which includes sample questions for a presolo exam and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Instructor's Guide to the Pre-solo Written Test .
Obviously, there is much variety in the conditions under which a student pilot may solo. Leaving the details of this knowledge test to the individuals involved acknowledges that a student soloing a brand-new airplane from a paved, tower-controlled airport will be operating under different conditions from someone soloing a vintage craft from a grass strip in less-constricted airspace. Your ground-study material and pilot's operating handbook will help you prepare. An excellent additional resource is the AOPA Student Glossary for General Aviation .
Remember: any incorrect answers must be reviewed with your flight instructor before your solo is authorized. Also be sure that all flight and ground training leading up to your solo is logged in acceptable fashion in your student pilot logbook, and that your pilot certificate includes the required endorsements. For guidance on acceptable logbook entries, see the important information in the June 1998 "Pilot Counsel" column in AOPA Pilot.
Congratulations on having come this far in your training! For thoughts on what lies ahead, take a look at "You've Soloed--Now What?" from the September 2000 AOPA Flight Training.
| Your Partner in Training
| Flight training devices (FTDs) can be great tools for learning how an aircraft handles, as well as for perfecting some in-flight procedures. Even flight simulator games are useful for demonstrating some VFR maneuvers to students. Learn more at AOPA Online. If you need more information, call our experienced pilots—available weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern to answer your questions toll-free at 800/872-2672.
As an AOPA Flight Training Member, you have access to all of the features within AOPA Online. For login information click here.
| Flight Training News
| AOPA DISAGREES WITH FAA STUDENT-PILOT PROJECTIONS
AOPA is disputing the FAA's forecasted decline in the number of student pilots, presented this week at an FAA conference in Wichita. The FAA predicts that the number of student pilots will decline by 4.5 percent in 2002, and by an additional 1.2 percent in 2003–but the agency says that the total number of pilots will actually increase during the forecast period. Where will these pilots come from? "Student starts are the key to the general aviation industry," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Everything is driven by the number of students. If the FAA is wrongly pessimistic about the future, it can negatively affect industry decisions. A wrong forecast will hinder, not help, the general aviation industry's economic recovery." AOPA contends student pilots will increase some 16 to 20 percent in the next five years. AOPA said the FAA forecast was based on bad assumptions and internal system errors. For more, see AOPA Online.
VETERAN PILOT AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS
Joe Cozza, Tyler Kolden, and Greg Peterson, aviation students at the University of North Dakota's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, have each received a $12,500 Clay Lacy Professional Pilot Scholarship in recognition of their flight abilities, academic achievements, and accomplishments. Of the amount, $10,000 will apply toward flight training expenses at UND, and $2,500 will be allocated to defray expenses for participation in a co-op program at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Lacy, in addition to his airline and military career, was a test pilot and flew in the early Reno Air Races. His company, Clay Lacy Aviation, has grown to include a charter fleet of 20 jets including Learjets, Gulfstreams, and Boeing 727s.
| Inside AOPA
| SENATOR CITES FBOs AS 'BIGGEST WEAKNESS' IN SYSTEM
General aviation continues to be unfairly blamed as some members of Congress challenge security measures at small airports in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In a Senate transportation appropriations subcommittee hearing on aviation safety and capacity issues, Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) stated that "the biggest weakness in the national transportation system is in the FBOs," and that while there are security measures in place for commercial aircraft, there is "no consideration given to security of private aircraft. Literally anyone can get in a private plane." Campbell left the hearing after he made his comments, so the sole witness at the hearing, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, did not respond. "It's unfortunate that Campbell made these statements, giving the public the perception that general aviation is not safe. Frankly, I am distressed that general aviation continues to be the whipping boy when we are not the security threat," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. See AOPA�Online.
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| Training Products
| INSTRUMENT MANUAL UPDATED
Are you already thinking about an instrument rating? If you're interested in some reading material on the subject, a new edition of William K. Kershner's The Instrument Flight Manual will be published next month. The manual's sixth edition, scheduled for release in May, is available for $39.99 from the Iowa State Press; telephone 800/862-6657.
| Final Exam
| Question: I don't usually have to deal with linemen and hand signals at the airport where I am training. But, as I start my cross-country trips, I want to make sure that I understand hand signals and what they mean. Do you know if there is one standard "set" of hand signals that most linemen use?
Answer: It's important to know standard hand signals, both for your safety and the safety of the lineman that is guiding you. Hand signals can be found in Section 4-3-25 of the Aeronautical Information Manual . For more information on taxi procedures and hand signals, see "Taxi Flight" from the December 1997 AOPA Flight Training magazine.
Got a technical question for AOPA specialists? E-mail to [email protected] or call 800/872-2672.
| Picture Perfect
| Jump to the AOPA Online Gallery to see the featured airplane of the day. Click on the link for details on how to capture wallpaper for your work area. See AOPA Online.
| What's New At AOPA Online
| Are you interested in using your pilot certificate to fly yourself on business in GA aircraft? Business use of aircraft offers a lot of possibilities. AOPA's information on business use of aircraft has just been updated; learn the latest on AOPA Online.
| ePilot Calendar
| Check your weekend weather on AOPA Online.
WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
West Conshohoken, Pennsylvania. Pilot Town Meeting featuring AOPA President Phil Boyer takes place May 2 at the Philadelphia Marriott West. Visit AOPA Online for more information.
Natchez, Mississippi. The River Cities Airshow and Motorcycle Extravaganza takes place April 26 through 28 at Hardy-Anders Field Natchez-Adams County (HEZ). Call 800/647-6724 for more information.
Galveston, Texas. The Lone Star Flight Museum Airshow takes place April 27 through 28 at Scholes Field (GLS). Event highlights include F-16 Falcon/P-47 Thunderbolt heritage flight, LSFM's newly restored Spitfire, and a flyover of a B-2 stealth bomber on Saturday. E-mail or visit the Web site for more information.
Ridgecrest, California. Ridgecrest-Inyokern Air Show and Balloon Festival takes place April 27 through 28 at Inyokern Airport (IKY). Featuring hot air balloon races, civilian and military fixed-wing and helicopter aerobatics and flight demonstrations, static displays, and ground entertainment. E-mail Phil Mills or visit the Web site.
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For more airport details, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online . For more events, see Aviation Calendar of Events
ASF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER CLINICS
(All clinics start at 7:30 a.m.)
The next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Cincinnati, and Reston, Virginia, April 27 and 28. Clinics are scheduled in Irvine, California and Pensacola, Florida, May 4 and 5. For the Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic schedule, see AOPA Online.
ASF PINCH-HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES
(Pinch-Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.)
The next Pinch-Hitter� Ground School will take place in Fort Lauderdala, Florida, on May 12. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Rogers, Arkansas, April 29, Springfield, Missouri, April 30, and Wichita, May 1. The topic is spatial disorientation. For more information, visit the Web site.
For comments on calendar items or to make submissions, contact [email protected].
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