FEBRUARY 7, 2014 - VOL 16, ISSUE 6

Technique and Safety

IFR Fix

'Confusion reigned'

Can you identify the misunderstanding that was developing between the parties during an approach to Florida's Daytona Beach International Airport? Read more... Share:  

Accident analysis

Overconfidence ends in tragedy

Confidence is generally regarded as a good thing—and like most good things, it's possible to have too much. The pilot who took off from Angel Fire, N.M., in March 2013, when winds were gusting to 47 knots perpendicular to the runway, had told the lineman that he didn't think the winds would be a problem. Four people died in a crash just after takeoff. Read more in this special report from the Air Safety Institute. Share:  

Rotorcraft Rookie

Night flight

Flying a helicopter at night takes more planning than it does in an airplane, but the rewards can be even sweeter. Read more... Share:  

Flash-based, login required

Say again?

Do you know what to say before you press the push-to-talk switch? Get a little help from the Air Safety Institute and avoid communication blunders with Say It Right: Mastering Radio Communication. Take the course...

Blog

Landing attitude, dude (or dudette)

Words often get in the way of explanations, especially between students and instructors. And stuff happens fast during landings, so AOPA Foundation President Bruce Landsberg offers a technique to slow things down and help CFIs communicate the proper landing attitude. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Teaching autorotations

Autorotation is one of the most critical maneuvers that helicopter CFIs perform with their students. During the first two months of 2012 three accidents happened during practice autorotations, and the National Transportation Safety Board's probable cause findings are instructive. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Advocacy

Small business owners say they need FAA changes to grow

The owners of several small aviation companies told the House Committee on Small Business Feb. 5 that regulatory and policy changes are needed to help general aviation grow so businesses like theirs can thrive. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

AOPA digs into state issues

With 46 of the nation's 50 state legislatures in session this year, AOPA's experts are gearing up to review, track, and weigh in on proposals that affect the way you fly. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Hearing reveals FAA behind on NextGen, UAS, consolidation

A House aviation subcommittee hearing has revealed that the FAA is woefully behind on numerous key mandates associated with NextGen, unmanned aircraft, and facilities consolidation. Of special interest to pilots, a report showed that the agency is unlikely to meet its own 2020 deadline for full Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) implementation. Read more... Share:  

Health

Members only

The case of Schuyler 'Sky' King

When a pilot needs a second class medical for his job—as would a law enforcement officer pilot—it's important to get all of the required documentation to the FAA quickly after surgery for prostate cancer. Could AOPA help get fictional crime-fighter "Sky" King back in the air? Read more... Share:  

Technology

Advocacy

FAA streamlines approval for angle of attack indicators

The FAA announced Feb. 5 a policy change that could help put angle of attack indicators in thousands of cockpits. The new policy modifies certification testing requirements—and lowers the associated costs—that have long been a barrier to widespread adoption of the life-saving devices in the general aviation fleet. Read more... Share:  

Opinion

Blog

Preflight your passenger, too!

According to National Transportation Safety Board data, the best thing that ever happened to passengers who survive aviation accidents was the passenger safety briefing, writes Opinion Leaders blogger Amy Laboda. What do you include in your passenger briefing? Share your example... Share:  

Blog

The future of aviation

It's unlikely that if asked about the aviation industry a decade from now you would factor in the potential effect of a radical global shift in climate or a collapse of the global financial system, or picture the beginning of an age of electric airliners. That's a problem. Read more... Share:  

Gear

Article

FlyQ EFB 1.3 adds ADS-B traffic, more IFR features

The newest version of FlyQ EFB now includes the most-requested feature: the addition of portable ADS-B receiver traffic display. Read more... Share:  

Apps of the week

Is there an app for that? Probably

Logbooks, fuel calculations, artificial glideslopes for short-field approaches—there's an app for that. Read more... Share:  

Travel

Article

Red Bull adds race stop

The Red Bull Air Race, set to return to action at the end of February, has added a new stop to the 2014 series, on Croatia's Mediterranean coast. Read more... Share:  

Article

Pilots help with Bahamas project

Bahamas Habitat is gathering pilots to fly to the islands Feb. 20 through 23 to work with Bahamas Methodist Habitat on projects ranging from putting up drywall in a medical center to painting the Zion Children's Home. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Bahamas bound

After weeks of cold, windy, and snowy weather in the mid-Atlantic, 12 airplanes headed south to the Bahamas. Read more... Share:  

Financial

Article

Epic hiring

Epic Aircraft of Bend, Ore., will hold a career information day Feb. 8 as it seeks to recruit more than two dozen new employees to work on certification of the factory version of its high-performance turboprop. Read more... Share:  

Member benefits

AOPA Insurance site adds features

AOPA Insurance Services has expanded online capabilities of its website to include policy service requests for its customers. Read more... Share:  

News and Notes

Article

Star-studded homage for Hoover

A living legend of aviation if ever there was one, R.A. "Bob" Hoover will be honored in grand style as he joins aviation luminaries for a special tribute in Los Angeles. The "Tribute to Bob Hoover" dinner on Feb. 21 will cap a series of planned events, and include the premiere of a new documentary about Hoover's extraordinary life. Proceeds will support scholarships, in keeping with Hoover's penchant for paying it forward. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Strange but true GA news

The crash that wasn't; private flight gone to the dogs; and upside-down helicopter. Read more... Share:  

Article

75-year-old encourages older flyers

A 75-year-old pilot says it's never too late to get hooked on flying. In the past 10 years, he earned his private pilot certificate and an instrument rating, and bought a Piper Archer III. Read more... Share:  

More News

Aviators launch Slipstream Radio podcast

Sweepstakes blog: Flying the Debonair

Career Opportunities

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for an event planner, aviation technical writer contractor, coordinator of pilot community and development, director of insurance business operations, member services and airport directory representative, and Web graphic designer I. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.

Aviation job board

Featured job: Director of insurance business operations

AOPA is seeking a director of insurance business operations in its Wichita, Kan., office. Requiring experience as an insurance professional, this position is responsible for managing assigned segments of insurance agency operations and all administrative functions. Responsibilities include development of the budget and operating plans; tracking, analyzing, and reporting on sales and other key operational metrics; collaborating in the development and execution of marketing plans; overseeing the agency's IT systems and continuous productivity-improvement efforts; and managing HR operations in coordination with the HR department. Learn more now or search for other exciting career opportunities.

Forums

Double duty

What percentage of weather briefers and air traffic controllers are pilots? Read more...