February 6, 2015 - VOL 15, ISSUE 6

Flight Training News

Advocacy

FAA explains deletion of EFAS questions from a knowledge test

Although questions about the En Route Flight Advisory Service (EFAS) are being dropped from the private pilot knowledge test, the service remains available, the FAA said. Read more...  

Article

Get to hard-to-reach places by air

You can't take a major airline to see the swimming pigs in Staniel Cay in the Bahamas, or to see the natural hot springs at a remote corner of Death Valley National Park. With your pilot certificate and some preflight planning, however, you can enjoy the hidden treasures of out-of-the-way places that are hard to reach by other means. Read more...  

Young Eagles, Sporty's reach course milestone

More than 30,000 young people have enrolled in Sporty's Online Learn to Fly Course after their Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles flight, EAA announced Jan. 28. EAA-member volunteer pilots provide demonstration flights to young people ages 8 to 17 through the Young Eagles program; the Sporty's sport, recreational, and private pilot ground school course was offered free to Young Eagles beginning in 2009. More than 1.9 million young people have been flown through the Young Eagles program since its launch in 1992, EAA said.

SunState Aviation adds air-conditioned airplanes

SunState Aviation has added two new, air-conditioned Cessna 172SPs to its training fleet, the Kissimmee, Florida-based flight school announced. Students may upgrade to the cooler aircraft, which are equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics, for their private pilot or instrument rating training.

Guidance Aviation philanthropy earns award

Donations of more than $580,000 since 2007 helped earn Prescott, Arizona, helicopter school Guidance Aviation the title of Prescott's Most Philanthropic Business for organizations with more than 50 employees. Given during the Healthy Prescott Business Awards, hosted by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 29, the award recognizes Guidance Aviation for philanthropic efforts including cash, aircraft, equipment, and in-kind flight donations; among them, the school donated a Robinson R44 helicopter to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to support its search-and-rescue program.

Scholarships

Article

2015 scholarships open for maintenance, flight attendants

A new scholarship from National Business Aviation Association Charities that will send current or aspiring maintenance technicians to Falcon Jet aircraft initial maintenance courses is among the aviation scholarships available in 2015. Read more...  

Article

The Ninety-Nines announces Fly Now Award

Student pilots who are members of The International Organization of Women Pilots (The Ninety-Nines) are eligible to apply for the spring 2015 Fly Now Award. Read more...  

Training Resources

Login required

Don't just push the buttons

Is your GPS "direct to" knob worn out from overuse or your aircraft's pilot's operating handbook still wrapped up, tucked in the back seat? Perhaps a quick refresher is in order with the Air Safety Institute's "Aircraft Systems and Avionics" Safety Spotlight. Crack the code and navigate your aircraft systems like a pro...  

Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time) or from Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you're not already a member, join today and get the pilot's edge.

Career Pilot

Alaska, Horizon employees get bonus payouts

Employees at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air on Jan. 26 received annual bonuses of more than 9 percent of their annual salary as part of Alaska Air Group's incentive-based pay program. The bonus is in addition to about $1,000 in monthly bonuses from 2014 that most employees earned for achieving on-time and customer satisfaction goals, according to the company.

For more aviation career news, see the Flight Training website.

Plane Spotter

Two up front

Nothing says "joyride" like open-cockpit biplanes—as true today as it was in the 1920s when aircraft like the Waco 10/GXE were taking thrill-seekers aloft, and finding service as trainers, aerobatic aircraft, and charter ships. The basic Waco 10 (later renamed GXE) was powered by a liquid-cooled 90-horsepower Curtiss OX-5 engine. Two passengers rode in a cockpit in front of the pilot. "Innovations included an in-flight-adjustable horizontal stabilizer and 'oleo' strut hydraulic landing gear," says the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum of the 1928 example in its collection.

Training Products

Brush up on nontowered airport communication

A free online course from King Schools guides students through arrival to and departure from airports without an operating control tower. Non-Towered Airport Communications explains radio call-up procedures, terminology, using the radio to enhance safety, and more. Enroll online.

Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.

Member Benefits

Members only

Medical conditions that don't require special issuance, part 1

There are many medical conditions for which the FAA expects the airman to provide some documentation at the time of the physical exam, but that will not lead to a special issuance. Warren Silberman, former manager of FAA Aerospace Medical Certification, discusses what documentation you should provide if you have had a skin lesion or tumor removed, a hernia, problems with a spinal disc, or joint replacement surgery, and in what cases you may not need a special issuance. Read more...  

Member benefits

Trip insurance vs. EA+

The Emergency Assistance Plus program from AOPA Insurance Services provides more than 20 different types of valuable and affordable travel benefits that help you pay for emergencies your health and travel insurance generally will not cover. Read more...  

Blogs

What is a good...?

What makes a good schedule for an airline pilot? What about a paycheck? Blogger Chip Wright answers common questions about flying for the airlines. Read more...  

Just ahead in the March issue

Do you preflight your iPad? Find out how in the March issue of Flight Training magazine. The issue also highlights the best flight instructor and flight school, as chosen by readers, and more. Read more...  

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

One hour to burn

What would you choose to work on if offered a complimentary hour to tackle the IFR proficiency challenge of your choice? Read more...  

Video

Ask ATC: IFR practice approaches

What will air traffic control tower personnel think when you or your instructor request multiple instrument approaches to the airport? Find out in this installment of the Air Safety Institute's popular "Ask ATC" series. Watch the video...  

Final Exam

Question

When approaching an airport without an operating control tower, how far away from the airport should a pilot start communicating on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF)?

Answer

Section 4-1-9 of the Aeronautical Information Manual recommends communicating on the CTAF starting at 10 miles away from the airport.

Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Multimedia producer, Redbird Flight Simulations

Redbird Flight Simulations is seeking a talented, creative, and driven individual to produce entertaining and informative videos for its products and flight training. The eligible candidate will handle all aspects of production including storyboards, writing/scripting, shooting, editing, and graphic animation. Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize, and organize a diversified workload. Read the full job description now.

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for a vice president for major and leadership gifts; Sitecore developer; director of studies, research, and analysis; administrative assistant, Air Safety Institute; Air Safety Institute intern; graphic designer; associate editor—Web/ePilot; senior advertising sales/account executive; online marketing manager; .Net applications developer; and account manager II. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.