Safety Seminars
On-demand ASF SafetyCasts
AOPA Air Safety Foundation SafetyCasts bring the nation’s leading safety experts right into your home, 24-7. With so many to choose from, you’re bound to find no-nonsense safety advice tailored to your specific needs—advice you can use on your very next flight. Each seminar runs about 60 minutes.
- Rod Machado’s Aviation Humor
- Yoke and Pedal: Techniques for Safe Flying
- The Ups & Downs of Takeoffs and Landings
- Single-Pilot IFR
- Say it Right! Radio Communication in Today’s Airspace
- Flying with Glass Cockpits in General Aviation
- Emergency Procedures
- Top 5 Mistakes Pilots Make
- Do the Right Thing: IFR Decision Making for Pilots
- Do the Right Thing: VFR Decision Making for Pilots
- Light Sport Aircraft or Affordable Alternatives
- Affairs of the Heart: Medical Certification After Your Cardiac Event
- Flying Into Canada
- GPS Approaches, Navigation Databases, and Charts
- Flying in Today’s Airspace
- Regulations: What Every Pilot Should Know
- Fly-In Destinations in the East
- The Owner’s Role in Aircraft Maintenance
- What You Should Know About Aging Airplanes
- 10 Strategies for Controlling Aircraft Insurance Costs
- What Every Pilot Should Know About FAA Enforcement
- FAR Refresher
Rod Machado’s Aviation Humor
Rod Machado, Contributor—AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training magazines
Be prepared to laugh and learn as Rod Machado introduces you to the lighter side of aviation. From a student who can’t keep his false teeth in his mouth to a pilot who can’t remember to remove the plastic owl from his vertical stabilizer before flight, you’re sure to find humor and flight wisdom. See the video >>
Yoke and Pedal: Techniques for Safe Flying
Rod Machado, Contributor—AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training magazines
Should you “pitch” or “power” to control airspeed? Are you approaching too fast or too slow? When should you raise your gear after takeoff? Should you always land on the numbers? Do you need to fly by the seat of your pants to fly coordinated? What’s the most important thing you need to do to avoid stalling an airplane on final approach? If you’d like answers to these and other flying technique questions, please laugh and learn with Rod Machado. See the video >>
The Ups & Downs of Takeoffs and Landings
Bruce Landsberg, Executive Director—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Takeoff and landing mishaps account for the majority of GA accidents. There’s not much room for error in such close proximity to the ground, even under ideal circumstances. Throw in wind, obstructions, and short or soft fields and things just get worse. This seminar offers practical advice for avoiding the common pitfalls. See the video >>
Single-Pilot IFR
David Wright, VP of Operations—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Short of an emergency, there’s probably no greater test of a pilot’s skill than flying single-pilot IFR. This seminar offers techniques to help you rise to the challenge. We’ll take a quick look at common IFR accident causes and important issues like lower-than-forecast weather, cockpit organization, avionics, and situational awareness. See the video >>
Say it Right! Radio Communication in Today’s Airspace
Pat Shaub, Instructor—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Increase your communication know-how with practical tips for communicating in today’s airspace. You’ll get straightforward advice on common pitfalls, emergencies, and challenges at both towered and nontowered airports. Plus, don’t miss the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session with an air traffic controller! See the video >>
Flying With Glass Cockpits in General Aviation
David Zitt, Senior Instructor—Sporty's Academy, Inc.
Look at glass-cockpit technology from a pilot’s perspective. Information based on the Garmin G1000 and Avidyne Entegra. Learn how the primary and multifunction displays operate and integrate multiple systems. Receive operational tips on the use of glass-cockpit systems en route, during instrument approaches, and in emergencies. See the video >>
Emergency Procedures
J.J. Greenway, Chief Flight Instructor—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Unfortunately, bad things sometimes happen to good pilots. Learn how to handle those “up here, wishing you were down there” scenarios. We’ll show you how to keep abnormal situations from becoming emergencies, give advice on keeping problems under control, and cover what you need to know about off-airport landings. See the video >>
Top 5 Mistakes Pilots Make
Pat Shaub, Instructor—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Don’t become a statistic! Attend the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s latest seminar to learn about the top five ways GA pilots end up in fatal accidents and what you can do to avoid making the same mistakes. You’ll get expert insight and valuable tips that just might save your life. See the video >>
Do the Right Thing: IFR Decision Making for Pilots
Mark Grady, Instructor—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Although being instrument rated makes you statistically safer, flying IFR brings its own set of decision-making challenges. This seminar starts with no-nonsense strategies for making better choices in the IFR environment. Then, an interactive DVD scenario lets you make the choices for a pilot as he tests his skills and his aircraft’s limits. See the video >>
Do the Right Thing: VFR Decision Making for Pilots
Pat Shaub, Instructor—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
With pilot error cited in 75 to 80 percent of all accidents, it’s no wonder decision making is a hot topic. Unfortunately, all the theory can make the topic a bit dry. But this seminar is different. Interactive DVD technology lets you determine the outcome of one pilot’s challenging flight home. See the video >>
Light Sport Aircraft or Affordable Alternatives
Dan Johnson, Chairman—Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association
Everything you wanted to know about Light Sport Aircraft, but didn’t know whom to ask. Come listen to the leading LSA Magazine reviewer. Hear about the different models and their advantages. More than 50 models are certified; there is a choice for everyone, from $40,000 to $100,000-plus. See the video >>
The Owner’s Role in Aircraft Maintenance
Adrian Eichhorn, LTC Ret., Pilot—JetBlue Airways
Good news—you own a plane! Bad news—you weren’t taught how to maintain it! If you want to cut costs and learn a lot more about your plane, don’t miss this seminar. Find out what you should know about annual inspections, owner-performed maintenance, Supplemental Type Certificates, Type Certificate Data Sheets, and the regulations that pertain to aircraft maintenance. See the video >>
What You Should Know About Aging Airplanes
Marv Nuss, Continued Operational Safety Program Manager—FAA
This seminar will highlight safety issues that airplane owners, pilots, and mechanics need to be aware of as we continue to own and operate older aircraft. The seminar will discuss metal fatigue and corrosion, how maintenance quality affects the aging process, how to avoid serious problems, and things the FAA and industry have done and can do to help address the unavoidable aging process. See the video >>
10 Strategies for Controlling Aircraft Insurance Costs
Greg Sterling, Executive Vice President and General Manager—AOPA Insurance Agency
Want to learn how to control your aircraft insurance costs? No matter what type of aircraft you fly or want to fly, it’s important to understand how the type of aircraft and your pilot qualifications impact the cost of insurance. Join us for tips and strategies to help manage your aircraft insurance costs. The speaker will help you understand the aviation insurance market and give you straight answers to your insurance questions. See the video >>
What Every Pilot Should Know About FAA Enforcement
John Yodice, AOPA General Counsel—Yodice and Associates
Enjoy a short presentation on what you must know to protect your certificate. The seminar will cover the get-out-of-jailfree aspect of the Aviation Safety Reporting Program. Should a pilot respond to an FAA letter of investigation? How does a pilot avoid damaging admissions? When does a pilot need legal help, and how can you get it cheap? We’ll cover this and much more. See the video >>
FAR Refresher
John Yodice, AOPA General Counsel—Yodice and Associates
Covering the more important and easily forgotten general operating and flight rules of FAR Part 91 to satisfy the one hour ground-training requirements of the biennial flight review (you may want to bring your logbook). Particular emphasis will be placed on airspace requirements that have been the subject of so much recent FAA enforcement action against pilots. See the video >>
Affairs of the Heart: Medical Certification After Your Cardiac Event
Gary Crump, Director—AOPA Medical Certification Services
Heart disease affects hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. Following successful treatment, the FAA has re-qualified thousands of pilots who have undergone bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stent placement. This seminar will zero in on how the FAA evaluates persons with coronary artery disease and other heart conditions. We’ll review the procedures for applying for a special issuance, look at the conditions and complications that may result in the denial of certification, and cover what to do to avoid a denial. See the video >>
Fly-In Destinations in the East
John Kounis, Editor—Pilot Getaways Magazine
Grass airfields with antique airplanes, beachside runways, vibrant city lights, sprawling vineyards, and national and state parks are all accessible by light aircraft along the East Coast. Find out about the best and most convenient fly-in destinations for your next flying vacation or weekend getaway. See the video >>
An Owner-Assisted Annual is a Great Teacher
Adrian Eichorn, LTF Ret., Pilot—JetBlue Airways
If you’re like 95% of owners, you may be getting raked over the tarmac with unnecessary costs. Want to fly cheaper and safer? Learn what you can and can’t do legally, the truth about annual instpections, and important things you need to know about the regulations that pertain to aircraft maintenance. See the video >>
Flying in Today’s Airspace
Heidi Williams, Director of Air Traffic—AOPA Government Affairs
AOPA’s Director of Air Traffic, Heidi Williams, is joined by a distinguished panel of representatives from the FAA and the Department of Defense to discuss airspace and air traffic issues ranging from unmanned aircraft to airspace security critical to every general aviation pilot. The panel will provide a “state of the system” overview and provide insight into the unprecedented task of balancing general aviation airspace access with homeland security requirements. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation. See the video >>
Regulations: What Every Pilot Should Know
J.J. Greenway, Chief Flight Instructor—AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Like it or not, federal aviation regulations are a fact of life. That’s why you shouldn’t miss this seminar. Get answers to commonly asked regulatory questions and insights on the real-world intersection of rules, common sense, and safety. Plus, discover simple methods for reading—and understanding—complex regulations. See the video >>
Flying Into Canada
John Quarterman, Manager, Advocacy and Member Programs—Canadian Owners and Pilots Association
Learn about the great country to the north and its easy access to American pilots. Canada’s aviation rules are similar but subtly different. Charts, flight-planning, customs procedures, radio-telephone differences, control zones, IFR, VFR, over-water flight, FSS, weather, and lingo are some of the topics covered in this seminar. See the video >>
GPS Approaches, Navigation Databases, and Charts
Jim Terpstra, Senior VP, Retired—Jeppesen
This presentation will discuss flying GPS approaches, the charts that are used to depict the approaches, and the databases on board the airplane that contain GPS approaches. It will also include the new WAAS approaches as well as some of the changes the FAA has made with GPS substitution. See the video >>
Updated January 15, 2008
