AOPA Expo Seminar and Event Descriptions

A Flying Career for Me? Really?

Ownership and Flying Track
Admit it. You've thought about giving up the rat race and heading for the sky to earn a living. Is it really possible to make that transition when the industry is so jittery because of fuel prices? Now might be the best time to prepare for the inevitable next boom. Learn how!

Wayne Phillips
AOPA Flight Training
Aviation Careers Columnist

Affairs of the Heart: Medical Certification After Your Cardiac Event

Ownership and Flying Track
Coronary artery disease and associated heart ailments affect hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. Fortunately, the FAA has successful policies and procedures that allows for the special issuance certification of thousands of pilots who have undergone bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stent placement. This seminar will offer a detailed look at how the FAA evaluates your medical records following treatment for heart disease, valve replacement, pacemakers, and other heart conditions. We'll review the procedures for applying for a special issuance, and look at the conditions and complications that may result in the denial of certification, and what to do to avoid a denial.

Gary Crump
AOPA Pilot Information Center, Medical Section
Director of Medical Services

Aging Aircraft

Ownership and Flying Track
Marv will present information regarding aging airplanes useful to small airplane owners and mechanics. He'll talk about why the effects of aging are a safety concern, explain some physics of metal fatigue in laymen's terms, and describe actions owners and mechanics should take to avoid serious age-related problems.

Marv Nuss
FAA
Continued Operational Safety Program Manager

Annual Inspections Items Most Missed

Ownership and Flying Track
Aircraft must be inspected annually to remain airworthy. Is the inspector looking at the right things? Come hear about items that should be looked at but often are not.

John Frank
Cessna Pilots Association
Executive Director

Aviation Humor

Ownership and Flying Track
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 have an afternoon filled with humor and wisdom.

Rod Machado
AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training Magazines
Contributor

Buying Your First Airplane

Ownership and Flying Track
Mission or money? What's most important in deciding which airplane is right for you? Longtime aircraft owner and AOPA Pilot Editor in Chief Tom Haines tells how to decide which airplane is right for you. Learn why buying too little may be more costly than buying too much. Once you make the big decision, understand how you can get the most utility and satisfaction from your airplane. Most importantly, learn how aircraft ownership can change your life.

Tom Haines
AOPA Pilot & AOPA Flight Training Magazines
Editor in Chief

Closing Banquet

Social Event
Ticket required; $65. Includes the Pre-Banquet Reception at 6:45 pm. Sit back and watch entertainment by Incredible Productions, while enjoying a plated, sit-down dinner. AOPA will honor chosen individuals, government officials and the aviation community. Business dress or cocktail attire. Members will recall the entertainment group from previous shows - Ft. Lauderdale and Philadelphia.
Saturday, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM, San Jose McEnery Convention Center - Ballroom A

Closing General Session - General Session

Free and open to the public. Learn the latest news each morning from Phil Boyer, President of AOPA and other industry experts.
Saturday, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, San Jose McEnery Convention Center - Ballroom A

Ditching & Water Survival

Proficiency and Safety Track
If you fly over any types of water (ocean, lake, or river) during takeoff, landing, or enroute, don't miss this program. This presentation will give you the information you need to survive a ditching. One of the world's leading aviation survival authorities, Doug Ritter, will cover ditching and egress procedures; water survival strategies; overwater search and rescue procedures; the open water environment; hypothermia and other physiological concerns; and the psychological aspects of water survival. Attendees will be eligible to win valuable survival equipment door prizes.

Doug Ritter
Equipped to Survive Foundation
Chairman and Executive Director

Equipping Yourself to Survive: Personal Survival Gear for Pilots

Proficiency and Safety Track
When your flight's gone about as bad as it possibly could, your survival may well depend upon what survival gear you have with you. Even with modern communications and distress signaling, you could easily end up stuck in the wilderness overnight. If rescue is delayed, it's probably because of difficult weather or other circumstances that would add to your troubles. Aviation survival equipment authority Doug Ritter will explain what you should never be without and, just as important, what gear is worth betting your life on and what isn't. You don't have to spend a fortune to be equipped to survive. Attendees will be eligible to win valuable survival equipment door prizes.

Doug Ritter
Equipped to Survive Foundation
Chairman and Executive Director

FAA Medical Certification Policies & Procedures

Ownership and Flying Track
Dr. Tilton will provide an update on the latest medical issues that affect AOPA members.

Dr Fred Tilton
FAA
Federal Air Surgeon

Five Secrets of Cost-Efficient Maintenance

Ownership and Flying Track
Maintenance expert Mike Busch A&P/IA offers five simple rules for managing your maintenance cost-efficiently, and ensuring the best possible quality, safety and dispatch reliability with the least possible cost, downtime and hassle. Following these five rules can save you thousands of dollars on maintenance costs, year after year.

Mike Busch
Savvy Aviator, Inc.; and Savvy Aircraft Maintenance Management, Inc.
President

Fly-In Destinations in the West

Ownership and Flying Track
Recreational flying in the West includes everything from flight-seeing over the Grand Canyon and landing on remote strips in the Idaho backcountry, to heading for the lights of Las Vegas and San Francisco for entertainment and nightlife. Discover the fly-in destinations to plan your next flying vacation or weekend getaway.

John Kounis
Pilot Getaways Magazine
Editor

Flying in the Soup Without Going Nuts: IFR Made Easy

Proficiency and Safety Track
We'll show you a new and completely different method for scanning, interpreting, and acting on the information from the flight instruments. Applying principles of rate-sensing and information theory, this method makes attitude instrument flying easier, more precise, and more fun! You will see how to vastly improve the efficiency of your scan by focusing attention where the information content is greatest and eliminating time on instruments where the information content is low. See how to let the airplane do most of the work, and how to quit making unnecessary work for yourself. You will also learn about residual attention: what it is, why it is necessary and how to improve it to your benefit!

Gene Hudson
Silver Wings
Chief Pilot

Flying in Today's Airspace

Proficiency and Safety Track
AOPA's Manager of Air Traffic, Pete Lehmann, along with a distinguished panel of representatives from the FAA and the Department of Defense, will cover 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 insights into the unprecedented task of balancing general aviation airspace access with homeland security requirements. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

Pete Lehmann
AOPA Government Affairs
Manager, Air Traffic Services

Flying South of the Border

Proficiency and Safety Track
Travel through Mexico and Central America with Jack McCormick as he provides a humorous and informative presentation of what to do and how to do it when traveling south of the border. We'll share slides from past trips and cover required paperwork, what to expect, and why it's a trip worth taking.

Jack McCormick
Baja Bush Pilots
President

Flying the Idaho and Utah Backcountry

Proficiency and Safety Track
Idaho and Utah offers a wealth of Backcountry airstrips that are nestled in the deep canyons of the wilderness. However, backcountry flying demands precision of aim point / airspeed control. The goal is to capture the aim point and master airspeed control whether it is on pavement or in the dirt. The speaker Lori MacNichol invites you to treat yourself to the next level of airmanship and experience the Idaho and Utah backcountry through this multimedia presentation which includes digital video of the backcountry.

Lori MacNichol
McCall Mountain/Canyon Flying Seminars, LLC
President

Flying to Alaska

Proficiency and Safety Track
Flying is a great way to see Alaska! Covering an area a fifth the size of the contiguous US, aviation is the only way to efficiently get around the state. But the same qualities that make Alaska exciting to explore by air create challenges for pilots. This seminar will provide an overview of the most popular routes through Canada, describe conditions to watch out for, and "tools" to help you safely navigate the skies of the 49th state.

Tom George
AOPA
Alaska Regional Representative

Flying your Airplane to Airshows & Aviation Events

Proficiency and Safety Track
This seminar helps you prepare for safe and enjoyable flights to major aviation events. It is filled with tips for lowering stress and maximizing safety while flying in very busy airspace. We'll also present ways to help your familiy and other passengers enjoy the whole trip.

Fred Stadler
NOTAM Chairman, EAA AirVenture
AOPA Airport Support Network Representative

Flying your Plane Safely to Central America

Proficiency and Safety Track
Air Journey has been making Journeys to Central America for the past ten years. Thierry Pouille will share with you some of the highlights of the destinations visited over the years including the sights, airplane requirements, authorizations and over flight details.

Thierry Pouille
Air Journey
President

Flying Your Plane Safely to South America

Proficiency and Safety Track
While celebrating the 10th anniversary of organizing flying journeys, Thierry Pouille is organizing the fifth annual circumnavigation of the South American continent. He will share with you the destinations, the sights, the airplane requirements, permissions and over flight details.

Thierry Pouille
Air Journey
President

Forum for Flight Deck Job Seekers

Proficiency and Safety Track
What's it like to fly for a living? What do recruiters look for in a prospective new-pilot hire? What's the best way to prepare for an interview? Pose your questions to a panel of working pilots and industry professionals, who will share their insights on topics of interest.

Wayne Phillips
AOPA Flight Training
Aviation Careers Columnist

Friday Night Party at The Tech Museum of Innovation

Social Event
Ticket required; $80. Enjoy great food and entertainment and don't miss the IMAX aviation film, "The Magic of Flight". Sign-ups for the film will take place at the event and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Transportation provided to and from the Radisson San Jose Airport Hotel only. All other hotels are within walking distance from the museum. Business casual attire.
Friday, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM, The Tech Museum of Innovation - www.thetech.org

General Session - General Session

Free and open to the public. Learn the latest news each morning from Phil Boyer, President of AOPA and other industry experts.
Friday, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Conv. Ctr., Ballroom A

GPS WAAS

Proficiency and Safety Track
Learn what WAAS is and how it works. If you are thinking of buying or upgrading, find out what equipment is available. This seminar also covers VFR handhelds in IFR operations, Free Flight, and IFR airspace operations. We'll also discuss IFR RNAV approaches (GPS, WAAS, RNP) and new WAAS approaches (LPV and LNAV/VNAV).

Catherine Fish
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Instructor

How the FAA Does Medical Certification

Ownership and Flying Track
Dr. Silberman will discuss the latest topics and issues that the FAA's Aerospace Medical Certification Division is currently dealing with. He will give a presentation on the five conditions that the FAA allows an aviation medical examiner to issue a medical certificate when you come for your examination with the proper documentation.

Warren Silberman, DO
FAA
Manager, Aerospace Medical Certification Division

Interior Renovations

Ownership and Flying Track
A look at everything involved in renovating your aircraft interior. Whether you do the work yourself, or have the project completed by professionals, we will cover design through execution, and how to ensure quality results. Topics include ergonomic and aesthetic considerations, materials selection, modifications, soundproofing, safety enhancements, and FAA paperwork.

Dennis Wolter
Air Mod, Inc.
President

Let's Go Flying!

Social Event
Anyone interested in learning how to fly is invited to attend the free Let's Go Flying! session. Led by an FAA-certificated flight instructor, the sessions will provide information about how to find a flight school and sign up for an introductory flight lesson. Attendees will also be able to ask questions about the benefits, cost, and steps involved in learning how to fly. You don't have to pay for AOPA Expo attendance to go to this session--just sign up at the registration area.

Catherine Fish
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Instructor

Liability of Aviators: A Risk Management Toolbox

Proficiency and Safety Track
Highlights the safety, regulatory, and contractual elements of a comprehensive legal risk management strategy tailored for GA pilots. Given by two experienced air crash litigators - one from the plaintiff side and one from the defense - the talk discusses the legal atmosphere that aviators operate in and how to manage it.

Doug Griffith, ESQ
Law Office of Doug Griffith
Aviation Defense Attorney

Stuart Fraenkel, ESQ
Kreindler & Kreindler LLP
Aviation Plaintiff Attorney

Managing your Engine for Peak Performance

Ownership and Flying Track
Understanding the proper procedures for operating your aircraft engine is the key to keeping operating costs down and getting long engine life. Appropriate power settings, cruise control, shock cooling, hot starts and much, much more will be covered in this seminar.

John Frank
Cessna Pilots Association
Executive Director

Mastering Takeoffs & Landings

Proficiency and Safety Track
Every year takeoffs and landings account for more than half of all pilot-related accidents, and it's not just the new pilots who are having trouble. ASF's latest seminar gives you tips and techniques for making smooth, trouble-free departures and arrivals.

Mark Grady
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Instructor

or JJ Greenway
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Chief Flight Instructor

or David Wright
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Vice President of Operations

Medical Certification: Getting it Right the First Time

Ownership and Flying Track
The FAA medically qualifies pilots with more serious medical conditions than any other country in the world. That flexibility comes with a price, though, and a thorough understanding of the FAA medical certification process is essential to avoid a denial, or becoming involved in a lengthy review process. This presentation will offer the tools and tips for working within the FAA medical certification bureaucracy and the federal aviation regulations. We'll also review current certification policy for many of the most common medical problems that pilots ask about.

Gary Crump
AOPA Pilot Information Center, Medical Section
Director of Medical Services

Night Flying Safety - What Your CFI Didn't Teach You

Proficiency and Safety Track
Flying at night can be fun, but pilots should know the pitfalls and plan accordingly, particularly in the S.F. Bay area, where the night fatal accident rate is 2.5 times the national average! Learn ways to fly safely at night and avoid pitfalls that continue to claim even experienced pilots.

Max Trescott
Glass Cockpit Publishing
Author and 2008 National CFI of the Year

Opening General Session - General Session

Free and open to the public. Learn the latest news each morning from Phil Boyer, President of AOPA and other industry experts.
Thursday, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Conv. Ctr., Ballroom A

Opening Luncheon

Social Event
Ticket required; $35. Learn the latest in general aviation! Come and enjoy great food and entertainment. Plated sit-down lunch. Business casual attire.
Thursday, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM, San Jose McEnery Convention Center - Ballroom A

Painting Your Aircraft

Ownership and Flying Track
What's involved in putting together a great paint job, from the first design concepts to future maintenance? We will discuss selecting the right shop, stripping and painting process, how to ensure that no details are missed, what is normally included, what you should expect to pay, and FAA paperwork.

Dennis Wolter
Air Mod, Inc.
President

Pinch-Hitter®

Social Event
Would your non-flying companion rather be a participant than a passenger? Could he or she step up to the plate in the unlikely event that you became incapacitated? This two-hour seminar covers need-to-know information on using the radio, navigating, and even landing the airplane in an emergency.

Mark Grady
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Instructor

Practical Tax Advice to Fellow Pilots

Ownership and Flying Track
This is a nuts & bolts seminar about tax issues associated with owning and/or flying airplanes. We'll cover: sales & use tax; deduction of expenses, including depreciation; use of corporations, LLC's and other entities as owner; leasing to the flying club, etc. Learn the tax problems and issues and how to deal with them.

Randy Robida, ESQ
J. Randolph Robida, PC
Attorney/CPA

Pre-Banquet Reception

Social Event
Ticket required - included in cost of the Closing Banquet ($65). Come and network with new and old acquaintenances before the Closing Banquet.
Saturday, 6:45 PM - 7:30 PM, San Jose McEnery Convention Center - Ballroom Foyer

Protecting Your Airport

Ownership and Flying Track
AOPA's Senior Director of Airports, Heidi Williams, will be joined by a distinguished panel of AOPA staff on lessons learned and proven strategies for local airport advocates. The panel will discuss some of the most common threats to airports including encroachment, noise and incompatible land use and provide information on available resources.

Heidi Williams
AOPA Government Affairs
Sr. Director, Airport

Residential Airparks: A Growing Lifestyle

Ownership and Flying Track
Living on an airpark is a lifestyle and it is growing in numbers of airparks and residents. Are airparks safe? Where are they located? How to find airpark details? Seminar covers good and bad and how to choose the right one for you.

Dave Sclair
Living With Your Plane
Publisher

Sales & Use Tax Exemptions for Aircraft Purchase

Ownership and Flying Track
Aero&Marine Tax Professionals are the pre-eminent experts in California and Arizona sales tax involving airplanes, vehicles or vessels. We can show you how to legally avoid sales tax and to make certain the full value of your next aircraft, vehicle or vessel goes in your pocket--not the Government's.

Tom Alston
Aero & Marine Tax Professionals
President and CEO

Say it Right! Radio Communication in Today's Airspace

Proficiency and Safety Track
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!

Wayne Phillips
AOPA Flight Training
Aviation Careers Columnist

or Mark Grady
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Instructor

Seeing from Different Perspectives

Proficiency and Safety Track
Vision impairment is a common reason for denial of medical certification. This seminar will provide an overview of aviation vision requirements. Various eye diseases that may lead to vision loss including cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma will be discussed. FAA-approved treatments and options for preserving vision will be presented.

Dr Ingrid Zimmer-Galler
Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Single Pilot Flying Strategies: Less Work, Greater Safety, More Fun

Proficiency and Safety Track
Learn how to maximize your cockpit resources as a VFR or IFR Pilot. Rod Machado will provide you with tips and techniques for cockpit resource management that he's learned over 35 years as a flight instructor. Laugh and learn in this fun and educational program.

Rod Machado
AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training Magazines
Contributor

Single Pilot IFR

Proficiency and Safety Track
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.

David Wright
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Vice President of Operations

Stall and Spin Awareness: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Proficiency and Safety Track
Stall/spins continue to play a major role in aviation accidents. Review what you need to know to avoid the most common stall/spin accident scenarios. Rich Stowell has specialized in spin and emergency maneuver training since 1987 and has performed nearly 30,000 spins with students.

Rich Stowell
Rich Stowell Consolting
Master CFI-Aerobatic

State of the Light-Sport Aircraft Industry

Ownership and Flying Track
Come hear the state of the LSA industry from the president and chairman of the board of LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association. Hear about FAA's planned assessment project and LAMA audit program which leads to the "Look for the LAMA Label" program. Plus, hear the latest info and numbers for LSA models.

Dan Johnson
Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association
Chairman

State of the Nation for Modern Kit Aircraft

Ownership and Flying Track
This seminar will provide an overview of the kit aircraft industry, including important information on new rule changes by the FAA, a discussion of the pros and cons of building your own aircraft, and an overview of what kinds of aircraft are available in the marketplace. Former AOPA Pilot Senior Editor, Marc Cook, has built two aircraft and is Editor in Chief of Kitplanes magazine.

Marc Cook
Kitplanes Magazine
Editor in Chief

Surviving after a Forced Landing

Proficiency and Safety Track
One of the most important aspects of flying is how to survive after a forced landing. This seminar covers the psychology of survival, how the search and rescue system works, how to protect yourself in hot and cold land survival situations. CPR, dehydration, keeping warm, hemorrhage & shock control, bone fracture management is reviewed in detail.

Dr Joshua Bloomstone
Valley Anesthesiology Consultants, Phoenix, Arizona
Captain, US Civil Air Patrol, Deer Valley Squadron 302

Take the Search out of Search-and-Rescue

Ownership and Flying Track
Search and rescue services will stop listening for your 121.5 MHz ELT in February 2009. New technology is available now to help rescuers find you faster and easier. Learn how to use it for your aircraft or anytime you may be in isolated areas.

Ross Oliver
Tech Mavens, Inc.
Chief Maven

The Kings on Risk Management

Proficiency and Safety Track
After an aircraft accident and discovering their own sense of vulnerability, John and Martha say they have become "born again pilots". The Kings use humor and stories from real-world cross-country experience to vividly illustrate principles of risk management and pass along practical and insightful tools you will use forever.

John and Martha King
King Schools
Co-chairmen

The Owner's Role in Aircraft Maintenance

Ownership and Flying Track
Good news; you own a plane! Bad news; you weren't taught how to maintain it! If you're like 95% of owners, you may be getting raked over the tarmac with unnecessary costs. Want to fly cheaper (and safer)? Then come to this interactive session that will give you the inside scoop on maintenance. Learn what you can and can't do legally, the truth about annual inspections, and important things you need to know about the regulations that pertain to aircraft maintenance.

Adrian Eichhorn
Pilot, JetBlue Airways
LTC Retired, Captain

The PARE Procedure: A Battle Plan for the Inadvertent Spin

Proficiency and Safety Track
Review spin dynamics as well as the difference between spin recovery procedure and technique. See what is and isn't included in airplane flight manuals and compare various techniques against tried-and-true NASA standard recovery actions. Rich Stowell has spun more than 180 light airplanes with students.

Rich Stowell
Rich Stowell Consolting
Master CFI-Aerobatic

Top 5 Mistakes Pilots Make

Proficiency and Safety Track
In an average year, three quarters of all accidents are caused by pilot error. For the most part, they're the same ones pilots have been making for decades. ASF has identified the most common fatal errors pilots make and put together a show that's full of practical tips for avoiding them. You'll definitely want to attend this seminar.

David Wright
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Vice President of Operations

Top Five Mistakes Pilots Make

Proficiency and Safety Track
In an average year, three quarters of all accidents are caused by pilot error. For the most part, they're the same ones pilots have been making for decades. ASF has identified the most common fatal errors pilots make and put together a show that's full of practical tips for avoiding them. You'll definitely want to attend this seminar.

Wayne Phillips
AOPA Flight Training
Aviation Careers Columnist

Turbine Aircraft Operations

Ownership and Flying Track
This program is for advanced pilots who have or will be operating turbine aircraft. A review of recent accidents as well as some of the challenges that face turbine pilots will be discussed. Lead by ASF Executive Director, Bruce Landsberg and joined by ASF Chief Instructor Capt. JJ Greenway (American Airlines retired) , if you're operating in the flight levels this program is recommended.

Bruce Landsberg
AOPA Air Safety Foundation
Executive Director

Very Light Jets

Ownership and Flying Track
Based upon interviews with operators, manufacturers, insurance underwriters and training providers, this session encompasses the evolution of VLJs from dream to reality. Session speaker Olcott offers his perspectives and recommendations for transitioning to this class of GA aircraft, including the new breed of Personal Light Jets.

Jack Olcott
General Aero
Aviation Consultant

Welcome Reception

Social Event
Ticket required; $40. Before heading out to dinner, stop by and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Relax and network with fellow aviators and share stories, tips and sources. Business casual attire.
Thursday, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, San Jose Marriott - San Jose Ballroom

What Every Pilot Should Know about FAA Enforcement

Proficiency and Safety Track
An hour-short presentation reduced to the essentials every pilot must know to make sure that a bad situation is not made worse: If and how to respond to the FAA. The ASRP "get-out-of-jail-free" program. When does a pilot need legal help, and how to get it cheap. And much more!

John Yodice
AOPA
General Counsel