March 7, 2014 - VOL 14, ISSUE 10

Flight Training News

Advocacy

San Diego finalizes rule to vet flight schools

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a rule imposing local certification requirements for flight schools training foreign students despite opposition from AOPA and local aviation groups. Read more... Share:  

Rotorcraft Rookie

First solo

Can there be such a thing as a second first solo? A fixed-wing pilot tests the theory in a helicopter. Read more... Share:  

Apps of the week

Developers offer app, mobile website updates

Developers provide updates on aviation apps and mobile websites that handle the FAR/AIM, FBO fuel price checks, flight planning, and the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS). Read more... Share:  

Banyan to host Garmin avionics seminar

Banyan Air Service at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport is hosting the latest Garmin Seminar Series on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. The series will cover the latest avionics for aircraft and helicopters including the G1000, G600, G500, G500H, GTN 750, aera 796, and Garmin's GDL 88 and GDL 39 ADS-B solutions.

Northwestern Michigan College offers helicopter training

Traverse City-based Northwestern Michigan College's aviation division is now offering helicopter pilot training. Five students have begun training through TC Helicopters, a local company that offers helicopter training, sightseeing, and commercial services. Most students are expected to begin with fixed-wing training that the college already offers and then transition to helicopters. As with fixed-wing aircraft, students can sit for several helicopter exams including private, instrument, and commercial.

PDF

Are you weather wise?

Weather is the most dynamic variable that affects your flying. Learn to cope with its changing conditions by digging into the Air Safety Institute's WeatherWise Safety Advisor, and you'll appreciate how official reports and forecasts compare with what you'll see from the cockpit. Learn more...

Scholarships

Article

Scholarships open for students, vets, women

High school, college, and flight training students, along with veterans and women, are eligible for scholarships with upcoming deadlines. Read more... Share:  

Article

2013 scholarship winner earns pilot certificate

An AOPA 2013 Flight Training scholarship winner, Rodney McKnight, earned his private pilot certificate on March 3. Read more... Share:  

Training Resources

Login required

Ice flight

No matter the aircraft, all have their limitations, and none are completely immune from icing. This is especially true for general aviation aircraft not approved for "known icing." Take a flight up the East Coast in an IFR-equipped Cessna 172RG and consider what you would do when faced with the icing conditions in this Air Safety Institute quiz. Take the quiz...

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 8 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

Delta employees share $598 million in profit sharing, bonuses

Delta Air Lines on Feb. 14 paid its employees more than $500 million in earned profit sharing, the highest in company history, to recognize their performance in 2013. Employees' individual payouts will equal 8.26 percent of their eligible 2013 earnings. The $506 million in shared profits is being distributed with $91.7 million in Shared Rewards, monthly bonuses Delta employees can earn for meeting corporate operational goals throughout the year, for a total payout of $598 million.

Alaska flight attendants reject tentative agreement

Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), on Feb. 14 voted down a tentative agreement with management. "Alaska Airlines flight attendants have collectively declared today that management's proposal fails to address the needs of flight attendants and does not reflect our true worth," said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA president at Alaska Airlines. Negotiations began two years ago, and in May 2013, AFA filed for mediation with the National Mediation Board.

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

Plane Spotter

If you build it

Many lines of aircraft evolve into a diverse family, adding size, power, and technological advances along the way. A twenty-first century example is the Lancair line of kit-built aircraft, founded by Lance Neibauer. It all started with a prototype in 1984, and moved along through the two-seat Lancair 320 and this Lancair 360 model, evolving with ever-speedier designs. Indeed, Evolution is the name of Lancair's pressurized, four-seat 760-shaft-horsepower turboprop that began to sell as a kit in 2009. Redmond, Ore.-based Lancair now estimates total kits sold as numbering 2,100 aircraft.

Training Products

Fifth edition of glass cockpit book released

The fifth edition of Max Trescott's G1000 Glass Cockpit Handbook is now available. Trescott shares tips for unlocking the potential of the avionics and frees learners from the distractions of the cockpit, allowing them to focus on gaining the skills necessary to put the G1000 to use in any flight environment. The cost of the book is $34.95.

FAR/AIM book now available

Author Jason Schappert has released an evergreen copy of his book, The FAR/AIM In Plain English. Schappert breaks down the complex "government speak" of the regulations into conversational English and focuses on the regulations that apply to sport and private pilots. The edition will never expire, as readers will be able to subscribe for free updates as regulations change. The cost of the book is $27.97.

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

The medication dilemma

Over-the-counter medications may help with symptoms of seasonal illnesses, but side effects of some may have an impact on flying. Read more... Share:  

Member benefits

Tips for buying an aircraft and insurance

Whether you are buying your first aircraft or your tenth, you are probably excited and a bit nervous. It's best to follow a checklist, and AOPA has an excellent free resource. Read more... Share:  

Blogs

Spring and summer plans

It's never too early to start thinking about the flying you'd like to do when the weather warms up. Chip Wright offers suggestions that will make you a better pilot—and are a lot of fun. Read more... Share:  

Mast moment

A rigid (or sometimes called hingeless) rotor system is capable of transmitting high bending forces to the main rotor shaft. When a pilot makes a cyclic movement causing the main rotor disc to tilt, the fuselage wants to follow. Read more... Share:  

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

'Go around or sidestep'

Can you describe a scenario where the potential for destabilization is intrinsic to the procedure—and where a precision approach can morph into something less on short notice? Read more... Share:  

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IFR quiz: Obstacle departure procedures

Instrument approaches may receive all the glory, but should you find yourself departing an unfamiliar airport at night with low visibility and no radar coverage, you'll reconsider not giving those pesky obstacle departure procedures (ODPs) more thought. Too many accidents have occurred because pilots have ignored published ODPs or failed to adhere to them correctly. Learn more about this often overlooked procedure and why you should consider making it standard for every IFR departure. Take the quiz...

Final Exam

Question

What is the purpose of "stall strips" on the leading edge of a wing?

Answer

A stall strip may be used to cause a stall to occur prematurely at a specific portion of the wing. In wing design, it is beneficial to have the stall begin at the wing root. If the inboard section of the wing stalls before the outboard section, the ailerons will remain effective longer during the stall. This gives the pilot better roll control during the stall recovery.

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

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Instructors, Allen Corporation

Allen Corporation of America is seeking light twin instructors to support an established flight program currently located in Fort Worth, Texas. Instructors will, as part of a flight operations team, provide instruction and checkrides within the FAA's established light twin multiengine/single-engine event-based currency (EBC) program as well as provide recurrent training in both the Piper PA-44 and Cessna 172 aircraft. See the full job description...

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for an accounting operations supervisor, event planner, Air Safety Institute intern, director of insurance business operations, and member services representative. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.