May 22, 2015 - VOL 15, ISSUE 21

Flight Training News

Article

Applications open for AOPA scholarships

Applications are now open for almost $120,000 worth of scholarships that will help student pilots and teens achieve their aviation goals. The AOPA Foundation will award 25 flight training scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $12,000 through the 2015 AOPA Flight Training Scholarship Program. AOPA also will award up to $15,000 in financial assistance to AOPA AV8R teen members to help them pursue an initial pilot certificate, study in an accredited aviation program, or attend an aviation or aerospace camp. Read more...  

Article

Flying Salukis keep top spot in 2015 NIFA Safecon

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's flight team held on to the top spot at the 2015 National Intercollegiate Flying Association's Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (Safecon). Read more...  

Article

New pilot wins Sporty's RV-12

A new airplane for a new private pilot: Sporty's surprised Rick Okikawa of California May 16 with the news that he had won the Sporty's 2015 RV-12 Sweepstakes airplane. Read more...  

Article

Salinas kicks off AOPA Fly-Ins

More than 2,600 attendees made Salinas Municipal Airport in Salinas, California, a weekend destination, enjoying camaraderie, fellowship, and hangar flying stories with fellow pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Read more...  

Quiz

Who's the celebrity pilot?

You know the names of these famous athletes, actors, and government officials, but if they are paired head to head, can you pick out the pilot? Is it Ted Williams or Mickey Mantle, Chuck Connors or Clint Eastwood, John Kerry or Hillary Clinton? Test your knowledge with these 12 pairs...  

Article

Full-scale fun for RC pilots

Joe Nall Week at the Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, South Carolina, is the largest remote control fly-in in the world, typically attracting RC pilots from all 50 states and 11 countries. Read more...  

Login required

Keep density altitude in mind

Summer's increasingly hot temperatures and humidity mean that your airplane may have decreased performance during takeoff and landing. Add high terrain and a heavily loaded airplane to the equation, and your flight turns into a high-density-altitude challenge. Learn about density altitude and leave yourself an extra margin of safety for all phases of flight with this Air Safety Institute safety quiz. Take the quiz...

Advocacy

Groups ask Congress to protect veterans' flight training

Seven general aviation associations, including AOPA, have sent a joint letter asking Congress to stop legislation that would curtail funding for flight training for veterans. Read more...  

Training Resources

Pilot Safety Announcement

Fixation on glass can mean distractions

Fly along with the Air Safety Institute's "iPanel" Pilot Safety Announcement, which takes a decidedly tongue-in-cheek look at the modern electronic cockpit's endless opportunities for distraction. Be assured, it's only a satirical reminder that aircraft are still aircraft and need a pilot mentally aboard. Enjoy the ride and remember to fly the airplane, not the panel! Watch the video...  

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

Article

Cape Air gets creative with pilot recruitment

With a dwindling number of pilot job applications in the past two years, regional carrier Cape Air has had to get creative—not only with how it secures new pilots, but also with how it plans to hire them in the future. Read more...  

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

Plane Spotter

Famous wake-maker

From a distance, any plane spotter might be challenged to distinguish between different models of jet airliners with two engines mounted beneath low wings. Boeing's 757 and 767, for example, are of similar size; interior traits such as the 757's single aisle, or the 767's wider cabin, clarify an identification. Although the Boeing 757 is not a "heavy" aircraft, its tendency to develop long-lasting, well-formed wingtip vortices gives it special status for separation from smaller aircraft, making it important for pilots of light aircraft to give it a wide berth.

Training Products

CFIs: Free offer for your student pilots

AOPA offers a wide array of flight training resources and tools to support your efforts to prepare the pilots of tomorrow. In fact, AOPA student members are three times more likely to earn their initial pilot certificate than nonmembers. Keep your students engaged in their program and on track to complete their training by enrolling them in a free six-month student trial membership to AOPA. They'll get six issues of Flight Training magazine, access to a dedicated flight training helpline, and more.

Lockheed offers webinars for online briefings

Lockheed Martin is offering educational webinars to help new users register, file flight plans, get briefings, and use advanced flight planning tools through Lockheed Martin Flight Service's Pilot Web portal. The company was recently awarded a contract to provide direct user access terminal services (DUATS) II online weather information and flight plan processing; the webinar "Better Briefings, Safer Flights" will be offered live May 26 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and on demand from May 27 through June 9.

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

Pilot Protection Services

Applying lessons from flying to your health

The concepts and way of thinking acquired by aviators are germane to so much of life. Read more...  

Blogs

Flying with someone you don't like

When you fly for a living—especially as a part of a crewed airplane—you will encounter all kinds of personalities. Some will strike you as weird or quirky, others as boring, fascinating, or blasé. Some, unfortunately, you won't like. Read more...  

Just ahead in the July issue

Warm weather has finally arrived, and the skies are waiting for you. As editors put the finishing touches on the July issue of Flight Training, get a preview of an invitation for you to celebrate your independence through flight. Read more...  

Final Exam

Question

When flying over a congested area, what is the minimum safe altitude a pilot must maintain?

Answer

A pilot must be at least 1,000 feet above the nearest obstacle within a 2,000-foot horizontal radius of the aircraft. (Source: 14 CFR 91.119.)

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

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Airshow crew chief, Mike Goulian Airshows

Here's a one-of-a-kind career opportunity! Goulian Aerosports is searching for a motivated and detail-oriented A&P technician to join its team. This person will be the lead crew chief for the team's airshow Extra 330SC aircraft. Other job responsibilities include maintaining or assisting in the maintenance of fleet aircraft (Cirrus SR22, Cub, Edge 540), assisting in the setup and tear-down of the team's VIP hospitality unit while on event sites, and more. Apply for this exciting opportunity today.

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for part time, temporary digital product support; an accounting clerk; account executive, AOPA corporate partnerships; editorial intern; manager, airport policy; contractual marketing copywriter; videographer, Air Safety Institute; senior director of government affairs (airport advocacy); director of government affairs (airspace/air traffic); aviation technical specialist; director, pilot community development; vice president, information and technology; senior ambassador, You Can Fly; outreach and events coordinator; vice president for major and leadership gifts; Sitecore developer; director of studies, research, and analysis; and account executive. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.