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Top Stories
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Article
Rob Holland's unprecedented third freestyle victory at the World Aerobatic Championships gave the U.S. team reason to celebrate amid another disappointment. The nine pilots in red, white, and blue arrived in Châteauroux, France, with high hopes they could end decades of dominance by French and Russian pilots. Read more...
 
Article
When Danny Croy pulled back on the yoke from his perch in the left seat of a Cessna 172, his face revealed a confidence that often escapes the 19-year-old. Croy, who has autism, is not comfortable with significant changes in routine, but the short discovery flight from the Frederick, Maryland, airport left him beaming. An army of airport employees working behind the scenes keeps the airport running smoothly and helps make experiences like Croy's happen. See how many touch points it takes to pull off a successful flight...
AOPA Live This Week
Flying in the wilderness of Alaska—actually being there—beats any reality show, as AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines reports from firsthand experience. A notice to airmen on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast services in the Southeast has AOPA talking to senior military and government leaders; a paper airplane has been awarded an exemption for commercial drone operations; and a pilot checks off a bucket-list item by flying to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Sept. 3...
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Technique and Safety
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Article
Feed your flying passion this fall and attend the Air Safety Institute's "Cross Country Challenge" Safety Seminar at an airport, aviation museum, or aviation-themed venue near you. It's easy to find your favorite location in the seminar schedule online. Symbols next to the location identify whether the seminar is held at an aviation-themed location, an airport, or both. Check it out...
Accident analysis
Pop quiz: Can you name one maneuver that is (a) so basic that it must be mastered before the first solo, (b) apt to be needed on absolutely every flight, but (c) rarely practiced by certificated pilots? Find out in this special report from the Air Safety Institute...
Flash-based, login required
Do you have a personal minimums checklist? The Air Safety Institute's Do The Right Thing: Decision Making for Pilots online course provides guidance and recommendations for developing one. The course is a great resource with practical advice on how to anticipate and recognize problems and how to avoid circumstances that lead to tough choices. Learn more...
IFR Fix
When an accident claims an experienced pilot flying a familiar mission, other pilots ponder whether they would have been vulnerable to a similar outcome. Read more...
Article
Competing in the aerobatic box requires dollars, and lots of them. Where there's a will, and perhaps a willingness to share, there's a way. Read more...
Blog
Helicopters make a name for themselves as the ultimate off-road vehicle, according to Hover Power blogger Markus Lavenson. Read more...
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Advocacy
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Advocacy
The Santa Monica City Council has made "securing local control of the city land occupied by the Santa Monica Airport" one of its top three priorities, ahead of such issues as addressing homelessness, strengthening infrastructure, and expanding on educational partnerships. Read more...
Advocacy
The FAA will discontinue the use of the dedicated Flight Watch radio frequency 122.0 MHz on Sept. 24, a week earlier than previously announced. Read more...
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Health
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Pilot Protection Services
Dr. Warren Silberman discusses two more types of stress tests—the pharmacologic nuclear stress test and the stress echocardiogram—airmen might need to perform while applying for their medical certificate. Read more...
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Technology
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Article
Powered by one very souped-up Cessna Skyhawk engine, a prototype from Brazil has claimed speed and climb marks that shatter records. Named for the fastest shark in the sea, the composite monoplane with flowing lines has remarkably stable flying qualities, according to its pilot, though there are compromises. Read more...
FAA releases drone app beta
A mobile app designed to inform unmanned aircraft operators of airspace restrictions, nearby airports, and other airspace details they need to know is now in its beta testing phase. The FAA announced B4UFLY in May, and followed up Aug. 28 with news that the beta version is now in the hands of up to 1,000 unmanned aircraft operators. The app is designed with novices in mind, and uses the smartphone's location services to quickly determine whether a given location is safe and legal to fly.
Article
A Connecticut lawyer tricked the FAA into approving a powered paper airplane as a commercial drone. It is officially listed as a toy. Read more...
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Gear
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Article
An online flight planning service and an aviation real estate specialist have joined forces to put hangar homes and other listings on the planning map. Hangar Network and iFlightPlanner announced this first-of-its-kind marriage Aug. 26. Read more...
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Travel
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Article
Robert DeLaurentis, who called himself the Zen Pilot before he launched May 18 on a 95-day, round-the-world flight to showcase aviation, returned a changed man. Read more...
Triple Tree countdown
Thousands of pilots already are counting down the days to the Triple Tree Aerodrome's annual fly-in Sept. 9 through 13. The laid-back event, known for camping, camaraderie, supreme hospitality, and a 7,000-foot-long grass strip, draws more pilots each year to Woodruff, South Carolina. AOPA President Mark Baker will host a Pilot Town Hall at the event Sept. 12 at 11 a.m., and numerous other seminars will take place throughout the day. AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Safety Advisor Bruce Landsberg also will be on hand to talk safety one-on-one with attendees.
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Financial
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Member benefits
If you're planning to retire in the next few years, it's time to assess your finances and start planning for your life of leisure. As an AOPA member, you may have to take some more time to consider your financials to maintain the lifestyle and activities you have grown accustomed to. Take a few pages from AOPA Insurance Services' playbook to get started. Read more...
Member benefits
With so many terrific reasons to buy an airplane—from making your own schedule to seeing the world from a unique perspective—there are sound financial reasons for aircraft ownership as well. Beyond the money saved on overnight trips, delays caused by airlines, and other miscellaneous expenses, owning an airplane has definite tax advantages. Read more...
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News and Notes
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Article
Embraer announced that its newest design—the Legacy 450—has earned FAA certification. The Aug. 31 announcement followed the jet's Brazilian certification, which occurred during the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition on Aug. 11. Read more...
Article
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a New York destination where airshows feature replica and vintage aircraft, is recovering from a fire. The Aug. 20 blaze destroyed the on-field gift shop, but quick action saved an original 1909 Blériot and other treasures from destruction. Read more...
Article
Alaska floatplane operators will be getting a new choice soon when the Mahindra Aerospace Airvan on floats comes online in 2016. Read more...
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Article
Cessna's Citation Latitude has reached its first customers, and the company is putting the new midsize jet on a coast-to-coast tour. Read more...
More News
Eustace to be honored for record free fall
FAA names top unmanned aircraft execs Turbo the Flying Dog takes off on new adventure
New e-publication focuses on IFR flying
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Career Opportunities
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AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for a database developer; aviation event planner; manager of aviation safety programs; ambassador—Texas; director of aviation security; graphic design intern; director of media relations; and director of regulatory affairs.To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
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Question of the Week
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Question
You've decided to take that vacation to Europe that you've always wanted. While you're there you'd like to rent an aircraft and see the sights from the air. However, you only possess an FAA pilot certificate. Is it possible to fly while on vacation in Europe?
Answer
Yes, it is possible. The easiest way would be to rent an N-numbered aircraft for your flight(s). FAR 61.3 allows you to operate an aircraft registered in the United States with your pilot certificate issued under Part 61. Most countries have allowances for you to fly an aircraft of foreign registry as long as you hold a pilot certificate from that country. AOPA would still recommend going for a flight or two with a flight instructor who knows the area to become familiar with the operations in the area and rules for the country in which you're flying.
A more costly and time-consuming alternative would be to try to obtain a European Aviation Safety Agency license based on your FAA certificate. For a vacation this option probably would not be the most practical approach. For more information on this topic, you can contact the International AOPA affiliate for the country where you’re interested in flying.
Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA. |
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Education and Seminars
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Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Sep 12-13 - Colorado, Springs, Colorado; Elkridge, Maryland; and Sandston, Virginia
Sep 19-20 - Phoenix, Arizona
Sep 26-27 - Sacramento, California
Oct 10-11 - Nashville, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Windsor Locks, Connecticut
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.
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Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars
Sep 8 - Wichita, Kansas
Sep 9 - Fort Worth, Texas; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sep 10 - Rogers, Arkansas; and Addison, Texas
Sep 16 - Salt Lake City, Utah
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Sep 5 - Hayden, Idaho; and Santa Ynez, California
Sep 8, 9 - Galesburg, Illinois
Sep 12 - Sparta, Tennessee; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Richmond, Virginia
Sep 15 - Chatham, Massachusetts
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Aviation Calendar
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Check out user-submitted events from your region. To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. AOPA does not endorse the events listed below, nor have ePilot editors edited the submissions. AOPA assumes no responsibility for events listed.
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ePilot Editors:
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
David Tulis
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse
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Contributors:
Jill W. Tallman
Elizabeth Tennyson
Warren Morningstar
Alton K. Marsh
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Ian J. Twombly
Dan Namowitz
Sarah Deener
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