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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD 21701
Tel: 800/USA-AOPA or
301/695-2000
Copyright � 2002 AOPA. | Training Tips
| THE BENEFITS OF PIREPS
Every pilot has encountered conditions in flight that differ–for better or worse–from those in the forecast. This teaches the importance of factoring the "margin of error"  into go/no-go decisions, and obtaining as much information as possible. It also proves the value of being able to consider the observations of a pilot who recently flew through the area and saw what's really out there. Are the cloud bases or tops as advertised? Has fog broken up at the destination? Is turbulence worse than expected? Is visibility becoming marginal in summer haze? Pilot weather reports (pireps) are a feature of standard weather briefings. If a timely pirep is available for your route, treat it as an informational bonus. Making the decision to launch on a flight requires evaluating a large volume of information, as discussed in the January 2000 AOPA Flight Training column titled "To Go or Not to Go". Pireps help take guesswork out of the process.
A pilot who has benefited from a pirep is more likely to give one of his or her own. Indeed, under certain reported or forecast meteorological conditions such as ceilings below 5,000 feet or visibility at or below 5 miles, air traffic control is required to actively solicit them. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's SkySpotter program was created to help you become familiar with the components of a pilot report and the process of filing one. See the May 2002 AOPA Flight Training for a discussion of the role of pireps, and SkySpotter, in your training program.
Just as they are valuable tools for preflight planning, pireps received during in-flight weather updates may warn of deteriorating conditions. See the June 1997 AOPA Pilot article "Weather on the Fly" for a review of resources available when updating your weather briefing from the cockpit.
Pireps are a way for a new member of the aviation community to contribute something of real value to other pilots (and their passengers) flying or planning a flight at the time of your report. To whom do you make your report? See the response to a student pilot's query in the October 1995 Flight Training. Seeing your pirep appended to a published weather forecast, or hearing it broadcast to another aircraft by air traffic control or Flight Watch, is satisfying indeed. Get comfortable with pireps and do your part.
| Your Partner in Training
| All pilots are taught the three Hs of density altitude–high, hot, and humid. Most also learn to beware the combination, because each compounds the effects of the other two. While your airplane's operating handbook will tell you what kind of performance you can expect, how to factor the variables of high, hot, humid, and heavy into handling an emergency in flight is something else to ponder. Learn more from AOPA Flight Training . Still have questions? Call our aviation experts at 800/USA-AOPA weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time.
As an AOPA Flight Training Member, you have access to all of the features within AOPA Online. For login information click here.
| Flight Training News
| TFRs PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER 11 ANNIVERSARY
Government officials Thursday afternoon were hotly debating the scope of temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas around Washington, D.C., New York City, and Somerset, Pennsylvania–scenes of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Early in the week, there were indications that the restrictions would extend for a 30-nm radius of each site; extend from the surface to 18,000 feet for several hours; and prohibit general aviation (Part 91) flights, charter (Part 135) flights, and foreign air carrier operations on the one-year anniversary of the attacks. Another TFR would prohibit general aviation aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds from flying within 30 nm of New York City for three days–September 11 through 13. AOPA immediately took its concerns to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) about fair treatment for smaller GA aircraft. "We don't want a repeat of the post-September 11 situation last year when smaller aircraft were unfairly singled out for restrictions," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We have supplied information to TSA supporting our request." Because the situation is dynamic, please check AOPA Online for the latest information.
FAA TO PROVIDE BETTER TFR INFORMATION
The FAA has told AOPA that it is implementing a "TFR action plan" aimed at improving the flow of TFR information to GA pilots. The FAA plan is in response to AOPA's pleas for action in the wake of highly publicized TFR incursions and evidence that pilots are not being given accurate and up-to-date TFR information when calling for flight service briefings. The FAA has also committed to providing graphical TFRs as soon as possible and is currently testing a Jeppesen product. While AOPA continues to work on fixing this notam problem, members are reminded that the AOPA Legal Services Plan provides legal advice and representation in defending against an FAA enforcement action for a potential TFR violation.
NINETY-NINES ANNOUNCE SCHOLARSHIP
The North Jersey Chaper of The Ninety-Nines is sponsoring its annual Dodie Riach Memorial Scholarship Award, open to any certificated pilot training for an advanced pilot certificate or rating. Winners are selected based on appropriateness of goals, expectations, and relative need. To date all recipients have been successful, and most have completed their training. Applications are available at New Jersey flight schools or by calling Barbara Feldman at 908/534-7863.
| Inside AOPA
| MICHIGAN LAWSUIT DRAWS NATIONAL ATTENTION
AOPA's lawsuit against the Michigan pilot background check law is drawing national media attention. This week AOPA Vice President of Communications Warren Morningstar appeared on MSNBC's The Abrams Report to explain that the Michigan law is unconstitutional and violates federal law. "Michigan is saying that the state can regulate who flies in the nation's airspace," said Morningstar, "and Congress has said 'no, that's the federal government's responsibility.'" Morningstar said that AOPA would support reasonable security checks instituted at the national level to protect against terrorist access to aircraft. News about the AOPA lawsuit has also appeared in USA Today, The Washington Times, The Detroit News, and The Associated Press.
AOPA TO BLOCK ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE OHIO AIRPORT
AOPA has vowed to block any attempts to close Kent State University Airport (1G3) in northeast Ohio. Recent press reports say university officials are talking with the federal government about closing the 4,000-foot runway and redeveloping the 300-acre airport property. AOPA put university officials on notice with an August 23 letter. "AOPA is committed to defeat any attempts to close Kent State University Airport," said Anne Esposito, AOPA vice president of airports. She reminded university officials that they had accepted federal grant money to rehabilitate the apron, taxiway, and runway. "Accepting these funds also means accepting certain obligations to the federal government, including an obligation to operate the airport for the next 20 years," said Esposito. See AOPA�Online.
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| Training Products
| EUROPEAN REGS FOR ASPIRING PROFESSIONAL PILOTS
Flight Planning, the most recently updated installment in the Ground Studies for Pilots series by Pete Swatton, has been substantially revised to encompass the new European Joint Aviation Regulations (JAR) for flight-crew licensing. Targeted particularly to students studying for the European commercial and airline transport pilot license examinations, the book's sixth edition is available for $44.99 from Iowa State Press at 800/862-6657.
| Picture Perfect
| | Jump to the AOPA Online Gallery to see the featured airplane of the day. Click on the link for details on how to capture wallpaper for your work area. See AOPA Online.
| What's New At AOPA Online
| WEATHER QUESTIONS ANSWERED ONLINE
Did you know that you can ask aviation weather-related questions to the senior meteorologists at Meteorlogix, which provides AOPA Online’s weather? New member questions–and their answers–-have been added to the Web site.
| Holiday Weekend Weather
| See the current weather on AOPA�Online, provided by Meteorlogix.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Toledo, Ohio. The 2002 FoodTown Toledo Air Show takes place September 7 and 8 at Toledo Express Airport (TOL). Headlining are the Navy Blue Angels, with performances by the Misty Blues, Bob Davis, Julie Clark, Gene Soucey and Theresa Stokes, and Manfred Radius. Contact Lee Luff, 419/243-8191 ext. 246, or visit the Web site.
Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Air Show takes place September 6 through 8 at Mount Comfort Airport (MQJ). This year features the Gathering of Corsairs and Legends. Performers include the Red Baron Squadron, Jimmy Franklin, Greg Koontz, AV-8B Harriers and the VMA-214 Blacksheep, A-10 Demo Team, and Army Golden Knights. Contact Ginger Gordon, 317/501-2773, or visit the Web site.
For more airport details, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online . For more events, see Aviation Calendar of Events.
ASF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER CLINICS
(All clinics start at 7:30 a.m.)
The next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Sacramento, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Des Moines, Iowa, on September 7 and 8. Clinics are also scheduled in Phoenix, and Boston, on September 14 and 15. For the Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic schedule, see AOPA Online.
ASF PINCH-HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES
(Pinch-Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.)
The next Pinch-Hitter� Ground Schools will take place in Frederick, Maryland, September 7; Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 8; and Phonix, September 15. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Albuquerque, New Mexico and East Windsor, Connecticut, September 9; Warwick, Rhode Island, September 10; Tucson, Arizona and Billerica (Boston), September 11; and Mesa, Arizona, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 12. The topic is Single-Pilot IFR. For the complete schedule, see AOPA�Online.
To make submissions to the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For comments on calendar items, e-mail [email protected].
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