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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
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Frederick, MD 21701
Tel: 800/USA-AOPA or
301/695-2000
Copyright � 2002 AOPA. | Training Tips
| OUT FOR A SPIN
A spin can be characterized as an aerodynamic stall with yaw (rotation around the vertical axis of the aircraft). Early in training, a student pilot learns to "coordinate" use of flight controls during maneuvers by using the rudder to neutralize yaw. You l  earn that in a coordinated turn, ailerons are used to roll the airplane in the direction of the desired turn while rudder is used to prevent the nose from yawing in the opposite direction, an effect caused when the aileron on the raised wing increases the lift—and therefore the drag—relative to the lowered wing. A spin could develop if an airplane stalls (exceeds its critical angle of attack) while it is yawing. When we practice flight at critically slow airspeeds during training, we notice that it takes ever-more aggressive use of rudder to coordinate aileron inputs as control effectiveness decays. This is a sensory clue of an oncoming stall.
A private pilot (airplane) applicant is not required to perform spins, and not all training aircraft are approved for them. Stall recognition, recovery, and avoidance must be taught before a student pilot solos (See training requirements).
Spins are a subject for ground study (see the Federal Aviation Regulations), but it follows from the above that a pilot who has been trained to recognize and avoid stalls, and control yaw, is not going to experience a spin. (See some excellent advice in the April 1998 AOPA Flight Training for ensuring that your spin-avoidance training is realistic.)
This is not always the way training was structured, and much continues to be written and debated on the subject. (See one such discussion in the March 2000 AOPA Flight Training) Many advanced pilots opt for continuing supplemental spin education. See how the AOPA Air Safety Foundation has participated in this work as explained in the March 2000 AOPA Pilot. For some history of training requirements, and philosophical musings on the subject, see "A Different Spin on Spins" from the February 2001 AOPA Pilot. And even though it's not required of private pilots, consider taking some spin training if an aerobatic aircraft is available.
| Your Partner in Training
| Money for lessons and equipment a little tight after the holidays? AOPA may be able to help! The AOPA credit card can help pay for your lessons with a 5% FBO credit rebate, up to $250 per year. You can also use the card to save 5% on aviation products, from equipment to training videos, at Sporty's Pilot Shop. See AOPA�Online to learn more.
AOPA Flight Training Trial Members have access to all of the features within AOPA Online. If you have received a copy of the magazine or your membership credentials in the mail, log in using your eight-digit member number, which is also your username. If you have not yet received your number, please call AOPA Member Assistance at 800/872-2672 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern for assistance.
| Flight Training News
| FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS REMAIN CLOSED TO VISITORS
If you're training at one of the 61 U.S. airports with an FAA flight service station, or fly to one, don't expect to receive a face-to-face preflight weather briefing or file a flight plan in person. An FAA security directive issued immediately after September 11, and still in effect more than five months later, prohibits visitors at air traffic facilities, including the FSSs. "The visitor prohibition at en route centers, approach facilities, and towers should not apply to FSSs," said Melissa Bailey, AOPA vice president of air traffic services. "We've asked the FAA to remove the lock-out, and we are hopeful that after the Olympics the agency will open the doors of FSSs again." See AOPA�Online.
AIRLINE HIRING UPSWING ANTICIPATED
Air, Inc. of Atlanta, which provides career counseling to prospective airline pilots, predicts that up to 6,000 new airline pilot jobs will be filled this year. More than 400 pilots met with representatives from 16 airlines during Air, Inc.'s first Airline Pilot Career Seminar, Airline Forum, and Career Fair of the year, held last month. "The turnout for the seminar and career fair in Dallas was a big success," said Kit Darby, Air, Inc.'s president. "The pilots met with key representatives of those airlines actively hiring." Its next such event will be held in Los Angeles on April 6. For more information, visit the Web site.
EAGLE PRODUCTION TO MOVE, INCREASE
The Malaysian-owned Eagle Aircraft company is consolidating its manufacturing operations in Malaysia by closing an Australian assembly facility, and will increase production of its two-place trainer. The Eagle 150B utilizes a unique three-wing design, with the tail providing 10 percent of the aircraft's lift. After the consolidation, annual production is expected to increase to 50 to 60 aircraft per year; currently 30 to 40 per year are assembled in Australia. For more on the airplane, see the March 2001 AOPA Pilot article.
| Inside AOPA
| HEARING TO TAKE PLACE ON GA RELIEF BILL, AOPA�SAYS
A federal bill that would provide relief for flight schools and other general aviation businesses that were hurt economically as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks is expected to receive a hearing by the full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this month, AOPA Legislative Affairs has learned. Called the General Aviation Reparations Act of 2001 (H.R. 3347), the bill overwhelmingly passed the House aviation subcommittee last December. It would provide $2.5 billion in direct grants and $5 billion in guaranteed loans to the damaged GA businesses. AOPA is working closely with supporters of the legislation to obtain passage.
AOPA'S BOYER BECOMES BE A PILOT CHAIRMAN
AOPA President Phil Boyer has been named the new chairman of the general aviation industry's Be A Pilot program. More than 1,600 flight schools participate in the program that features a $49 certificate for the all-important introductory flying lesson. "AOPA was instrumental in founding the Be A Pilot project in 1996. It's an honor to be named chairman of a successful effort that continues to work to build the pilot population during a period that has seen troubled times for general aviation," Boyer said. He succeeds Sporty's Pilot Shop Chairman Hal Shevers.
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| Training Products
| BOOK STREAMLINES COMMERCIAL, INSTRUMENT TRAINING
A new book is intended to help pilots streamline their flight training efforts by preparing them for both the instrument rating and the commercial pilot certificate simultaneously. The 472-page The Complete Advanced Pilot, written by Bob Gardner, is available for $24.95 from Aviation Supplies and Academics at 800/426-8338 or through the Internet.
| Final Exam
| Question: What is the difference between a "sigmet" and a "convective sigmet"?
Answer: Sigmets are the most serious kind of weather warnings and alert pilots to conditions that are hazardous to all aircraft. There are two kinds of sigmets. According to the FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary, a "sigmet" is a weather advisory that covers severe and extreme turbulence, severe icing, and widespread dust or sandstorms that reduce visibility to less than 3 miles. A "convective sigmet" is issued for tornadoes, lines of thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms of any intensity level, and hail which is 3/4-inch or greater. Both types of warnings should be given close attention and pilots should take appropriate action. Two articles that will provide a good overall explanation of weather advisories are Sigmet Details by Thomas Horne and Weather Warning Signs by Joel Hamm. Both are available on AOPA Online.
Got a technical question for AOPA specialists? E-mail to [email protected] or call 800/872-2672.
| What's New At AOPA Online
| Everything you ever wanted to know about aircraft fires, smoke, and approved fire extinguishers can be found in one hot spot on AOPA Online.
| Picture Perfect
| Did you know you can create a personal e-card using the images from the AOPA Online Gallery? Send one to a friend today. See AOPA�Online.
| ePilot Calendar
| Check your weekend weather on AOPA Online.
WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Titusville, Florida. A warbird airshow will take place March 8 through 10 at Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX). Call 321/268-1941.
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 Birmingham, Alabama; Phoenix; and Ontario, California, March 2 and 3. Clinics are scheduled in Philadelphia and Lubbock, Texas, March 9 and 10. 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 School will take place in Phoenix on March 3 and Philadelphia on March 10. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Whitehall, Ohio, and Philadelphia, March 4. Seminars are scheduled in Miamisburg, Ohio, and New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, March 5. For more information, visit the Web site.
For comments on calendar items or to make submissions, contact [email protected].
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