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Tel: 800/USA-AOPA or
301/695-2000
Copyright � 2002 AOPA. | Training Tips
| SCANNING FOR TRAFFIC
Every pilot has something to say about "visual separation," a pilot's obligation to scan adjacent airspace for other traffic. Whatever else you are doing while flying, if you are not looking for the traffic, you are not flying right. Ask a designated pilot examiner who is giving a flight test. He or she wants to see the applicant execute a "clearing turn," a maneuver designed to confirm the emptiness of airspace into which you are going to fly, before and during every flight maneuver. The Practical Test Standards for the Private Pilot certificate are quite clear on this. The PTS mandate that examiners must evaluate "the applicant's procedures for visual scanning (and) inflight collision avoidance" continually throughout "the flight portion of the practical test." The examiner will also quiz an applicant orally to determine awareness of the measures and facilities a pilot can use to help avoid traffic conflicts.
 Radar flight following is available to pilots operating under Visual Flight Rules in many areas. For tips on interacting with Air Traffic Control, see the November 2000 AOPA Flight Training article, "When ATC Calls Traffic." To understand how radar technology and services work, see the Aeronautical Information Manual . And be sure you apply the so-called Hemispheric Rule when selecting cruising altitudes during your flight planning.
Since visual scanning is such an important part of flying safely (and passing a flight test), review the advice in AOPA Pilot's July 2001 "Ounce of Prevention" column. This informative article also contains other links to information on collision avoidance.
Understanding the history of the regulatory and equipment requirements we must comply with today helps any pilot fully function in the National Airspace System. Check out the January 2001 AOPA Pilot article that explains how we got where we are today. And for a report on the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's efforts to help pilots maintain safe separation, see the review of a recent safety seminar. And attend one when you can; the information is valuable for all pilots, from student to airline captain.
| Your AOPA�Membership
| All the help and resources that you need as a student pilot are only a mouse click away! AOPA's Web site offers a vast amount of resources–right at your fingertips–-that will help you become the best pilot you can be. Get the latest weather information and color graphics, including five-day forecasts. Download taxi diagrams and key airport information for all public-use airports. File and manage your flight plan with our convenient online flight planning service. Get free information on Practical Test Standards, FAA-approved computer testing sites, airmen knowledge test guides, and more! And we've just skimmed the surface. Log onto www.aopa.org and explore and discover the value of your membership. If you have some questions after visiting our site, call 1-800-USA-AOPA. We're here to help!
As an AOPA Flight Training Trial Member, you 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
| AIRPORTS RESTRICT TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS
AOPA has challenged recently imposed restrictions on touch-and-go landings at general aviation airports in St. Lucie and Vero Beach, Florida. “It’s unbelievable to think that local entities will take it upon themselves to become air traffic controllers, a domain reserved for the federal government,” said Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of regional affairs. AOPA told the St. Lucie Board of Commissioners and the City of Vero Beach that they must clearly justify recent limitations on touch-and-go landings at their airports because such constraints are likely a violation of federal aviation regulations. Both airports--each home to large and busy flight schools--had blocked all touch-and-goes on Sundays and federal holidays, limiting them to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
DANIEL WEBSTER COLLEGE REBOUNDS FROM 9/11
Applications to aviation programs at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire, are up 10 percent over last year--previously a record enrollment year--despite the fallout from September 11. School officials said students are still determined to pursue aviation careers. In addition to recovering from the effects of being grounded for 11 days, Daniel Webster also discovered from checking its own records that the school was contacted by the alleged lead terrorist, Mohammad Atta. He had sought enrollment information using an e-mail address in Hamburg, Germany. The FBI later verified the address, said school officials. Atta never did apply to Daniel Webster, possibly because there is no jet training at the school and it offers four-year aviation degrees.
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION AWARDS, ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS
Seven college students received separate scholarships last year totaling $11,500 from programs administered by the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. Recipients were Steven Bontempo of Daytona Beach, Florida; Edward Bradley of Roswell, New Mexico; Elizabeth Copeland of Upton, Kentucky; Christopher W. Guest of Newark, Delaware; Daniel J. Moseley of Heron, Montana; Ryan Phillips of Portage, Michigan; and Benjamin Wielenga of Traverse City, Michigan. Entries are now open for aviation students seeking scholarships in 2002. For more information, visit AOPA Online or call 301/695-2174.
| Inside AOPA
| ASF-JEPPESEN PROGRAM WINS AWARD
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation recently won an Award of Distinction for its ASF-Jeppesen CFI Renewal Online program. The award was presented by the Rocky Mountain Region chapter of the Society for Technical Communication. The award is the highest honor available in the competition. ASF’s program will move on to the international competition. Judges look for organization, editing/writing, layout, usability, integration of media, and achievement of purpose. The ASF-Jepp program allows flight instructors to complete their certificate renewals at home and on their own schedules. For more information, see the Web site.
Changing your mailing or e-mail addresses? Click here to update.
| Training Products
| SPORTY'S WEIGHT AND BALANCE KIT
Once you pass your checkride, you can simplify the calculation of your aircraft's weight and balance with a Weight and Balance Kit available from Sporty's Pilot Shop. An aluminum plotter is used to draw lines at predefined angles, representing aircraft payload elements. After all necessary lines have been drawn, the diagram will show final weight and aircraft center of gravity. If the end of the last line falls within the aircraft's envelope, it is legally loaded. A kit for piston singles of less than 3,000 pounds gross weight is $50; other models are available. Order online or call 800/SPORTYS.
| Final Exam
| Question: I've heard that there is a NACO (National Aeronautical Charting Office) publication that lists all the symbols used on VFR charts. Can you tell me where to find it?
Answer: It's actually called the Aeronautical Chart User's Guide. The guide lists both VFR and IFR terms and aeronautical symbols, and provides a brief description of what each symbol depicts. It describes symbols from various NACO charts including world aeronautical (WAC) charts, sectional charts, IFR en route charts, and U.S. terminal procedures publications such as instrument approach procedure charts. The Aeronautical Chart User's Guide is 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
| 'NEVER AGAIN' NOW ONLINE
The most popular feature in AOPA Pilot magazine is the "Never Again" column, written by AOPA members about instructive flight experiences. You've probably read it at your flight school. Now, never-before-published "Never Again" features are available on AOPA Online, and a new installment was recently posted. Read it and learn from the mistakes of other pilots.
| 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. | ePilot Calendar
| Check your weekend weather on AOPA Online.
WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Brodhead, Wisconsin. Groundhog Day/Chili Skiplane Fly-In/Drive-In takes place February 2 at Brodhead Airport (C37). Call 262/215-9388 for event information.
Chino, California. Tuskegee Airmen will be the special feature at the Air Museum Planes of Fame on February 2. Call 909/597-3722 for event information.
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 Baltimore, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon, January 26 and 27. 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 Dallas on February 3. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in San Antonio, Texas, January 21; West Houston, Texas, January 22; Austin, Texas, January 23; Fort Worth, Texas, January 24; Denver, February 5; Colorado Springs, Colorado, February 6; and Atlanta, February 7. The topic is Spatial Disorientation. For more information, visit the Web site.
For comments on calendar items or to make submissions, contact Julie S. Walker at [email protected].
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