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Copyright � 2002 AOPA. | Training Tips
| COORDINATED FLIGHT
"Coordinated flight." All student pilots hear the phrase, often as early as their first hour in the air. You learn that "coordinated" use of flight controls neutralizes adverse effects of control-surface deflection, while the desired effects are induced. When starting a left turn, you apply left rudder along with left aileron. This prevents the greater lift, and greater drag, generated by the downward-deflected aileron on the right wing, from yawing the nose to the right. Fail to apply the necessary rudder pressure and you can see (and feel) the effects of "adverse yaw:" the airplane banks to the left but the nose simultaneously slides off to the right, making for a sloppy, and slippy, maneuver. In coordinated flight, the ball in the bottom of the turn coordinator remains centered in its glass case.
 So, is it accurate to say that all correctly-flown maneuvers are coordinated? No. Sometimes uncoordinated flight is both correct and desirable. One of those times is in performing a forward slip to land, one of the maneuvers performed during the Private Pilot Flight Test (Task G, Area of Operation IV, in the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards, which can be downloaded.
The idea behind the forward slip is to use the drag of uncoordinated flight to increase the descent rate without making airspeed or configuration (flap or gear) changes. The pilot lowers the left wing, say, but adds opposite rudder to prevent the airplane from turning. This creates an angle between the longitudinal axis and the path of flight. Now the ball is not centered, but appears as discussed in an April 2002 Flight Forum letter to AOPA Flight Training. But don't focus on the ball when landing. Flight training is most effective if visual and instrument indications are combined. See the story. When the proper glidepath to the desired touchdown point is achieved, discontinue the slip and complete a normal landing. This is not the same technique as the sideslip that compensates for a crosswind, in which the pilot lowers a wing into the wind and uses opposite rudder to keep the longitudinal axis of the airplane aligned with the runway.
Proficient pilots keep the forward slip in their professional "bag of tricks" (see a discussion in the April 2002 AOPA Flight Training ). Once you have earned your pilot certificate, forward slips can be practiced on just about any flight. See Mark Twombly's commentary in the June 2001 AOPA Flight Training, and enjoy the versatility that well-performed forward slips can provide.
| Your Partner in Training
| Well, you did it. You decided to learn to fly this summer. Now for the big debate: Should I learn to fly at a towered or nontowered airport? Get some practical advice and good insight from AOPA Flight Training magazine . For additional information on learning to fly, see the Web site.
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
| FOREIGN FLIGHT STUDENTS FACE NEW RULES
The expansion of an existing law will better track foreign nationals including flight students and would allow flight schools dependent on foreign students to return to normal operations. According to U.S. officials, those "high risk" visitors who wish to remain in the United States for more than 30 days for flight training will undergo registration, fingerprinting, and will be photographed. Unlike the state of Michigan, which recently passed legislation requiring U.S. student pilots to undergo rigorous State Department and FBI background checks, this federally imposed law will focus on the foreign pilot population rather than imposing a burden on the U.S. flight-training community. In a recent letter to the governor of New Jersey, AOPA President Phil Boyer said, "A more logical approach to addressing aviation security and airman requirements should be left to the federal government to implement, something that is occurring now." In addition, Boyer pointed out that flight training is regulated by the FAA, not individual states. AOPA continues to urge other states to stop any legislation that would unnecessarily hinder the training of U.S. students and jeopardize the future of the aviation economy in the United States.
GA NO THREAT TO NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, REPORT SAYS
A new report commissioned by AOPA has concluded that general aviation aircraft do not pose a serious threat to the nation's nuclear power plants. The report by internationally recognized nuclear safety and security expert Robert M. Jefferson said that the crash of a GA aircraft wouldn't cause a dangerous release of radiation. "Following the events of September 11, some expressed fears that a small aircraft might 'attack' a nuclear plant," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We sought out an expert to determine if that fear were real. The Jefferson report makes it clear that general aviation aircraft are not effective weapons and small aircraft aren't a significant threat to the safety of the public when it comes to nuclear power plants." Apparently some U.S. senators agree. Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.) said recently that, "Commercial nuclear plants are probably the most physically secure and least vulnerable of our nation's industrial infrastructure." Bond said he has seen a videotape of a government test where an F-4 jet fighter was intentionally crashed into a containment wall at nearly 500 miles per hour. "The jet was obliterated and the 6-foot wall was penetrated only two inches," Bond said. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) has submitted the AOPA report to a Senate committee. See AOPA Online
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT UNVEILS A TWIN
Diamond Aircraft is developing a $360,000, IFR-equipped, diesel-powered twin-engine aircraft aimed at the training and personal-use markets. Designated the DA42 TwinStar, it utilizes composite construction. It is powered by a pair of 135-hp turbocharged diesels from Thielert Aircraft Engines that are designed to operate on either automotive diesel or Jet A1 fuel. Features designed to reduce pilot workload include electronic fuel management, automatic prop control, and auto-feather capability. Conventional powerplants may be offered as well. Optional equipment will include a glass cockpit, an oxygen system, and anti-ice/deice equipment. The first flight is scheduled for September, with initial deliveries expected in early 2004.
FLORIDA SCHOOL ADDS AIRCRAFT
F.I.T. Aviation, a subsidiary of the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, has added five aircraft to its training and rental fleet. The two Cessna 152s, one 172, one 172SP, and Piper Warrior will be available for flight training and rental. They join a fleet that includes Piper Arrows, Cadets, Seminoles, and Warrior, as well as a Bellanca Super Decatlon.
FLIGHT SCHOOL GOES HIGH TECH
Airline Training Center of Arizona (ATCA), the airline pilot flight training subsidiary of Lufthansa Airlines, will install the Ryan Model 9900BX Traffic Advisory System in its fleet of training aircraft to avoid collision avoidance protection. Greg Schmidt, chief safety officer for ATCA, said that the unit's audible position alerting—which announces the clock position, relative altitude, and distance of traffic causing alerts—contributed to the purchase decision. The system emphasizes visual acquisition, helping student pilots understand collision avoidance procedures and making the transition into Lufthansa cockpits easier and smoother, Schmidt said.
| Inside AOPA
| AOPA MAKES IT EASY TO AVOID TFRs
AOPA is making it easier for pilots to avoid temporary flight restrictions. AOPA Online has a new graphical search interface allowing members to easily locate restrictions in their state, and has also improved the Web site's notam page. In addition, each TFR is depicted graphically along with a plain language interpretation. So before taking off, click here.
AOPA FLY-IN SETS NEW RECORDS
The AOPA Fly-In and Open House set new attendance records June 1: 895 aircraft flew in for the one-day event that was attended by 8,000 people. That eclipses the previous record of 760 aircraft set in 2000. The temporary FAA control tower set up for the Fly-In was the second busiest tower in the nation that day, not as busy as Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport but beating out Chicago's O'Hare International for second place. "An event like this shows that general aviation remains a vibrant and exciting part of the aviation community," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
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| Training Products
| | FLIGHTPREP.COM BUILDS CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHTS
FlightPrep is an online flight planning program that allows you to plot your course anywhere in North America with the click of a mouse. You can save information about your training aircraft in the editable database, rubber-band routes to select the best waypoints and fuel stops, and save flight plans for future use. A free trial is available; the basic annual subscription is $7.95 a month ($95.40 a year). For more, see the Web site.
| Final Exam
| Question: What's the difference between a WAC and a sectional chart?
Answer: The world aeronautical chart (WAC) and the sectional aeronautical chart are both used for VFR navigation. Both provide topographical relief and aeronautical information. The difference is in the scales and detail of the charts. The scale on a sectional is 1:500,000, which means that every 1 inch depicted on the chart represents 500,000 actual inches. The scale on the WAC is 1:1,000,000. Because of the smaller scale, some details available on the sectional are lacking on the WAC. Chapter 9 of the Aeronautical Information Manual discusses aeronautical charts and related publications. For more information on reading and using charts, you may want to look at the following AOPA Flight Training articles, "Chart Basics" and "How to Read a Sectional Chart". Got a technical question for AOPA specialists? E-mail to [email protected] or call 800/872-2672.
| 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
| NEVER AGAIN
A loss of oil pressure and an emergency landing in Flagstaff, Arizona, led one
pilot to reevaluate repairs made by unfamiliar mechanics—if your gut tells you
to ask more questions about repairs, by all means do so. See the latest “Never
Again Online,” titled "Is this an emergency now?" exclusively on AOPA Online.
| Weekend Weather
| See the current weather on AOPA�Online, provided by Meteorlogix.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
La Crosse, Wisconsin. Deke Slayton Airfest 2002 takes place June 15 and 16 at La Crosse Municipal Airport (LSE). Western Wisconsin's largest airshow and static display. See the Web site.
Las Vegas, Nevada. The International Cessna 170 Association Convention takes place June 16 through 23 at the Texas Station Hotel and Casino. See the Web site.
Scappoose, Oregon. The Eleventh Annual Northwest RV Fly-in takes place June 15 at Scappoose Industrial Airpark (SPB). Join the Home Wing of Van's Air Force for the premier RV event of the season. See 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 Orlando, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina, June 15 and 16. A Clinic is scheduled in Las Vegas, June 22 and 23. 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 Minneapolis on June 30. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Oklahoma City on June 14. Topics are spatial disorientation and single-pilot IFR. Seminars are scheduled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Scotia (Albany), New York, June 17; Kansas City, Missouri, and North Syracuse, New York, June 18; St. Louis, and Henrietta (Rochester), New York, June 19; and Cheektowaga, New York, June 20. 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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