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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
| USING RADAR SERVICES
Student pilots training in a radar environment should make full use of the traffic advisory services available to aircraft operating under visual flight rules (VFR). Not only does using these services enhance the safety of your flight, but doing so will help you become familiar with the people, lexicon, and procedures that make up the air traffic control system (ATC), as well as help you answer the questions about radar service posed on the Private Pilot Knowledge Test.
 You need not be launching on a cross-country flight to make use of radar traffic advisories, also referred to as "VFR traffic advisories" or "radar flight following." See the Airport/Facilities Directory and aeronautical charts for appropriate ATC radio frequencies in your area. Even on a local training flight, radar traffic advisories can be a useful and reassuring service. Air traffic control facilities know the locations of flight-training practice areas within their radar coverage, and give student pilots valuable assistance. Do remember that these services are provided on a workload-permitting basis, as explained in the Pilot/Controller Glossary of the Aeronautical Information Manual (scroll down to "Traffic Advisories"): "Traffic advisory service will be provided to the extent possible depending on higher priority duties of the controller or other limitations; e.g., radar limitations, volume of traffic, frequency congestion, or controller workload. Radar/nonradar traffic advisories do not relieve the pilot of his responsibility to see and avoid other aircraft. Pilots are cautioned that there are many times when the controller is not able to give traffic advisories concerning all traffic in the aircraft's proximity; in other words, when a pilot requests or is receiving traffic advisories, he should not assume that all traffic will be issued."
To make this service more effective, study the Aeronautical Information Manual sections on radar services and appropriate phraseology for communicating with ATC. A helpful guide is the discussion of the language of ATC in the February 1997 Flight Training. And for a comprehensive from-the-cockpit perspective on how radar flight following can enhance both the safety and enjoyment of your flying, see the February 1994 Flight Training feature article on the subject.
Using this additional knowledge and insight, request VFR traffic advisories on your next flight!
| Your Partner in Training
| The sudden wind shifts, or wind shear, caused by microbursts is especially dangerous to aircraft near the ground because a sudden shift from a headwind to a tailwind decreases lift. Find out more about what clouds are, how they form, and the major factors that dictate their appearance. If you have any questions after visiting our site, call 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
| AIRLINE PILOT HIRING CONTINUES, COMPANY REPORTS
More than 1,440 new airline pilots have been hired so far this year, according to Kit Darby, president of career consulting firm AIR, Inc. He said that more than 250 pilots met with representatives of 10 major, national, and regional airlines during a career fair held last month in Los Angeles. "The terrorist attacks of September 11 put a damper on the airline industry as a whole; however, things are slowly turning around, and we're hopeful that by the end of the year pilot hiring will be on track," Darby said. AIR, Inc.'s next Airline Pilot Career Seminar, Airline Forum, and Career Fair will be held in Atlanta on July 13. For more information, visit the Web site.
FLORIDA EVENT EMPHASIZES FLYING CAREERS
Are you thinking about–or already training for–a possible career as an airline pilot? If you are, consider attending one of the many aviation career events held across the country. The Aviation Employee Placement Service (AEPS) will hold its South Florida Aviation Career AirFair in Ft. Lauderdale on June 7 and 8. The company expects about 1,000 potential aviation-industry employees to meet with representatives of 40 to 60 major aviation companies recruiting for pilots, flight attendants, and aviation mechanic technicians, as well as various management and customer service positions. For more information visit the Web site.
PURDUE BECOMES AMELIA EARHART CLEARINGHOUSE
Purdue University this week became the largest repository for all things Amelia Earhart. Thanks to a gift from the family of nearly 500 of Earhart's personal papers and memorabilia, the school now stores the most comprehensive collection of materials related to her life, career, and mysterious disappearance. Many of the artifacts have never been seen by the public. Earhart, who disappeared over the Pacific in 1937, served as a visiting instructor at Purdue, starting in 1935. The announcement of the contribution this week also kicked off the school's "Countdown to 100 Years of Flight" celebration that honors the Wright brothers.
GARMIN PROVIDES SOFTWARE FIX FOR HANDHELD GPS RECEIVERS
Pilots using Garmin's GPS Pilot III or GPS 195 handheld models should visit the Garmin Web site soon for a fix to an unexpected problem. Pilots using the latest database update for the two units had reported the units would "hang" or "lock up" if the user tried to enter a waypoint beginning with the characters "X," "Y," or "Z." Garmin says the database contained more waypoints than the operating system for the Pilot III and the 195 could handle. Garmin has now fixed that. The operating system fixes for both the GPS Pilot III and the GPS 195 should be dated April 24, 2002. See the Web site.
| Inside AOPA
| FAA GETS TOUGH ON GRANT DEALS TO PROTECT AIRPORTS
The FAA is getting tougher about protecting publicly owned airports, if its recent actions in Florida are any indications. The FAA told the City of St. Petersburg that it must keep Albert Whitted Airport (SPG) open. The strong FAA action was prompted by AOPA and AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Jack Tunstill. The airport is located on prime waterfront real estate that the city wants to redevelop into a park and mixed housing area. The city had accepted federal grants for the airport, which obligates the city to keep the airport open--but the city thought that by repaying FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant money it would be able to close the airport. In two letters, the FAA told the city it couldn’t do that. "The FAA's response is important not only in St. Petersburg, but nationwide," said Anne Esposito, AOPA vice president of airports. See AOPA�Online.
AVIATION WEATHER SYSTEM TO BE FEATURED IN WEBCAST
Meteorlogix, the official weather provider for AOPA Online, will present a live demonstration of its advanced weather system for aviation through a Web conference on May 15. Titled "MxVision AviationSentry: Weather Information for the Serious Business of Flying," the free 30-minute event will highlight the system's key features, including en route flight planning, online flight brief filing, and a sophisticated storm tracking capability. To reserve your seat and get more information, see the Web site.
Changing your mailing or e-mail addresses? Click here to update.
| Training Products
| PRICE CUT ON HANDHELD NAV/COM
A special purchase has allowed Sporty's Pilot Shop to temporarily drop the price of its SP-200 handheld nav/com radio. The popular unit features 8.33-kHz frequency spacing and a convenient "last frequency" button. The radio, which normally retails for $375, is now available for $275–and AOPA members using an AOPA credit card can save an additional 5 percent. For more information visit the Web site or call 800/SPORTYS.
| Final Exam
| Question: The different classifications of airspace are very confusing to me. Can you give me an explanation of the different types of airspace?
Answer: Basically, there are two kinds of airspace: uncontrolled and controlled. Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace all are considered controlled airspace, which is "airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classification." Class G airspace is any airspace not designated as A, B, C, D, or E, and is defined as uncontrolled airspace. There are various regulatory requirements for operations within each of these airspace classifications. For detailed information, see the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Airspace for Everyone Safety Advisor and the AOPA Flight Training article "Airspace ABC's."
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
| A new data update is available for AOPA's Airport eDirectory. You didn't know that you could download data from AOPA's Airport Directory to your IBM-compatible personal computer or your Palm OS-based personal digital assistant? Learn more or download the application.
| Weekend Weather
| See the current weather on AOPA�Online, provided by Meteorlogix.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Austin, Texas. The sixth Annual Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association Convention takes place May 8 through 11 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Contact Laura Mason 520/299-7485 or visit the Web site.
Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Aviation Expo takes place May 10 at Flying Cloud Airport (FCM). A display of the most popular piston-engine aircraft and products built today. Raytheon, Cessna, Mooney, Piper, Bendix/King, Garmin and others. Finance, insurance, repair, and overhaul companies will be on hand. Contact Mike Turner, 309/799-3183 or visit the Web site.
Lincoln Park, New�Jersey. The Lincoln Park Aviation Open House takes place May 11 at Lincoln Park Airport (N07). Open house for the flight school, maintenance, and sales facilities. Event includes scenic rides, static displays, and safety seminars. Contact 973/872-6213 or visit the Web site for more 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 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Kansas City, Missouri; and Albany, New York, May 11 and 12. Clinics are scheduled in Sacramento, California; Baltimore, Maryland; and Houston, Texas, May 18 and 19. 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 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 12. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in San Luis Obispo, California; and Weyers Cave, Virginia, on May 13; El Monte, California; Blacksburg, Virginia; and Maugansville, Maryland, on May 14; Danville, Virginia; and Costa Mesa, California, on May 15; and San Diego, California, and Melfa, Virginia on May 16. Topics vary–for complete information, 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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