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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
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Tel: 800/USA-AOPA or
301/695-2000
Copyright © 2003 AOPA. | Training Tips
| NEW AIRPORTS, DIFFERENT PATTERNS
Happy New Year! May your flying in 2003 bring you joy and lead you to the discovery of new friends and destinations.
One of the differences that you may find between those new destinations and your home field is the requirement to fly a nonstandard traffic pattern when landing on designated runways at some nontowered airports. (At tower-controlled airports, of course, air traffic controllers have the flexibility to vary arrival and departure routes as necessary to speed traffic flow and provide safe separation of aircraft.)
 The use of a nonstandard traffic pattern at a nontowered airport is an exception to the left-hand traffic patterns prescribed for those airports in the Aeronautical Information Manual, and as discussed in the July 3, 2002, edition of this newsletter. Such patterns may be in use because of obstructions, noise-abatement programs, proximity to other airports or restricted airspace, or to minimize overflight of populated areas, among other reasons. The use of a nonstandard pattern may be detectable on arrival if the airport is equipped with a segmented circle or traffic pattern indicator. (See Chapter 4 of the AIM for a complete discussion.) Details of the traffic pattern in use-which can include nonstandard altitudes, right-hand traffic to one or more runways, or both-are given in the Airport/Facilities Directory and AOPA's Airport Directory. Click here for an example of an airport listing containing nonstandard traffic procedures.
A pilot's knowledge of procedures to be used at airports with nonstandard traffic patterns is the subject of several questions on the private pilot knowledge test. How to use the segmented circle is also one of the Frequently Asked Questions addressed at AOPA Online. Click here to see the discussion.
For pilots based at airports with nonstandard patterns, or those who visit them frequently, complying quickly becomes routine. But if a trip to such a destination takes you out of your element, here are some things to do before you head out. Research your destination, talk to other pilots who have been there, and see David Montoya's article, "Safe and Sound-How You Can Operate Safely at Any Airport" in the July 2001 AOPA Flight Training. Here's wishing you success and enjoyment in all your flying this year!
| Your Partner in Training
| Any AOPA member-including those who have accepted AOPA's six-month introductory membership offer-has free, live access to our in-house CFIs and aviation experts who are standing by to answer your questions. Call Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time toll-free at 800/872-2672-and check out our online Aviation Services Guides. Subjects are drawn from the real-life concerns of AOPA members, as heard by our staff in answering more than 100,000 member calls for help every year.
Remember, you have free access to all of the features within AOPA Online. For members'-section login information click here.
| Flight Training News
| AOPA MEMBERS RESPOND IN FORCE TO 'TIME' MAGAZINE
Scores of AOPA members have joined AOPA President Phil Boyer in condemning a new "house ad" running in Time magazine and at least one sister publication, Southern Living. The ad began running in late December and shows two light general aviation aircraft tied down within sight of nuclear power plant cooling towers and carrying the caption, "Remember when only environmentalists would have been alarmed by this photo?" Pilots from many walks of life responded-including nuclear engineers, military personnel, members of the Civil Air Patrol, volunteers from Angel Flight and other similar organizations, and small business owners. "We thought it was important for executives at Time Inc. to hear from more than just the president of AOPA," said Boyer. "They needed to understand that they touched a raw nerve for the hundreds of thousands of pilots in the United States. We're gratified by the number of pilots who took our suggestion and contacted Time on their own." See AOPA Online.
NEW AIR AND SPACE FACILITY ON SCHEDULE
Officials at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum say that construction to open the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is three-fourths complete, as the December 2003 launch of the museum's companion facility in northern Virginia approaches. The center at Washington Dulles International Airport will eventually showcase the 80 percent of the national aviation collection not currently displayed at the museum's building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., or on loan to other museums. The museum still needs $93 million to complete the $311 million project. The money will be raised from private sources.
AOPA SEEKS PROMPT DECISION ON STATE OF UNION TFR
In an effort to head off last January's last-minute flight restrictions for President Bush's State of the Union address, AOPA is calling on Homeland Security Secretary-designate Tom Ridge to decide now whether or not there will be a similar TFR for the 2003 address. "While AOPA is not advocating for a TFR for the president's upcoming State of the Union address," said AOPA President Phil Boyer in a letter to Ridge, "we only have to surmise that with all of Congress, the administration, and many celebrities in the same place, airspace around the nation's capitol will be a concern." Last year the TFR was issued just four hours before the speech, closing nine Washington-area airports and trapping many GA pilots. For more, see AOPA Online.
| Inside AOPA
| ASF SEMINARS REACH RECORD NUMBER OF PILOTS
More than 33,000 pilots attended some 190 AOPA Air Safety Foundation safety seminars held across the country in 2002. "A safety organization that collects information but doesn't share it wouldn't be of much use to anyone," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "Safety seminars are one of the best ways for us to pass on experience and wisdom gathered in more than five decades of studying and trying to improve air safety." For more information or to view a schedule of seminars in 2003, click here).
INTEREST UP IN GA FOLLOWING TV CAMPAIGN
As AOPA wrapped up its two-week TV ad campaign to help educate the nonflying public about general aviation, early results were extremely good. The 30-second ads on The Weather Channel showed viewers an interesting fact about general aviation and directed them to the GA Serving America Web site to learn more. During the first week of the campaign, the number of unique visitors to the Web site increased tenfold. That means 10 times more people were exposed to facts about GA. See AOPA Online.
Changing your mailing or e-mail addresses? Click here to update.
| Training Products
| JEPPESEN REVISES 'GUIDED FLIGHT DISCOVERY' MANUALS
Revised editions of the Guided Flight Discovery private pilot, instrument/commercial, multiengine, and flight instructor manuals are now available from Jeppesen. Each title has been changed to reflect recent changes to the appropriate practical test standards. The private pilot and instrument/commercial manuals have also been revised to reflect updated weather information, among other changes. For more information, visit the Web site or call 303/799-9090.
| Final Exam
| Question: The amp meter in the Piper Cherokee 180 that I fly does not seem to be correct. When I turn on the landing light, or anything else, I don't see any increase in current draw. The meter only makes a small jump and then returns to its original place. Is this correct or is the meter not working?
Answer: An ammeter such as the one in your Cherokee shows only charge or discharge. When you turn on the landing light, you should see a momentary kick to the discharge side, followed by a return to center of the needle as the proper indication. For more information on aircraft electrical systems, read "Power Play: The Nuts and Volts of Electrical Systems" or "Form and Function: Wired" from AOPA Flight Training magazine.
Got a technical question for AOPA specialists? E-mail to [email protected] or call 800/872-2672.
| Picture Perfect
| | The AOPA Online Gallery allows you to download your favorite images to use for wallpaper, send a personalized e-card, and order high-quality prints to be shipped directly to your doorstep. Search the hundreds of fabulous images in our archives and select your favorites today! For more details, see AOPA Online.
| What's New At AOPA Online
| Is there an FAA testing center in your neighborhood? Find out by downloading the newly updated list from AOPA Online. Do you carry an AOPA Air Aid in your flight bag? This versatile tool has been around for decades. Read how one AOPA member found a new and unusual use for his Air Aid.
| Weekend Weather
| See the current weather on AOPA Online, provided by Meteorlogix.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Waterford, Michigan. EAA Chapter 1413 will meet January 9 at Oakland Pontiac International Airport (PTK). Paul Poberezny, founder of EAA, is the guest speaker. Contact Ken Jordan, 248/265-3442, or visit the Web site.
Keystone Heights, Florida. A Grand Dedication and Open House takes place January 11 at Keystone Heights Airport (42J), hosted by the Keystone Heights Airport Authority. Static aviation displays, food by local civic groups, antique car show; 100LL fuel will be sold for $1.80 per gallon or less. Contact Dean Weaver or Nancy Srock, 352/473-0031, or visit the Web site.
To submit an event to the calendar, or search all events, visit AOPA Online. For airport details, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online . For comments on calendar items, contact [email protected].
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 San Jose, California; Jackson, Mississippi; and Portland, Oregon, January 4 and 5. Clinics are also scheduled in Detroit; Rochester, New York; and Seattle, January 11 and 12. 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 Detroit, and Seattle, January 12. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Reno, Nevada, January 6; Sacramento, California, January 7; San Jose, California, January 8; Oakland, California, January 9; and Santa Rosa, California, January 10. The topic is "The Ups and Downs of Takeoffs and Landings." For the complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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