So what do you do with the sumped fuel if you don't dump it? Few pilots want to risk contaminating the fuel still in the tank. The GATS jar solves this dilemma by allowing for the separation of contaminates (including water) from fuel before dumping it back into an aircraft tank.
The 12-ounce GATS jar is roughly the size and shape of a tall soda can. It works like this: The fuel sample drains into the clear reservoir for viewing. A separator screen over the top of the reservoir is made of a material that, when coated with petroleum-based fuels, creates a barrier that blocks water but still allows fuel to flow through it. The screen must be impregnated with fuel - either jet fuel or avgas - in order to work properly; any water or condensation that gets in the screen can be removed with a dry tissue or cloth. You can accomplish this by pouring some avgas through the screen prior to using the jar before each preflight.
In our testing, it was clear that any water had to be cleared from the screen in order for the screen to keep the water in the jar as fuel was dumped back into a tank. For argument's sake, we tried pouring out a sumped sample with water into a clear glass, without impregnating the screen beforehand, and with some water in the screen. Both times, the screen only kept about one-third of the water in the jar - the rest would have been returned to the tank. When we tried to clean the screen with a cotton cloth, it wasn't absorbent enough. We suggest using a facial tissue or super-absorbent shop towel to ensure that all of the water is removed from within the screen. When the screen was cleared of the tiniest water droplet and remoistened with fuel, the jar worked as advertised. If you collect a sample that is mostly water, it's probably best to just carefully dump the entire thing rather than trying to salvage a small amount of fuel.
Instructors will want to supervise students closely on their first attempts with the system, and teach, "When in doubt, dump it out." Especially in drier parts of the country, and with aircraft that are hangared, many samples come through with little or no water, and the screen adds an extra line of defense for pouring the sample back in the tank. And if sediment is a concern, the jar works impeccably. Another nice feature is that you can collect an entire preflight's worth of samples (except, perhaps, in the case of the Cessna 172 models made in recent years - they have 13 sumping points). If you're interested in helping to save the environment - or if you live or fly in Florida - it's worth checking out.
Price: $16.50 for the 12- or 16-ounce jar. For more information: 800/543-8633; www.sportys.com; www.aviagear.com
Company offers Wings credit, price cut on software
Electronic Flight Solutions' Complete Learning Garmin 530/430 GPS Navigation module received approval for credit in the ground portion of the FAA's Wings pilot proficiency program. Participants take an online quiz at the company's Web site after completing the module and earn a certificate. The GPS module is the fourth offered by Electronic Flight Solutions to acquire this status. The company has also announced a partnership with FlightSafety International, authorizing the use of its modules throughout FlightSafety's 40 learning centers. The avionics training software uses modules on terrain and weather awareness, traffic, and autopilots to further pilot training. As an additional incentive, the company recently reduced the price of each module to $195.
For more information: www.electronicflight.com.
PilotMall.com flight bag
There are as many different styles as there are pilots when it comes to flight bags. If your tastes are more classic, you may want to try PilotMall.com's Next Generation soft leather pilot bag.
We acquired one of the bags for testing, and we were pleased with the overall construction, utility, and attractiveness of the bag. The supple, handmade leather bags come in black, caf� (a mahogany brown), and natural (tan). Each bag includes two zippered headset pouches, two exterior chart pockets that hold a sectional or two quite well, and a zippered exterior portfolio case (roughly the dimensions of a file folder but thick enough to hold several).
Inside, dividers allow you to customize for your own chart books and accessories, and the reinforced bottom resists ramp rash. The bag weighs about four pounds and measures 21 inches long by 11 inches wide by 11 inches high. A shoulder strap and separate carrying handles offer portability. If you don't intend to use the shoulder strap, you may want to remove it, as it can get in the way of easily accessing the side pockets - a minor detail. PilotMall.com also offers the bag in a smaller size for pilots who travel light.
Price: $199.99 for large bag; $149.99 for small bag. For more information: 800/249-5730; www.pilotmall.com.
ASA introduces communications trainer
What is it about talking on the radio that causes so many pilots to clench up? Is it a universal fear of sounding stupid on the airwaves? Clear and effective radio communications is an important part of safe flying, and training tools have emerged to address the phenomenon of mic fright.
A new entry to this roster is Communications Trainer: Say Again, Please - Guide to Radio Communications from Aviation Supplies and Academics, Inc. Written by Bob Gardner (and based on his book), this interactive software consists of three CD-ROMs: a computer tutorial and two audio review disks that can be played on car and stereo CD players and personal computers. It is simple to install and use. A main menu at startup presents an outline of the chapters. Click on a chapter to view its sections; click on a section and the tutorial takes you through a broad overview of the subject (i.e., operations at nontowered airports). A liberal selection of audio and movie clips, figures, photos, or chart segments accompanies each section. Each chapter concludes with an interactive quiz.
Within the text of the overview you'll find live links. Click on one, and up pops a more detailed explanation or insight, so you can progress through the information and get the big picture or proceed at a more leisurely pace and digest the background material along the way. If you blast through, you'll miss out on Gardner's wry approach (clicking on "meet your buddy" in a discussion of operations at nontowered airports yields the note: "So you can commiserate with him about the rising cost of $100 hamburgers") as well as some extremely useful stuff (it's redundant to say "November" in your call sign transmission because all U.S.-registered airplanes begin with the "November" designation).
Gardner understands that radio communications don't occur in a vacuum - you have to know where you are and what's required of you. He tries to convey what air traffic controllers want and expect (or don't expect) from pilots. And he stresses that the phrase that could be your most important transmission - "I don't understand what you want me to do" - isn't found in the Aeronautical Information Manual.
Say Again, Please includes VFR and IFR radio procedures on the same tutorial.
Price: $79.95. System requirements: PC Windows 95 through XP, Pentium 166 MHz or faster or Power PC; Mac System 7.5 or higher; 32 MB minimum RAM; 800 by 600 SVGA video adapter and monitor (Mac display with thousands of colors). For more information: 425/235-1500; www.asa2fly.com.
-Jill W. Tallman
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