AOPA Online Members Only -- AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition -- Vol. 5, Issue 51

'CONTACT DEPARTURE'
Recent Training Tips stories focused on climbing out on the proper departure track, leveling off, and proceeding on course ready to navigate and communicate. When flying a departure in busy terminal airspace, preparedness includes knowing who you should contact when the "handoff" from the tower comes. Have the right frequency ready. Set it in a second com radio or as the second frequency in a radio with primary and backup-frequency capability before you call the tower for takeoff.

Ground control and tower frequencies are easy to find on navigation charts and in directories. More elusive are frequencies to use after takeoff from a busy terminal airport when told to contact departure control, or when using radar services on arrival, although some are charted as boxed notes such as at boundaries of Class C airspace. See the May 3, 2002, Training Tips "Using Radar Services."

Consult the frequency listings printed on a panel of your sectional chart, or check the airport's communications frequencies in the Airport/Facility Directory. "An 'R' within a circle identifies the frequency for radar services. The listing begins with the name of the facility (e.g., Boston, Cleveland, Denver, or Philadelphia) followed by 'APP CON' (approach control), 'DEP CON' (departure control), or 'APP/DEP CON' (approach and departure control). Simply call the appropriate controller on the published frequency and ask for radar services," wrote Robert N. Rossier in the July 1999 AOPA Flight Training feature "All You Have to Do Is Ask: Radar Services for VFR Pilots." These should be noted on your flight log.

At some airports airspace is divided into sectors using different frequencies. Know which sector contains your route-but listen alertly for frequency assignments that differ from what you'd expect.

Reminder: Even in busy airspace with radar controllers working your flight, scan vigilantly for traffic. Radar does not pick up all traffic, such as low-level flights originating at outlying airports. Radar targets of aircraft without transponders may be reported as traffic "type and altitude unknown." Controller workload may limit service, as described in the March 1999 AOPA Pilot feature "Looking for the Traffic."

Every flight is a sequence of events. Knowing what comes next will keep those high-workload phases manageable and fun.

THINK YOU KNOW YOUR AIRSPACE?
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has created new airspace flash cards that cover everything from the different classes of airspace to special conservation areas. Each of the 20 cards provides a color depiction followed by descriptions with references to the regulations. Each card also contains a quiz. Download them today. The entire file is about 2 megabytes. Also, check out the supplemental discussion questions on AOPA Online.

RETIRING FEDERAL AIR SURGEON RECEIVES AOPA AWARD
AOPA presented retiring Federal Air Surgeon Jon Jordan with a Special Citation for his dedication to making the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine a leader in civil aviation medical certification. Among other accomplishments, Jordan developed the AME Assisted Special Issuance, a program that allows aviation medical examiners to reissue special issuance medical certificates to pilots who have certain medical conditions that are considered serious enough to require a special issuance authorization but that can be renewed annually by an AME after initial review by the FAA. "Dr. Jordan has greatly improved the FAA's medical certification process with AASI, and he's taken other measures that will continue to advance the system in years to come," said Luis Gutierrez, AOPA director of regulatory and certification policy. "The next federal surgeon will have large shoes to fill, but AOPA will build a solid relationship with the person and work to continue streamlining the medical certification process."

GIVE TO ASF AND GET A FREE CALENDAR
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation calendar program is a way to help support its free aviation safety programs. Anyone wishing to receive the 2006 calendar may do so by becoming a donor with a gift of $10 or more. For more information, call 800/USA-AOPA, or visit the Web site.

HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR AOPA MEMBER PROFILE?
To make the most of your membership and allow us to serve you better, please visit AOPA Online and update your personal member profile.

ZULUWORKS INTRODUCES SLIMMED-DOWN 'MINI-Z' KNEEBOARD
Have you resolved to slim down for the new year? Zuluworks, makers of cockpit organizers, kneeboards, and bags, had a similar notion with its line of Zuluboards kneeboards-hence the introduction of the Mini-Z. It's 50 percent smaller than the full-sized Zuluworks kneeboards ( read a review from the August 2003 issue of AOPA Flight Training) and comes with a set of five Zulucards, the laminated cards that carry flight information and memory joggers. The Mini-Z is available in ballistic nylon or waxed canvas in a variety of colors. The base price is $34.95, which includes a set of five Zulucards and a flight pad. If you don't need Zulucards or a pad, there's also an Economy Mini-Z starting at $24.95. For more information or to order, see the Web site.

Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.