AOPA Online Members Only -- AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition -- Vol. 5, Issue 44

NO VOLTAGE
The October 28, 2005, Training Tips article "Low Voltage" discussed how a pilot flying in visual conditions should cope with a potential electrical failure, acting quickly to conserve power to run aircraft systems before landing. But what if it is already too late, and the electrical system completely fails? You will have to do some quick thinking and make decisions that may not at first seem obvious.

The immediate concern is how you'll fly the airplane. Navigation and communications radios and the transponder won't work. Neither will electrically operated flaps, fuel boost pumps, nor any electrically powered gyro instruments. So navigation will be strictly visual. Your arrival will be unannounced, and your landing will be without flaps. Which brings up the question: Where should that landing be? If you are coming home to a tower-controlled airport, you may recall that there are procedures for communicating, involving air traffic control's use of light signals as described in Chapter 4 of the Aeronautical Information Manual. Could you interpret those signals right now, without review?

In any case, is that kind of arrival the best plan? It's a judgment call. If the airport is very busy (or resides in controlled airspace requiring a transponder) diverting to a nearby, familiar nontowered airport might be worth considering. Diverting, a task on the private pilot practical test, was discussed in the June 28, 2002, Training Tips. There could be traffic at your alternate destination too, so stay alert. Also, absent surface wind reports, give the windsock a good look.

While juggling tasks, remember that aircraft control comes first! Electrical failures are annoying and inconvenient, but they do not affect your aircraft's ability to fly-something to keep at the forefront of your thinking. "Now that I have my private pilot certificate, and I am well past the tension of that day, I have the luxury of being glad for my electrical failure. I know that whatever happens, just fly the airplane," a student pilot wrote, reflecting on an electrical-failure incident in "Learning Experiences: Where Did Everybody Go?" in the April 2004 AOPA Flight Training. Fashion a plan for this unlikely occurrence, and then execute it with confidence if the need should ever arise.

SPORTY'S DONATES $50,000 TO BOY SCOUTS HURRICANE RELIEF FUND
Sporty's has donated $50,000 to the Boy Scouts of America's Hurricane Relief Fund. The money will be used to help local councils that have been significantly affected by the 2005 hurricane season. It will be used to fund housing and basic living necessities for BSA employees, as well as to address business operational needs of councils. Sporty's also intends to donate another $50,000 to specific hurricane relief efforts. Sporty's founder and chairman, Hal Shevers, is an Eagle Scout who was instrumental in reviving Aviation Exploring within the Boy Scouts. Aviation Exploring is a youth development program open to ages 14 through 20. For more information about Aviation Exploring, see the Web site.

U.S. AIR RACE DODGES HURRICANES
The organizers of this year's Marion Jayne Air Race should receive a trophy for perseverance. The U.S. Air Race withstood not one but two hurricanes to get racers to the finish line. After having to reroute the multi-day race around Pascagoula, Mississippi, which had yet to recover from Hurricane Katrina, race organizers then had to set aside months of planning when Hurricane Rita threatened Texas, the original starting point of this year's event. Racers were dispatched first to Glasgow, Kentucky, and finally to Monroe, North Carolina, the eventual launching point. Two new VFR routes were created "literally overnight," U.S. Air Race President Patricia Jayne Keefer reported. She said 2006 air race plans are now being devised "somewhere out of the paths of hurricanes." For more information and race results, see the Web site.

AIRSHOW ORGANIZATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS
The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Foundation announced November 1 that scholarships have been given to eight aviators for flight training or aerobatic training. Patricia Anderson of Westerville, Ohio, received a $1,000 Jan Jones Memorial Scholarship to be used for aerobatic training. Westerville is employed with Big Sky Aviation in Montana. Joseph Kaverman, a flight instructor from Kentwood, Michigan, received a $1,000 French Connection Scholarship in memory of airshow pilots Daniel Heligoin and Montaine Mallet. The $1,000 Charlie Hillard Scholarship was given to William Barber of Whitmore Lake, Michigan, a senior in the school of aviation at Western Michigan University; and Geoffrey Hanson of Fort Worth, Texas, a civil engineering major at San Diego University. The recipient of the $2,000 Leo Loudenslager Scholarship, given to an enlisted member of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels or U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, was TSgt. Jeremy Curbey of Peoria, Arizona. Red Baron Scholarships of $1,000 each were given to Joshua Cisneros of Rockton, Illinois, and Christina Rowney of Enid, Oklahoma. The Sean DeRosier Memorial Scholarship was given to Walter Johansen, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Johansen received $1,000, which he intends to use to obtain an airframe and powerplant certificate. For more information about ICAS scholarships, see the Web site.

NEW YORK FLIGHT SCHOOL ORDERS CIRRUS FLIGHT TRAINING DEVICE
Glass Cockpit Aviation of Farmingdale, New York, has ordered a Cirrus SR22 flight training device (FTD) from Frasca International. The FTD will include Avidyne Entegra PFD and multifunction displays, a Garmin GMA340 audio panel, dual Garmin GNS 430s, a Garmin GTX327 transponder, and an S-Tec 55X autopilot. The 170-degree visual display system will feature a custom visual database for Republic Airport, where Glass Cockpit Aviation is based. The flight school offers primary, transitional, and recurrency training for the Cirrus SR22, as well as training in other technologically advanced aircraft.

USE CAUTION WHEN FLYING NEAR STADIUMS
With the football season under way, pilots must be extra cautious when flying in the vicinity of stadiums. In addition to observing the federal aviation requirements pertaining to obstacle and ground clearance, pilots are prohibited below 3,000 feet within 3 nautical miles of any stadium that holds 30,000 or more spectators one hour before the scheduled event to one hour after it concludes. The FAA is investigating an incident that occurred Saturday, October 29, in which the pilot of a P-51 Mustang allegedly flew over Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana, before a University of Montana football game. For more information on stadium temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), see AOPA Online.

MINETA ANNOUNCES ADIZ COMMENT EXTENSION, PUBLIC MEETINGS
Before a crowd of some 1,000 general aviation pilots and enthusiasts, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced Thursday that he has directed the FAA to extend the comment period by 90 days and hold an AOPA-requested public meeting on its plan to make the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. Mineta made the announcement during the opening general session of AOPA Expo 2005 in Tampa. Mineta also urged pilots to be accountable for their actions and follow the security requirements that are in place. And Mineta addressed an issue that's top-of-mind for many general aviation pilots-user fees. Answering a question from an audience member, Mineta said that solving the FAA's future funding problems is not going to be a one-size-fits-all fix. "I can tell you right now from my perspective [the solution] will not be user fees," Mineta added to resounding applause. Mineta also said that he would support AOPA's recommendation to continue using fuel taxes as the most effective and fair means of funding the FAA. But Mineta agreed that the battle over funding is not yet won and encouraged AOPA to maintain its vigilance. See AOPA Online to read more.

AOPA FILES COMMENTS, URGES FAA TO REMOVE ADIZ RESTRICTIONS
The Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is ineffective, operationally and financially burdensome, a threat to aviation safety, and unnecessary in light of advances in security; it should be eliminated or dramatically modified, AOPA told the FAA in comments (click to download) filed Wednesday on the agency's proposal to make the ADIZ permanent. AOPA also expressed its opposition to the idea of making permanent a "temporary" security measure that was created with no analysis or public comment-a security measure that turns the same tactics used to protect U.S. borders during the Cold War against law-abiding citizens in the heart of the nation's capital. "It raises the very serious question for pilots across the country, 'Have the terrorists won when we apply security requirements internally that are designed to protect our borders?'" AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote on behalf of the association. AOPA's formal comments present carefully reasoned, legally based arguments against the ADIZ permanent, including: The ADIZ was intended to be temporary and was enacted with no public comment or review; it has never been subjected to rigorous analysis; it doesn't meet the legal requirements for review and analysis of alternatives; it creates significant safety hazards and operational concerns for pilots; it adversely affects the economic interests of airports and businesses that rely on light aircraft; there has never been a detailed analysis of the true threat level or consideration of appropriate responses; and there have been dramatic improvements in general aviation security since 9/11. A better solution, AOPA suggests, would be to maintain the existing Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) requirements and eliminate the ADIZ entirely or dramatically modify it. See AOPA Online.

PILOTS DESCEND ON TAMPA FOR AOPA EXPO
Clear skies, light winds, and 70-degree temperatures welcomed pilots as they flew in to Tampa, Florida, Thursday morning for the kick off to AOPA Expo 2005. By noon a total of about 550 aircraft had flown in for the event. AOPA members arrived early so as to not waste any precious time. They were ready to check out the more than 90 aircraft on display, 540-plus exhibit booths, and more than 70 hours of educational seminars. "I want to look at Cessna and Lancair [now Columbia], and kick the tires of some of the aircraft," said AOPA Expo first-timer Russell Steiner of Fort Lauderdale who arrived in a Diamond Star. "And maybe get a better set of headphones." Pilots are receiving the red-carpet treatment from the time they touch down in Tampa. Leading Edge Aviation Services at Vandenberg, Raytheon Aircraft Services and Tampa International Jet Center at Tampa International, and Atlas Aviation at Peter O. Knight are treating AOPA members like royalty: Aircraft are marshaled to a special parking spot, and pilots are met with a shuttle, cold beverages, and friendly faces. AOPA members also are making pilots feel welcome by volunteering to marshal aircraft with the Hillsborough County Airport Authority. For complete coverage of the three-day show, see Virtual Expo on AOPA Online.

SUPPORT GA SAFETY BY PURCHASING HOLIDAY CARDS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation holiday cards are now available. Choose your favorite card design, address labels, and decorative seals. A portion of the proceeds from each box will help the foundation's mission to improve general aviation safety. To view the cards, or place an order, see the Web site or call 800/308-4285.

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.

BOOK OFFERS SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO USE YOUR NEW CERTIFICATE
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