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Copyright © 2005 AOPA. | National Pilot Alert
| Act now! So far, more than 5,600 pilots have submitted comments about making the ADIZ permanent. Take 15 minutes to help protect your freedom to fly—tell the FAA not to make the ADIZ permanent. See AOPA Online .
| | Training Tips
|  TRUE AIRSPEED INDICATORS
Your flight test examiner points to the airspeed indicator on your trainer's panel and asks, "What is that ring around the outside of the instrument for?" If you are a master of systems knowledge, discussed in the October 7, 2005, Training Tips, your answer should be, "That is the true airspeed indicator." If you have practiced using this handy device during your cross-country flying, you will be ready to provide a demonstration of how it works.
Many aircraft have a true airspeed indicator as part of the airspeed indicator. Does yours? True airspeed (TAS) is the basis for your flight performance calculations. Noting any TAS changes in flight lets you keep precise track of your expected fuel consumption, an excellent safety practice as noted in the feature "How Not to Run Out of Gas" in the June 2004 AOPA Flight Training.
The meaning and uses of the various airspeeds, and links to further reading, can be found in the February 6, 2004, Training Tips. Think of the true airspeed indicator as a flight computer co-located with your airspeed indicator, letting you determine true airspeed at a glance, free from the distraction and time-consuming effort involved in reaching for flight gear in your case. To use it you will need to know the outside air temperature (OAT) and the pressure altitude—get this by setting your altimeter momentarily to 29.92 inches Hg, noting the pressure altitude reading, then returning to the current altimeter setting. Match up the OAT and the pressure altitude and read your TAS at your airspeed indicator's pointer. For maximum accuracy, adjust indicated airspeed to calibrated airspeed from charts in your pilot's operating handbook. Read TAS opposite that value.
Is this moot if your examiner probed your knowledge of airspeeds and altitudes during ground review of cross-country and performance planning? No. The question could still come up in the cockpit. "Since there is no formal division between the oral and skills portion of the practical test, this becomes an ongoing process throughout the test," notes the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards. So know if your aircraft is equipped with a true airspeed indicator and how to use it—one more way to become an efficient and informed pilot for the long haul.
| Your Partner in Training
| Before you can take a checkride for the private pilot certificate or instrument rating, you must first pass the appropriate knowledge test. Be sure to check AOPA Online, where you'll find knowledge test question banks for most ratings and certificates, a list of FAA-approved testing centers, and even a discount coupon for AOPA members.
Do you have a question? Call our experienced pilots—available weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern—toll-free at 800/872-2672. As an AOPA Flight Training Member, you have access to all of the features within AOPA Online and AOPA Flight Training Online. Login information is available online.
| Flight Training News
| | DIAMOND DELIVERS TWIN-ENGINE AIRCRAFT TO CHINA
Beijing PanAm International Aviation Academy has taken delivery of the first three Diamond DA42 turbo diesel-powered twin-engine aircraft. They are the first of a 19-aircraft order for the flight school. Diamond pilots departed Diamond's Austrian factory on September 24 and flew the aircraft across Russia to Beijing, covering a distance of 4,451 nautical miles and burning 298.21 gallons of Jet A1 fuel for each aircraft. The DA42 Twin Stars will supplement the existing fleet of 18 single-engine DA40s used in the school's airline cadet training program. The school's fleet eventually will number 60 Diamond aircraft.
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2006 SCHOLARSHIPS
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has posted applications and information for 2006 scholarship opportunities. The McAllister and Donald Burnside Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually and administered jointly by the foundation and the University Aviation Association. Each scholarship awards $1,000 to a promising individual who, without assistance, would find it difficult to obtain a college education. The recipient must be enrolled in a curriculum leading to a degree in aviation. Applications are due March 31, 2006. For more information or to download an application, see the Web site.
EMBRY-RIDDLE LAUNCHES PROGRAM FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has created a new scholarship program that will recognize outstanding high school students from the State of Washington. The Future PathFinders program will establish five scholarships valued at $20,000. Scholarships will be awarded to students enrolling at any of Embry-Riddle's four-year full-time undergraduate programs at either the Prescott, Arizona, or Daytona Beach, Florida, campuses. The new scholarship program is a salute to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, which annually honors pioneering accomplishments in aviation or aerospace by individuals or teams with ties to the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about the scholarship at the Museum of Flight's Web site or Embry-Riddle's Web site.
STUDENT ANNOUNCES FALL DREAMLAUNCH TOUR
Embry-Riddle aviation business student Jamail Larkins has embarked on the second season of the DreamLaunch Tour. Embry-Riddle estimates that Larkins has talked about careers in aviation to more than 22,000 students at middle and high schools since the tour first began in January 2004. "The DreamLaunch tour has exceeded our expectations so far," Larkins said. "I've received letters and e-mails from many students who had never previously considered the wide-ranging career opportunities in aviation, saying that the tour's presentation and the media coverage of the tour really got them excited." For more information and a tour schedule, see the Web site.
| Inside AOPA
| | ADIZ OPPOSITION BUILDS, BUT MORE PILOTS NEED TO RESPOND
By midday Thursday, more than 5,600 comments had been filed on the Washington Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), with 99.99 percent of them against making it permanent or expanding it to other major cities. "That's a great initial response, but there's greater strength in more numbers," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Whether you live in Washington, D.C., or across the country in Washington State, you too need to respond, because if an ADIZ is allowed to remain over the 3,000 square miles of airspace near Washington and Baltimore, ADIZs could multiply to cities like Boston, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Seattle." And that threat hasn't escaped some of the commenters. "While I do not reside in the D.C. area...I nonetheless see the door opening to ultimately make any Class B airspace area subject to ADIZ regulatory constraints," wrote a Detroit pilot. "The restriction proposed in Washington, D.C., is unneeded and is like killing a mosquito with a pile driver," said a pilot from Washington State. A police helicopter pilot in the Los Angeles area expressed his strong opposition to the ADIZ, saying it places a "major, unnecessary burden on pilots and air traffic controllers with almost no increased security benefit." Other pilots wrote how the ADIZ had forced them to stop flying, or stop doing business in the area. See AOPA Online.
AOPA EXPO ONLY WEEKS AWAY—REGISTER TODAY
AOPA Expo is less than a month away, and time is running out to receive special discounts on registration. AOPA members who register before October 17 can receive discounts of 10 to 30 percent—and that leaves more money for the fun stuff like shopping for pilot accessories and the latest gadgets for your airplane. AOPA Expo is the pilot's largest toy store. The Tampa Convention Center will be filled with 540 booths, and more than 80 of the latest aircraft will be on display at Peter O. Knight Airport, including light sport aircraft. Live demonstrations will be given for the first time at the aircraft display. Make time to join aviation humorist Rod Machado for lunch and laughs during Expo's opening luncheon on Thursday, November 3. And start each day off right with general session speakers who will get you caught up on everything GA in only one hour! There also will be more than 75 hours of educational seminars to choose among, including a special technology track.
AOPA HAS RESOURCES FOR FALL FLYING
Fall flying often is a welcome change for pilots—the hot, humid, high-density-altitude conditions that hamper aircraft performance are gone, and the cooler, denser air that promises better climb rates is here to stay for a while. But taking advantage of the change of seasons means dusting off your night-flying skills, or, if you are a student pilot, perhaps learning about the special requirements of night flight for the first time. AOPA Online has the resources to help you understand night flight before the days get shorter. These include the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's night flying safety topic, which provides quick access to articles in AOPA Flight Training and sister publication AOPA Pilot, Sporty's Safety Quizzes, and Safety Hot Spots on the subject. See also AOPA's aviation subject report, which provides links to more than 30 magazine articles. For more information, see AOPA Online.
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.
| Training Products
| | BLACKWELL PUBLISHING OFFERS AVIATION LAW WORKBOOK
You may well be a weather guru and an aerodynamics whiz kid, but how well do you know aviation law? The latest edition of Practical Aviation Law, by J. Scott Hamilton, has been released with an accompanying workbook. Published by Blackwell Publishing, Practical Aviation Law serves as a textbook in aviation law courses, but it also makes a valuable reference tool for any pilot who wants to know more about the aviation legal system, regulations, and law. The textbook is $39.99; the workbook is $24.99. For more information, see the Web site or call 800/862-6657.
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.
| | Final Exam | Question: What conditions are favorable for carburetor ice formation, and how would I know if I have it?
Answer: Conditions are prime for carburetor ice formation when outside air temperatures are between 20 degrees (minus 7 Celsius) and 70 degrees (20 C) Fahrenheit with visible moisture or humid air. It may also form with low or closed throttle settings. As the mixture passes through the carburetor, it cools as a result of fuel vaporization and air expansion. This cooling forces water vapor out of the mixture. If the temperature is below freezing inside the carburetor, the water vapor freezes inside. You would notice it as a drop in rpm in an airplane with a fixed-pitch propeller or a drop in manifold pressure if you have a constant-speed propeller. When you first apply carburetor heat you are effectively making the mixture richer, and you will notice a drop in rpm or manifold pressure. If ice is present, the rpm or manifold pressure should rise as it is removed, and the engine may run rough. Once the carburetor heat is turned off, the rpm or manifold pressure should rise to a higher setting than before you turned it on if ice was present. Make sure you are familiar with any procedures in your aircraft's operating handbook for carburetor heat. AC 20-113 and AOPA Online offer additional information.
Got a question for our technical services staff? E-mail to [email protected] or call the Pilot Information Center, 800/872-2672. Don't forget the online archive of "Final Exam" questions and answers, searchable by keyword or topic.
| 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 images in our archives and select your favorites today! For more details, see AOPA Online.
| What's New At AOPA Online
| Why doesn't Northern California get thunderstorms? What is a "closed low aloft," and what kind of weather can be expected with this phenomenon? Meteorlogix weather experts answer these and other queries in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section of AOPA Online.
| Weekend Weather
| See the current weather on AOPA Online, provided by Meteorlogix.
| ePilot Calendar
| FLYING DESTINATIONS THIS WEEKEND:
Franklin, North Carolina. The 2005 Macon County Airshow takes place October 22 at Macon County (1A5). Activities include aerobatic performers, precision water dropping demonstration, two skydiving teams, and lots of aircraft on display; this event offers something for everyone. Contact Neil Hoppe, 828/349-4615, or visit the Web site.
Grand Canyon, Arizona. Thunder Over the Coconino takes place October 22 at Valle (40G). Join this gathering of antique aircraft, warbirds, and classic cars at the Planes of Fame museum. Young Eagle flights available. Contact Norm Gobeil, 928/635-5280.
To submit an event to the calendar or to search all events visit AOPA Online. For airport details, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online.
FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER CLINICS
The next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic is scheduled in Windsor, Connecticut, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, October 22 and 23. Courses are also scheduled in Ontario, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, October 29 and 30. For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the CFI Refresher Online.
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Northglenn, Colorado, October 18; Colorado Springs, Colorado, October 19; Pikeville, North Carolina, October 22; and Raleigh, North Carolina, October 24. For topic information and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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