Utilizing AOPA Flight Training Online
Say it's 10 o'clock in the evening, you're planning for a long cross-country the next morning, and you just discovered that the destination airport your flight instructor assigned is across the state line--and out of the coverage area of the airport/facility directory in your flight bag. Perhaps you want to know how much your altitude can vary while performing steep turns, but you left your copy of the Practical Test Standards at the office. Maybe you just finished a reading assignment about stalls and the handbook has left you more confused than when you began--and your instructor is out of town. What are you going to do?
AOPA has these answers, and many more, available for student pilots 24 hours per day, seven days a week, at AOPA Flight Training Online. It's far, far more than just the complete archives for more than 12 years' worth of AOPA Flight Training magazine articles. This is the best and most comprehensive Web site for student pilots anywhere, and you can count on its information to be accurate--after all, it's published by the 407,000-member AOPA, the world's most effective aviation organization. And it's free to all AOPA members, including student pilots who are receiving the free six-month introductory membership.
That airport information you need? Go to the Flight Bag tab and click on AOPA's Airport Directory Online to search for the airport, by name, city, or airport identifier.
The PTS? Click on the Library tab and scroll down to FAA Practical Test Standards.
More information on stalls? Click on the Students tab, select Pre-Solo, and you're on your way.
In fact, the Students tab has some of the most comprehensive information on the site. Based on our knowledge of the flight-training process and research into student pilots' needs, we have divided this section into the five major phases of flight training:
Pre-solo. In this phase you are mastering the fundamentals of aircraft control, finding out about stalls and other concepts, the FAA medical and student pilot certificate--which you'll need in order to solo--and, of course, learning how to land.
Solo. You have already made your first solo flights, and now you're expanding your horizons. At this time many instructors will elaborate on the engine, fuel, electrical, and other systems on your aircraft.
Maneuvers. Now you're really looking forward to earning your certificate, so this is a good time to focus on passing the FAA knowledge test if you haven't already. You're also perfecting your ground-reference maneuvers.
Cross-country. Prepare for the additional challenges of cross-country flying by reading up on weather and navigation. Information on airspace, aeronautical charts, avionics and flight instruments, and weight and balance topics can be found here.
Flight test prep. Review all the information you'll need to know for your FAA practical test. We can also give you an idea of what you might expect on your checkride. That knowledge can really help to reduce your anxiety on that important day.
If you're just starting out, the Learn tab will take you to information on all of the basics of the training process. How do you choose a flight school, or select an instructor? Don't miss the frequently asked questions about learning to fly.
The Flight Bag tab takes you to many more flight-planning tools, including online weather, information on notams and temporary flight restrictions, and helpful documents such as flight-planning forms. Ask your instructor before using the free online flight planner.
Looking for something you read some time ago in AOPA Flight Training, but you can't find that issue of the magazine? No problem. Go to the Magazine tab to browse the online archives. You can view an index of articles by year, or search for the article--or subject--you want by typing a few keywords.
You can find complete references to a variety of subjects by clicking on the Library tab. Available here are the full texts of the Aeronautical Information Manual, federal aviation regulations, AOPA's Handbook for Pilots, and the Aeronautical Chart User's Guide, among many others.
If you're not already using it, check out this valuable resource today. It's just one of the many ways that AOPA assures your $39 dues are the best possible investment in general aviation.
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