AOPA Online Members Only -- AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition -- Vol. 6, Issue 30

GOING THE DISTANCE
"What do I have to do to get this student to study?" That's a question every flight instructor ponders. Not because the student is unmotivated, lacks commitment to flying, or doesn't realize yet that aviation cannot be mastered by cockpit time alone. Many student pilots "get it" concerning what's involved in a pilot-training program, but they have other priorities competing for their attention. Getting them to stay focused, especially when study-intensive phases of training approach, can make the difference between a program completed and a less desirable outcome. Here, finding yourself a Mentor through AOPA's Project Pilot-someone who faced the same challenges and succeeded-can be a big help.

What are the keys to proactive studying as training moves along? Your training syllabus is a good start. As you and your flight instructor work through the course, break out your books or DVD and get a head start on what's up next. Want more information on your topic? Let the FAA's Student Pilot Guide provide you with an orderly study method and sources of information. Milestones such as the pre-solo written test can be tackled using publications specific to the task. See the April 19, 2002, Training Tips for strategies on how to prepare for the pre-solo written test.

Don't think of home study as only applicable to the ground phases of your program. Nothing warms a flight instructor's heart more, or fills them with enthusiasm for working with a student pilot, than when that student shows up for a flight lesson thoroughly briefed, prepared, and bursting with questions based on research done in advance. Going on a cross-country today? Show your instructor that, last night, you practiced getting a briefing for the trip. Summarize the general weather picture, notams for the destination (perhaps the terminal VOR will be out of service today), and recite such details of the destination airport as traffic pattern altitude, runway bearings and lengths, noise abatement rules, and type of airspace. This is a student pilot who will succeed-a take-charge person with the enthusiasm and motivation to make it through. Also, once you adopt the proactive approach in training, you'll never settle for less in your personal flying.

From a list of aviation medical examiners to pertinent medical Web sites, and from conditions such as arthritis to urolithiasis, you can go to AOPA Online for subject reports on medical certification and other health-related topics. You can also talk to our medical services experts toll-free at 800/872-2672 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern.

Do you have a question? Call the experienced pilots in AOPA's Pilot Information Center at 800/USA-AOPA. They're available to take your calls weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. 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.

CESSNA UNVEILS LIGHT SPORT AIRPLANE
After much anticipation in the industry, Cessna Aircraft showed off its light sport aircraft proof-of-concept model at Oshkosh Monday. The high-wing strutted airplane, which has yet to fly, boasts an aluminum fuselage and a composite cowl, with a full-castering nosewheel. The aircraft currently has a 100-hp Rotax 912S engine, a preliminary choice made for its weight-to-power ratio. The final choice of engine, among most other aircraft components-including the possibility of a whole-airframe parachute-will wait until the company has determined whether it will enter the market or not. The entire proof-of-concept vehicle came together within the past 10 weeks at Cessna, under a challenge from management to the engineering team to put together an example LSA in time for the show. Cessna will be surveying show attendees on their response to the aircraft design and overall LSA concept. Said Cessna chief Jack Pelton, "The driver is going to be cost, not volume," whether the company enters the LSA market. If Cessna can prove to itself that the market is there at an attractive cost of production, the company will jump in. "We're not expecting numbers like 2,000 a year," said Pelton. Just a sustainable number through the economic cycles common to general aviation. "It would be an extension of our product line to stimulate new pilot starts." A "go/no-go" decision will be made by the first quarter of 2007. In a later technical briefing to the press, Pelton tipped his hat to AOPA's Project Pilot program as a natural companion to the possible Cessna LSA project. For AOPA's complete Oshkosh news coverage, see AOPA Online.

UTAH STATE GOES ALL-DIAMOND, ALL-GARMIN
Utah State University has taken delivery of 10 Diamond DA40-FP Diamond Stars, each equipped with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics in the cockpit. Two DA42 Twin Stars will follow in August. "These modern aircraft will allow USU to train flight students in the safest and most advanced training aircraft available today and will also support the university's agenda for advanced research into a number of aviation-related areas," said Rick Charles, USU director of aviation.

CAE LAUNCHES ACADEMY TO ADDRESS GLOBAL PILOT SHORTAGE
There is no shortage of pilots here in the United States, but that's not the case around the world. In some countries-India, for example-there aren't enough qualified pilots to fly commercial jets. To address this need, CAE, a flight simulation technology developer, announced July 19 that it has created a new training alliance intended to address the global shortage of pilots. CAE Global Academy will be a network of flight training organizations offering pilot candidates the required training for a commercial pilot certificate, plus the ability to continue to a specific type rating. With the global jet fleet expected to almost double in the next 20 years, industry sources estimate demand for new pilots at 18,000 annually, said Jeff Roberts, CAE group president of civil training and services and innovation. "CAE said it has signed alliance agreements with three flight training organizations-International Airline Training Academy, Tucson, Arizona; HM Aerospace, Langkawi, Malaysia; and Academia Aeronautica de Evora, Evora, Portugal-and is in discussions with other flight training organizations in various locations.

OHIO COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS FLIGHT DISPATCHER PROGRAM
Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, has added a new flight dispatcher certificate program to its aviation technology department. The 29-credit-hour certificate program prepares students to take knowledge and oral exams for certification by the FAA. Aircraft dispatchers are equally responsible, with captain or pilot in command of the aircraft, for the safety and operational control of each commercial airline flight. "Aircraft dispatchers are essentially 'safety officers,' the eyes and ears on the ground, for airline flight crews," said Walt Davis, professor and chairman of Sinclair's aviation technology department. "They prepare flight plans using state-of-the-art equipment that enable aircraft to carry maximum payloads, be it passengers or cargo, to a destination at the lowest possible cost." Students learn meteorology, air traffic control procedures, instrument navigation, aircraft performance, and weight and balance for the Beechcraft 1900, Boeing 727 and 737, and McDonnell-Douglas DC-9, among other subjects. For more information about the flight dispatcher program, contact Davis at 937/512-4134 or e-mail [email protected].

SCHOOL GETS GREAT RESPONSE TO SAFETY PROGRAM DISCOUNT
A Wisconsin flight school reports "tremendous success" offering a flight time discount for pilots who complete an AOPA Air Safety Foundation online course. "It's the most successful promotion we've ever done," said Chief Pilot Fred Vogt of Western Shore Aviation in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. "It gives our customers an incentive to stay current, while lowering their rental cost." He estimates that 80 percent of Western Shore's rental customers have taken advantage of the flight time discount at least once. Western Shore offers a $10 discount on the next hour of aircraft rental to any pilot who successfully completes any of the free AOPA Air Safety Foundation full-length online courses and presents the course graduation certificate at the rental counter. "It's made the pilots who are already our customers safer," said Vogt. "It's also an effective way of communicating to other pilots and even non-pilots that this FBO is on the leading edge, that we're truly interested in making you a better, safer pilot."

USER FEE REALITY-BOYER TELLS CROWD 'BE VERY CONCERNED'
Here are some scary numbers: $30 for a flight service station "consultation," plus an additional $5.31 for each forecast product used. That's the general aviation reality in the United Kingdom. How about $1.50 per minute for a flight service briefing in Germany? Or $1,000 for a private pilot knowledge test in the Netherlands. "In my situation, it's actually cheaper to fly the whole family by airline to the United States, rent an aircraft for about 30 hours, and have a nice two-week vacation (including hotel and rental car costs) than flying the same amount of hours in Europe," wrote an Austrian pilot to AOPA President Boyer. In New Zealand, the wife of a pilot tells of how her husband complained about the expense of getting a briefing and filing a flight plan. He was killed in a weather-related accident. He'd skipped the briefing and hadn't filed. "That's the reality of user fees and their impact on general aviation around the world," Boyer told an Oshkosh audience Tuesday. "That's what it could mean to all of you if we allow the user fee camel to stick its nose under the tent here in the United States." AOPA joined forces with leaders from EAA, the National Business Aviation Association, General Aircraft Manufacturers Association, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Cirrus Design Corporation to present a forum on the very real threat of user fees for general aviation. 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.

SPORTY'S LOBSTERMOUNT HOLDS ACCESSORIES IN PLAIN VIEW
Sometimes you just don't have enough places to hold all of the gadgets you might like to bring along on a flight-a handheld GPS, or a transceiver, or even a personal digital assistant. Sporty's Suction Cup LobsterMount can help. The mount keeps electronics in plain sight using a suction-cup base that is designed to adhere to curved windows. Its cradle adapts to hold units that measure from one and one-half inch to two and one-half inches in width. The LobsterMount sells for $64.95. Order it online or call 800/SPORTYS.

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.

Answer: No. Your initial solo endorsements allow you to fly solo within 25 nautical miles from your departure airport, assuming your flight instructor hasn't placed any other limiting endorsements in your logbook. Those initial endorsements include the make and model specific endorsement on your student pilot certificate and the make and model specific endorsement in your logbook that is valid for 90 days. According to FAR 61.93, flying farther than 25 nm from your departure airport or landing at another airport other than your departure airport requires more training in cross-country flight and additional endorsements. Review Flight Training Online for more information and resources on student solo flight.

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.

Martinsburg, West Virginia. The Spirit of America Balloon Festival takes place August 4 through 6 at Eastern West Virginia Regional/Shepherd Field (MRB). This event features a night glow, balloon race, aircraft display, car show, and more! For information, see the Web site.

Detroit, Michigan. Thunder Over Michigan 2006 takes place August 5 and 6 at Willow Run (YIP). Don't miss this exciting airshow saluting the Douglas Skyraider and the Supermarine Spitfire. For more information, see the Web site.

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 Long Beach, California, August 5 and 6. Clinics are also scheduled in Atlanta, Champaign, Illinois, and Fort Worth, Texas, August 12 and 13. 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 Wichita, Kansas, and Eden Prairie, Minnesota, August 7; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 8. The topic is "Emergency Procedures." For details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.