AOPA Online Members Only -- AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition -- Vol. 6, Issue 43

TFR SEASON
Fall has many charms. It's a great time to fly. There's the World Series, and in even-numbered years such as 2006, national elections. Those occasions don't seem related to general aviation—but nowadays they are. Large gatherings such as sporting events should alert pilots to possible flight restrictions. AOPA's Pilot Information Center has compiled a list of stadiums and schedules for major sporting events. And with political campaigns under way, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) pop up on short notice in unlikely places. "There seems to be an increasing risk that a TFR will affect your flight sometime soon, sometimes because the TFR lies in the vicinity of your flight path so you will have to plan your navigation around it, and sometimes because you will have to take specific action to find out that it exists," Kathy Yodice advised in the August 2004 AOPA Flight Training "Legal Briefing" column.

Why can a TFR pop up so suddenly that a conscientious pilot could miss it? Much changed in the post-9/11 aviation world. "One of these events was not so obvious. It took the form of bureaucratic small print buried in the Federal Register. A rule change enacted September 11 expanded the FAA's power to issue temporary flight restrictions. This tiny rule started an unfortunate and unintentional chain of events that has led to the TFR dilemma now facing all general aviation pilots and airport operators," AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote in "President's Position: TFRs" in the March 2002 AOPA Pilot. Reading about how the process evolved will give you valuable perspective.

AOPA Online is helping members cope with the risks by maintaining a TFR page. Also, see the news story, "Where's the commander in chief? Your pilot certificate depends on knowing the answer." It gives this advice: "Plan your flight with AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner. You can see all of the TFRs plotted on a map and ‘rubber band' your route to go around them. Most importantly, call flight service just before you take off, and ask for the latest notams. Sometimes presidential and security TFRs can pop up on short notice and may not be displayed on our flight planner."

It boils down to this: Plan all flights carefully, then check often for pop-up TFRs.

Grounded by the weather, your schedule, or other intrusions? Don't give up—you'll get back in the air some day. In the meantime, keep your head in the game by reading every aviation article you can find, or use a desktop computer simulator to practice basic and instrument flying skills. Research and plan trips to future destinations with AOPA Online's flight-planning resources— aviation weather from Meteorlogix, the Real-Time Flight Planner, and AOPA's Airport Directory Online. Also, be sure to visit the AOPA Air Safety Foundation home page for free interactive courses, Safety Advisors, quizzes, and a schedule of safety seminars in your area.

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.

AIRSHOW FOUNDATION NAMES 2006 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Foundation has named four past and current airshow performers to its ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame. Inductees for 2006 are Marion Cole, Eddie Green, and Patty Wagstaff, and the late Paul Mantz. Cole flew as part of the original Cole Brothers Air Shows after World War II and later founded the Marion F. Cole Air Shows. He is a founding member of the International Aerobatic Club. Green, known as Eddie "The Grip," is considered the most experienced airshow stunt man of all time, whose wingwalking career exceeds more than 1,000 trips atop an airplane. Wagstaff is a member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and is best known for her high-energy, low-level aerobatic routines, which she has performed throughout the world. Mantz's five-decade career included airshows, movies, and air racing. An induction ceremony is planned in December during the annual ICAS convention to be held in Las Vegas. For more information, see the Web site.

AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION HELPS YOU GET READY FOR WINTER
Winter is right around the corner. This season brings some great flying weather and the potential for encountering icing conditions in flight. Do you know how to anticipate areas of probable icing? Is your aircraft's anti-icing equipment enough to provide safe flight through ice-laden air? How can you know if your aircraft is accumulating ice on areas you can't see—like the propeller or the tail? This Safety Advisor discusses icing and provides tips on how to avoid this potentially deadly foe.

MICHIGAN FBO OFFERS $25 INITIAL FLIGHT LESSONS
Dodgen Aircraft, located at Allegan Municipal Airport in Allegan, Michigan, has begun offering $25 half-hour first flight lessons as an incentive to draw in more potential new students. The offer includes a half-hour of instruction in a one-on-one environment with an instructor. "Where most flight schools offer introduction flights for much higher prices, we are offering this as an opportunity for anyone who has always thought about learning to fly to try it at a rock-bottom price with no risk," said Jason Blair, owner of Dodgen Aircraft. Blair credited AOPA's Project Pilot and the Be A Pilot program for making people aware that flying is an achievable and enjoyable dream. The FBO is offering the new program in the spirit of the two organizations' goals. For more information, see the Web site.

TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS SEAPLANE RATING
Tulsa Community College (TCC) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Grand Seaplanes have teamed up to offer seaplane training through TCC's continuing education program. Grand Seaplanes, based at Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma, provides the flight instruction. Training is done in Lake amphibious aircraft. For more information, see the Web site.

CAPT PROGRAM SELECTS UPSET RECOVERY TRAINING PROVIDER
Flight Training Services International has chosen APS Emergency Maneuver Training to provide upset recovery training for its Commercial Airline Pilot Training program. APS is a Part 141 school specializing in upset recovery, spin training, and instrument recovery courses. "APS will be indispensable to the CAPT graduates throughout their professional pilot careers," according to Flight Training Services International. The CAPT program, based at Flagler County Airport in Palm Coast, Florida, offers initial and recurrent training in Cirrus aircraft, and also offers a one-year program that trains individuals with no flight experience to fly commercial aircraft. For more information, see the Web site.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PRIVILEGES WITHOUT A MEDICAL
Have a medical condition that will allow you to qualify for only a third class medical? Has your medical certificate expired or been denied? Just because you don't have a second class medical doesn't mean you can't provide flight instruction. According to FAR 61.23, a third class medical will suffice if you are exercising the privileges of your flight instructor certificate while acting as pilot in command (PIC) or as a required flight crewmember. In other words, you can do the same type of flight instruction with a third class medical that you could with a second class medical. If you don't have a current medical, you can still provide flight instruction as long as you are not acting as PIC or as a required pilot flight crewmember. You can't act as a safety pilot because that would make you a required flight crewmember, but you can instruct someone who is at least a private pilot, is current, has a medical, and is qualified to fly the aircraft you are instructing in. And yes, you can get paid for your flight instruction services. For more information, read "Teaching without a medical" in the June 2003 AOPA Flight Training.

NAMES YOU KNOW TO SPEAK AT AOPA EXPO
Barry Schiff. Tom Haines. Tom Horne. Steve Ells. Rod Machado. You've seen those bylines and enjoyed their writing for years. Now get their very special aviation insights in person at AOPA Expo, November 9 through 11, in the Palm Springs, California, Convention Center. Capt. Barry Schiff will be the featured speaker at the Expo luncheon on Thursday. The former TWA captain has some 27,000 hours logged in more than 300 aircraft. He's an award-winning journalist, whose work appears each month in AOPA Pilot magazine. Columnist Rod Machado will offer two seminars and the opportunity to "laugh and learn." AOPA Pilot editors Tom Haines, Tom Horne, and Steve Ells will give you their knowledgeable insights on everything from buying your first airplane to using Internet weather. They're just a few of the many experts offering more than 70 hours of educational seminars at Expo.

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.

LEATHER FLIGHT BAGS AVAILABLE FROM PILOTMALL.COM
So, you've been carrying that battered old briefcase-that-doubles-as-a-flight-bag throughout your training. Now it's time to upgrade to a new bag. Pilotmall.com has a new selection of soft leather flight bags in various sizes and colors. Choose from small, medium, large, or backpack style. Prices run from $149 to $199. Order online or call 800/249-5730.

CORRECTION: The correct Web link for Max Trescott's glass cockpit training courses mentioned in last week's newsletter is www.pilotlearning.com. ePilot Flight Training Edition regrets the error.

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: You can rub the frost off with a cloth (but this can be time consuming), or you can push your airplane into a warm hangar to let it defrost. Just be sure the aircraft is dry before you move it back outside. Some chemical spray products can be used, but be careful to use the right spray in the right place. For instance, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation points out that deicing sprays made for automobile windows cannot be used on aircraft windows. For more information on deicing your aircraft, download the ASF Safety Brief Cold Facts: Wing Contamination.

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.

Casa Grande, AZ. The Copperstate Fly-In takes place October 26 through 29 at Casa Grande Municipal (CGZ). See antiques, modern experimental, and homebuilt aircraft, attend forums from how to build an airplane to how to fly one safely, and taste many cuisines at the food court. Contact Bob Hasson, 520/400-8887, or visit the Web site.

Edwards, CA. The 2006 Open House and Airshow takes place October 28 and 29 at Edwards AFB (EDW). Edwards AFB hosts nearly one mile of static displays, including the CV-22, F/A-22, and more. Each day begins with a sonic boom by an F-16, and ends with the Thunderbirds show. Contact Edwards Public Affairs, 661/277-4127, or visit 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 Clinics are scheduled in Anchorage, AK, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Ft. Worth, TX, November 4 and 5. Clinics are also scheduled in San Diego, Albuquerque, NM, and Ashburn, VA, November 18 and 19. 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 Salt Lake City, October 30; Rohnert Park, CA, October 31; Fresno, CA, and Hudson, NC, Novenber 1; San Luis Obispo, CA, and Jamestown, NC, November 2; and Pikeville, NC, November 4. Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.