AOPA Online Members Only -- AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition -- Vol. 6, Issue 35

WHO HAS PRIORITY?
Long holiday weekends are a great time for solo practice, a series of flight lessons, or to finally log that long cross-country. Looking for ideas for a cross-country destination or an airport to visit on a dual flight? The August 18, 2006, AOPA ePilot newsletter provides links to resources. If weather cooperates, many pilots will head to the airport-meaning that you'll encounter lots of air traffic out there. As discussed in the August 25, 2006, Training Tips, keep a sharp lookout for traffic, even when relying on electronic navigation information or radar flight following from air traffic control.

Now you spot traffic. In the pattern of nontowered airports or over VORs are likely places, but it's possible anywhere. You are convinced that you must maneuver to avoid a conflict with the opposing aircraft. What's the right thing to do? Answering that question requires knowledge of right-of-way rules as in Federal Aviation Regulation 91.113. The rule gives procedures for scenarios, including aircraft converging, approaching head-on, overtaking, and landing. Review them-and remember, an aircraft in distress has priority over all. Complying means you must be able to resolve several issues promptly. For instance, if the aircraft are converging, the aircraft on the other's right has the right of way. How should you maneuver to avoid a head-on conflict? Alter course to the right. What if the aircraft are of different categories? The regulation gives the order of priority when it comes to right of way. Note the priority given over other engine-driven aircraft to an aircraft towing another aircraft. This is important if you are heading to an airport with glider operations. Always be sure you don't cut off another aircraft having the right of way in a traffic pattern.

Also note this requirement of right-of-way regulations: "When a rule of this section gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give way to that aircraft and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear." See those other aircraft, but also, be seen. One way is to turn on your landing light, even in broad daylight, as recommended in the June 17, 2005, Training Tips article "Light it up, Slow it Down."

Then go out and take advantage of summer's last long holiday to move your training along.

While not making any judgments on the causes of the fatal crash Sunday of a commuter jet in Lexington, Kentucky, it highlights the need for every pilot to remain vigilant during ground operations. To help ensure that you know where you are in reference to taxiways and runways, always use an airport diagram and mark the runway in use with the heading bug. Once you're on the runway, verify that the heading indicator (and bug) are aligned with the runway. Pilots should also know the meaning of all airport signs and markings. To help you brush up on signs and markings, review the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Runway Safety online course and Runway Flash Cards. Free airport diagrams are also available on the foundation's Web site.

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.

ASF INTRODUCES 'GPS FOR IFR' ONLINE COURSE
Instrument-rated pilots will tell you that a GPS receiver is an integral part of IFR operations in today's busy airspace. If you're an instrument pilot or training for the instrument rating, why not get the most out of your panel-mount GPS? Take the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's newest online course, GPS for IFR Operations , and find out about GPS receivers and IFR certification; common terms and receiver functions; flight planning; and en route, terminal, and approach procedures. There's also a section containing practical tips and "gotchas."

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE ADDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, Illinois, has added aviation management to its associate in applied science degree program. Students who enroll in the program will study aviation history, aircraft systems and components, aviation meteorology, air traffic control systems, FAA regulations, and airport planning and management, among other topics. Graduates of the two-year program have the opportunity to transfer directly to Southern Illinois University Carbondale's bachelor of science degree in aviation management program. Southwestern also offers degrees and certificate programs in flight training and aviation maintenance technology. For more information, call Keith Mueller, program coordinator, at 618/235-2700, extension 5683.

DANIEL WEBSTER COLLEGE PURCHASES HANGAR LIFTS
With hangar rentals on the rise, aircraft owners are looking for ways to cut costs. Daniel Webster College (DWC) in Nashua, New Hampshire, recently announced that it will buy four hangar lifts from Arm Aerospace of Tucson, Arizona. The Aero-Lifts, which are stand-alone ground-handling devices that free up hangar space by hoisting aircraft 10 feet in the air, will be delivered in October. The college apparently took a try-before-you-buy approach, opting to rent an Aero-Lift with an option to buy so that it could evaluate the device over the 2005-2006 New Hampshire winter season. Stephen K. Brown, DWC director of flight operations, said the college used the lift with its Cessna 172s and tailwheel Grob 109B motorgliders. DWC owns a hangar that was housing 15 Cessna 172s; with the Aero-Lifts, they now can fit 18 to 19 Skyhawks in the same space, according to the manufacturer.

AOPA'S REAL-TIME FLIGHT PLANNER HAS POWERFUL NEW FEATURES
The latest version of AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner is here! What does that mean for you? Lots of new enhancements, including graphical overlays of airmets and sigmets, wind speed/direction and temperature at altitude on the FlightLog, pop-up windows showing METARs along a route, and many others. AOPA Flight Training members can download this powerful flight-planning tool as a benefit of your membership. See AOPA Online for a complete description of the enhancements and instructions for downloading the new version. All of your stored pilot and aircraft profiles and routes are maintained when you install the new version.

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.

TACKLE MIC FRIGHT WITH GOLD SEAL COMMUNICATIONS CD
Do you clench up at the microphone? Does the prospect of talking to air traffic control (ATC) cause you to think about flying somewhere else? If so, you're not alone. Many pilots and student pilots have difficulty transmitting on the radio. Enter Gold Seal, which has created a series of lessons in VFR radio communications on audio CD. Squawk VFR was culled from hundreds of hours of digitally recorded pilot/ATC communications. Each lesson is narrated by a Master CFI and includes real-world examples of radio dialogues in various types of airspace. In addition to airspace phraseology and requirements, the course covers flight following, lost procedures, and in-flight weather services. The package includes a second disk that teaches effective ways to get weather briefings from flight service station specialists. It sells for $24.95. For more information, see the Web site.

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: The box you describe is a special conservation area. For example, it could be a wildlife refuge or a national park. Pilots flying above one of these areas, as stated in Chapter 7 of the Aeronautical Information Manual, are asked to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above ground level in order to limit aircraft noise and reduce potential hazards such as bird strikes. Some specially designated parks and wildlife areas have further restrictions; see the language for Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park. To help decode all of the chart symbols you see, view NACO's Aeronautical Chart Users Guide on AOPA Online.

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.

Galesburg, Illinois. The National Stearman Fly-In takes place September 4 through 10 at Galesburg Municipal (GBG). A gathering of hundreds of the popular trainer and those who admire them. Contact National Stearman Fly-In, 309/343-6409, or visit the Web site.

Chico, California. Chico AirFest 2006 takes place September 2 at Chico Municipal (CIC). Friday evening dinner and flying pyrotechics show. Saturday features a static display, with morning and afternoon airshows. Contact the Chico Chamber of Commerce, 530/891-5556, 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 Sacramento, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Columbia, Maryland, September 9 and 10. Clinics are also scheduled in Phoenix, and Richmond, Virginia, September 16 and 17. 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 Orono, Maine, September 5; South Portland, Maine, September 6; and Lexington, Massachusetts, September 7. The topic is "Do the Right Thing-Decision Making for Pilots." For details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.