Training Notes and News

Alsim, a simulator manufacturer founded in France in 1994 by an airline pilot and a computer engineer, has entered the U.S. market with the installation of two simulators at a Michigan university.

Andrews University in Barrien Springs, Michigan, has installed an Alsim AL200 MCC, a fixed-base multicrew flight training device that can be reconfigured to represent 18 different aircraft, and a Cessna 172 Garmin G1000 glass-cockpit trainer (above left). Both feature 180-degree fields of view. The 3,200-student university in southwestern Michigan has about 85 flight students.

Alsim pioneered the use of flat-panel computer screens to display cockpit instruments. In addition to being rapidly reconfigurable to represent different aircraft, its flight training devices provide authentic feedback of flight-control forces.

The university has been very pleased with the simulators. "These simulators give us the ability to teach in an advanced cockpit in all conditions," said Allen Payne, Aeronautics Department chair.

"They're very versatile," said Jim Doran, chief flight instructor. "I've been very impressed." The simulators may allow Andrews to reduce the size of its training aircraft fleet, he said.

Some 130 Alsim trainers have been certified worldwide, and deliveries are scheduled for two more U.S. locations. For more information, see the Web sites (www.alsim.com and www.andrews.edu/avia/).

Congress gives a listen

The Bush administration's FAA funding proposal continues to slowly make its way through lawmaking's procedural hoops. The latest stops included hearings held by committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Many lawmakers felt as AOPA does: The current combination of fuel taxes and general fund contributions is perfectly adequate to continue building on a $2 billion-plus surplus in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and to finance modernization of the nation's air traffic control system--and do it fairly, without sacrificing safety, impeding air traffic, or ceding an element of control to airline interests.

The star witness in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's aviation subcommittee hearing was FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, who advanced the administration's line of thinking in support of fuel-tax hikes and user fees. Namely that the aviation trust fund is running out of money, that the ATC system is inefficient, that its modernization will add expenses, and that hordes of newly certified very light jets will burden the airspace and impair the smooth flow of traffic. But Blakey didn't make much of an impression on the committee members. As Blakey attempted to defend the proposal, Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) bluntly told her, "This proposal is dead on arrival."

This mood continued when Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) stated, "There is no way that I can come to the conclusion this user-fee proposal is fair, equitable, or that it will work." Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) emphasized that the proposal would actually raise about $600 million less in 2008 than the current tax system.

The Senate aviation subcommittee hearing drew noteworthy comments from opposing points of view. Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), although not a member of the subcommittee, appeared in the hearing room out of a concern for general aviation's interests. Inhofe is also an avid general aviation pilot and AOPA member.

More such hearings have yet to be held, but you get the idea. AOPA's arguments are having an effect. For updates on the FAA funding proposal, check AOPA's Web site dedicated to this issue.

Cessna sells Skyhawks to ERAU, Skylanes to CAP

Cessna Aircraft Company said that it will deliver 46 Cessna 172 Skyhawks to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and 31 182 Cessna Skylanes to the Civil Air Patrol.

ERAU's Prescott, Arizona, campus is replacing its training fleet with 17 Garmin G1000-equipped Skyhawks; another 29 Skyhawks will go to the Daytona Beach, Florida, campus, which lost most of its fleet in a Christmas Day 2006 tornado.

The Civil Air Patrol order includes 29 Skylanes and two turbocharged Skylanes. CAP uses more than 500 Cessnas for missions in its cadet programs, aerospace education, and search-and-rescue operations.

School News

College students tapped for EADS Socata internships

Two college students will travel to France this year to serve a five-week internship at EADS Socata's headquarters in Tarbes. Ashley Leman, 21, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a student in organizational management at Northern Illinois University. She has a private pilot certificate and aspires to be a professional pilot. John Staines of Komoka, Ontario, Canada, 19, is a student in engineering science and mechanical engineering at the University of Western Ontario. He holds a commercial pilot certificate and hopes to work in aircraft design. EADS Socata manufactures the TB line of piston single-engine aircraft and the TBM line of single-engine turboprops.

What's In AOPA Pilot?

Here's what you're missing if you don't read AOPA Pilot, the association's flagship magazine published each month for certificated pilots.

• Sure thing: The all-new Cessna Citation Mustang is the horse to beat in the very light jet race.
• Robinson Helicopter: Frank Robinson's vision and commitment to excellence shapes his company.
• Flying Seasons--Storm savvy: Gearing up for thunderstorm season.
• Beechcraft King Air C90GT: How de-rating 750-shp engines gives new life to a new King Air.

Are you ready to read about more advanced subjects such as these? Just as pilots upgrade to more advanced certificates, it might be time for you to upgrade your magazine. You can convert your paid membership to AOPA Pilot at any time by calling AOPA toll-free (800/USA-AOPA).

Foundation's scholarship deadline July 1

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Foundation is accepting applications for seven different aviation scholarships. The memorial scholarships are intended to commemorate members of the airshow industry, and all grants provide awards to help aviation enthusiasts begin or continue their aviation training. This year, the ICAS Foundation has increased the amounts of several scholarships to make them more meaningful and effective, said ICAS Foundation scholarship chairman John Bowman. The deadline for submitting applications is July 1, and recipients will be notified by August 10. For more information and an application, see the Web site.

Comm1 offers scholarship

The seventh annual Comm1 Aviation Scholarship Program offers $1,000 to an individual who demonstrates an interest in pursuing a career in aviation. Applicants also are asked to submit a 75-word essay that evaluates the financial and practical benefits of using interactive radio communications training as part of a flight training curriculum. The application period closes on October 15, and an award will be announced on November 30. See the Web site for more information and an application.

New flight school opens in Twin Cities

Twin Cities Flight Training has opened a new branch at St. Paul Downtown Holman Field in Minnesota. The school has six different types of aircraft and offers instruction through the commercial certificate. Twin Cities is based at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (Janes Field) in Blaine, Minnesota. The new location seeks to fill a void created by the recent closure of Wings Inc. flight school at St. Paul, according to CFI Nicholas Conant. For more information, see the Web site.

Final Exam

Final Exam is composed of questions similar to those a student may expect on the private pilot knowledge test. Answers are researched by members of the AOPA Pilot Information Center and may be found below.

1. What effect does haze have on the ability to see traffic or terrain features during flight?
1. Haze causes the eyes to focus at infinity.
2. The eyes tend to overwork in haze and do not detect relative movement easily.
3. All traffic or terrain features appear to be farther away than their actual distance.
2. The person directly responsible for the pre-takeoff briefing of passengers for a flight is the
1. safety officer.
2. pilot in command.
3. ground crewmember.
3. How many passengers is a recreational pilot allowed to carry on board?
1. One.
2. Two.
3. Three.
4. With regard to carburetor ice, float-type carburetor systems in comparison to fuel injection systems are generally considered to be
1. more susceptible to icing.
2. equally susceptible to icing.
3. susceptible to icing only when visible moisture is present.
5. Filling the fuel tanks after the last flight of the day is considered a good operating procedure because this will
1. force any existing water to the top of the tank away from the fuel lines to the engine.
2. prevent expansion of the fuel by eliminating airspace in the tanks.
3. prevent moisture condensation by eliminating airspace in the tanks.
6. Which procedure is recommended to ensure that the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) has not been activated?
1. Turn off the ELT after landing.
2. Ask the airport tower if they are receiving an ELT signal.
3. Monitor 121.5 MHz before engine shutdown.
7. Under what conditions may objects be dropped from an aircraft?
1. Only in an emergency.
2. If precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property on the surface.
3. If prior permission is received from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Final Exam Answers

1. The correct answer is C. In haze, the eyes tend to focus on a point 10 to 30 feet ahead, which can create the illusion in which objects appear farther away than they are. Searching out and focusing on distant objects can help offset this condition.
2. The correct answer is B. FAR 91.107 states that the pilot in command is charged with ensuring that everyone on board is briefed on the use of safety belts and shoulder harnesses. While not required, it's also a good idea to brief passengers on the operation of doors, any emergency exits, as well as the location and use of other safety equipment such as fire extinguishers.
3. The correct answer is A. While recreational pilots are permitted to operate aircraft with up to four seats, recreational pilots are limited to carrying only one passenger. FAR 61.101 outlines this limitation, as well as others, and the privileges of the recreational pilot.
4. The correct answer is A. Carburetor-equipped engines are more prone to induction system icing than fuel injection systems, especially in high humidity. The mixing of fuel and air in the carburetor lowers the air temperature, sometimes to or below freezing--to the point where ice can form, or sublimate. In a fuel-injected engine, the fuel and air are mixed in the cylinders, greatly reducing the possibility of icing.
5. The correct answer is C. Filling the fuel tanks to capacity eliminates air in the tanks. As temperatures drop at night, this can cause condensation; by eliminating airspace in the tanks, this prevents moisture contamination of the fuel. Since water is heavier than aviation gasoline, water will actually sink to the bottom of the tank, not rise to the top. It can then be drained out during the preflight inspection.
6. The correct answer is C. The ELT can be inadvertently activated from a firm landing or turbulence. ELTs broadcast a siren-like sound on both 121.5 and 243.0 MHz. Our GA aircraft radios can be tuned to 121.5 MHz to listen for the sound. If none is heard, then the ELT has not been activated.
7. The correct answer is B. Objects may be dropped from an aircraft, according to FAR 91.15, so long as reasonable safety precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.

AOPA members can discuss these or any aviation questions with Pilot Information Center staff by calling 800/USA-AOPA or sending an e-mail.

What It Looks Like

Limitations

By Mark Twombly

Just like the pilots who fly them, airplanes have their limitations. The big difference between a pilot's limitations and those that apply to the airplane is that it is a lot easier to identify the airplane's limits than it is the pilot's.

The term limitation as it applies to an aircraft is self explanatory. The formal FAA definition of limitations is "the approved bounds of operation of an aircraft or its systems." In other words, limitations are do-not-exceed operational restrictions. One example is the maximum propeller rpm. For a Cessna 172S it is 2,700 rpm. If you fly a 172S, do not allow the engine/propeller rpm to rise above 2,700 rpm in any phase of flight.

Depending on the airplane, lots of other operational limitations may apply covering airspeeds, weights, powerplant limits (maximum oil temperature and pressure, manifold pressure, and cylinder head temperature, for example), fuel capacities, center of gravity limits, maneuver limits (relating to Normal, Utility, or Aerobatic category certification), flight load factor limits, and kinds of operation limits (VFR day only, VFR day and night, and/or IFR, for example).

How do you know what the limitations are for the aircraft you fly? They are conveniently listed in the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) or pilot's operating handbook (POH). It's not quite that easy if you fly an older aircraft that has an owner's handbook instead of an AFM or POH. The older-format owner's handbook does not have a separate Limitations section, so you have to comb through the handbook to find all the limitations. They may be found scattered throughout sections containing specifications, design information, normal and emergency procedures, and maintenance instructions.

The other source for identifying the specific limitations that apply to your aircraft is placards. Federal Aviation Regulation 91.9 says that if the airplane is not required to have an approved AFM, limitations may be included in "approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination thereof."

Like warning labels on just about anything you buy these days, placards abound in general aviation aircraft, especially older models.

Small type and awkward placement make placards easy to ignore, but it's a good idea to review them periodically to make sure you are aware of the operating limitations that you must observe when you fly.