Get extra lift from AOPA. Start your free membership trial today! Click here

AOPA Online Members Only -- AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition -- Vol. 7, Issue 9

To view the AOPA ePilot archives, click here.

Volume 7, Issue 9 • March 2, 2007
In this issue:
Legendary captain to speak at Utah school
Daylight-saving time springs forward
Sweeps airplane goes to great lengths-of wire

This ePilot Flight Training Edition is sponsored by

Sponsored by Mooney Aircraft Company








Advertisers

Alamo Car Rental

Scheyden Eyewear

Minnesota Life Insurance

AOPA Aircraft Financing

Bose Aviation Headsets

Garmin International

Airline Transport Professionals

King Schools

Pilot Insurance Center

JP Instruments

Jeppesen

AOPA Credit Card

Comm1 Radio Simulator











Do not reply to this e-mail. Got news? Contact ePilot. Having difficulty using this service? Visit the ePilot Frequently Asked Questions now at AOPA Online or write to [email protected].

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD 21701
Tel: 800/USA-AOPA or
301/695-2000

Copyright © 2007 AOPA.

Training Tips

'WHEN ABLE'
The February 23, 2007, Training Tips examined that dynamic and busy moment when an aircraft leaves the ground and begins flying in an air mass that has motions and effects not readily noticeable with the landing gear on the ground. These effects come into play immediately as the pilot concentrates on climbing precisely to a safe altitude, then proceeding on course. It helps if this initial climb can be made straight ahead on the runway heading, using best-rate-of-climb speed (V y) or the climb airspeed recommended for your aircraft.

But if you are departing from a towered airport when traffic is heavy, that straight-ahead departure followed by a single turn on course may not be available. Your departure may include one or more vectors to fly to avoid traffic. Also, an initial turn may be requested at a lower altitude than you are used to when departing at less-busy times or when making a standard departure from a nontowered airport. (See Julie Boatman's December 2005 AOPA Pilot feature "Up and Out.")

When departing from a towered airport with early maneuvering needed, the turn instructions may come when you receive your takeoff clearance, or shortly thereafter. Suppose you are departing on Runway 33, and the tower instructs, "Cleared for takeoff, when able turn left heading 270." How should you comply? The wording of the clearance is important. According to the pilot/controller glossary in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), the term when able is used with air traffic control instructions to give the pilot "latitude to delay compliance until a condition or event has been reconciled." For example, if the turn involves overflying obstructions, wait until you are satisfied that you can perform it safely, then comply promptly. Note that the AIM also states, "Once a maneuver has been initiated, the pilot is expected to continue until the specifications of the instructions have been met. 'When able' should not be used when expeditious compliance is required." See the meaning of expedite in the May 26, 2006, Training Tips article "What did that mean?"

At some busy airports, rather demanding departures are more rule than exception. Make them less hectic by having your on-course heading, altitude, and communications frequencies written down and reviewed before you taxi. Safety first-then comply readily with challenging or unexpected instructions.

Your Partner in Training

Carburetor ice. What causes it? What conditions are prime for carb ice formation? What are the signs of carb ice build-up in your training aircraft's engine? Get the full story on this potentially hazardous condition and learn how to deal with it by taking advantage of AOPA's wealth of resources, including an article from AOPA Flight Training and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Safety Advisor, WeatherWise . Don't forget to search the archives of AOPA Flight Training and AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition for even more information.

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.

Flight Training News

LEGENDARY CAPTAIN TO SPEAK AT UTAH SCHOOL
Capt. Al Haynes will be a guest speaker on April 26 at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Haynes's name is well known in aviation circles. He was the captain aboard United Flight 232 that, on July 19, 1989, sustained an explosion in the No. 2 engine that led to the failure of all three of the aircraft's hydraulic systems. Haynes was left without elevator control and very little aileron control. He and his crew managed to land the DC-10 in a field; 185 of the 296 individuals on board survived the crash. Read the details of the crew's heroic efforts in the October 1991 AOPA Pilot and an executive summary of the accident report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

FLIGHT DESIGN CT TO CONDUCT WESTERN U.S. SPRING TOUR
Flight Design West, one of the U.S. distributors for the Flight Design CT light sport aircraft, will be having a wide-ranging CT tour this spring. The purpose of the tour is to allow potential buyers and flight schools the opportunity to take demonstration flights and learn more about the aircraft. Tom Dunham, a flight instructor and airframe and powerplant mechanic with Flight Design West, will travel to each of the nine states in Flight Design West's distribution area: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. The spring demo and service tour is a joint effort between Flight Design West and its West Coast dealer, Light Sport Airplanes West, Salinas, California.

DAYLIGHT-SAVING TIME SPRINGS FORWARD
When daylight-saving time goes into effect March 11-three weeks earlier than usual-don't forget that the conversion between Zulu and your local time will change. Here's a handy chart of conversion factors that you can keep in your flight bag. The earlier time change also means more evening daylight hours and more time for daytime flying!

Inside AOPA

SWEEPS AIRPLANE GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS-OF WIRE
If you've ever looked at the wiring in a decades-old house, you know that not only can wires degrade over time, but also that some technological improvements have been made since those wires were installed. The same is true of AOPA's 2007 Catch-A-Cardinal Sweepstakes airplane, a 1977 Cessna Cardinal. We go into the Cardinal's airframe and watch as technicians replace the wire with new lengths and better strategies. See the latest update on the sweeps Web page.

FUZZY ON AIRSPACE? FLASHCARDS CAN HELP
Got a checkride or flight review coming up? Not quite as knowledgeable about the different types of airspace as you should be? The AOPA Air Safety Foundation offers a set of airspace flashcards that can help. Each of the 20 cards includes a color depiction of the airspace, a description of its characteristics, and a question for discussion. You'll find additional study questions 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.

Training Products

ASA DVD INTRODUCES ROTAX 912 ENGINE
Student pilots learning to fly in Cessna or Piper aircraft get to know Continental or Lycoming engines as part of the learning process. But if you are training in one of the new light sport aircraft, there's likely a Rotax engine under the cowling. The newest DVD from Aviation Supplies and Academics' Freedom to Fly series provides tips and techniques for trouble-free operation of the Rotax 912 engine along with an introduction to the specific concepts important in maintaining the 912. The presentation includes an overview of the basic 912 components, a detailed review of vital engine fluids, and tips for selecting fuel and checking and changing the oil. The DVD, which was produced by sport pilot expert Paul Hamilton, runs approximately 68 minutes and includes a booklet with quick reference checklists and 17 minutes of bonus features. It sells for $49.95. Order it online or call 800/ASA2FLY.

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.

Final Exam

Question: After I complete the checkride for my private pilot certificate, how long will my temporary certificate be valid?

Answer: The temporary certificate will expire 120 days after the issue date on the certificate, upon receipt of the permanent certificate, or upon receipt of a notice that the certificate or rating you applied for has been denied or revoked. If you have not yet received a permanent certificate by the time your temporary certificate expires, contact the FAA's Airmen Certification Branch to inquire about the status of your application. Your local FAA flight standards district office can reissue another temporary certificate that is valid until you receive your permanent certificate. A related article, "Legal Briefing: New pilot certificate," discusses the FAA's newer plastic certificate.

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.

Picture Perfect
Looking for some really fabulous aviation photography? All the air-to-air photos and beautifully detailed ground images used by AOPA Pilot magazine over the years are yours at the click of a mouse button. Download your favorite images to use for wallpaper, send an e-postcard, or order prints online. For more details, see AOPA Online.

What's New At AOPA Online
Is there a handy chart that can help you to convert degrees Celsius into degrees Fahrenheit? The weather experts at AOPA's Meteorologix service tackle these and other weather theory questions on AOPA Online.

Weekend Weather
See the current weather on AOPA Online, provided by Meteorlogix.

ePilot Calendar
UPCOMING FLYING DESTINATIONS:
Minot, ND. The Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium takes place March 4 through 6 at the Holiday Inn Minot. Contact ND State Aeronautics, 701/328-9650, or see the Web site.

Brownsville, TX. Air Fiesta 2007 takes place March 10 and 11 at Brownsville/South Padre Island International (BRO). Contact David Hughston, 956/541-8585, or see the Web site.

Vicksburg, MS. The United Stated Pilots Association Winter Fly-In takes place March 15 through 19 at Vicksburg. Contact Arnold Zimmerman Jr., 314/843-5155, or 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 Clinics are scheduled in Ontario, CA, and Virginia Beach, VA, March 10 and 11. A clinic is also scheduled in Phoenix, March 17 and 18. 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 Rochester, MN, March 5; Cedar Rapids, IA, March 6; Bellevue, NE, March 7; and Olathe, KS, March 8. The topic is "Say It Right! Radio communications for today's airspace." For details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.


Got news or questions? Send your comments to [email protected]. Changing mailing or e-mail addresses? Do not reply to this automated message • click here to update.

To UNSUBSCRIBE: Do not reply to this automated message • click here. To SUBSCRIBE: visit AOPA Online.

Related Articles