AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition - Vol. 7, Issue 41

In this issue:
Company launches all-glass career pilot program
Flight school joins Carbon Neutral Plane program
Cardinal steals the show at AOPA Expo

SERVICING YOUR TRAINER
If you fly from an airport where the line staff attends to the needs of your trainer before and after every flight, landing at your destination on a solo cross-country may present you with your first opportunity to take responsibility for refueling or aircraft servicing. Before that day arrives, make it a habit to watch refueling, aircraft towing, and cold-weather preheating operations carefully. Ask the line staff to explain safety procedures used in each operation.

For example, you may never have connected a grounding line before in preparation for refueling. What is its purpose? To prevent the hazard of static electricity from creating a spark in the presence of vaporized fuel. There's a right way and a wrong way to attach a grounding line from its source—your lineman's fuel truck for instance—to the aircraft. "Connect the grounding wire to unpainted metal on the aircraft; if it's not brittle the engine exhaust is often a good choice, otherwise try the metal lugs on the nosewheel strut where the towbar attaches. Just as important, don't forget to disconnect the grounding line before you try to taxi away," Dale Smith advised in the August 2003 AOPA Flight Training feature "Think tank: Be well grounded in proper fueling procedures." Note his reminder to remain with the aircraft any time it is being serviced. You might see something you don't like in the way the aircraft is handled, or even catch a misfueling incident before it becomes an accident cause.

You know from studying your sectional navigational chart against airport symbols in the VFR chart user's guide that your destination airport offers fuel. Now make sure that your arrival won't take place at a time when that fuel is unavailable. A look at the entry for the Ames Municipal Airport (AMW) in Ames, Iowa, in AOPA's Airport Directory Online shows hours when service is available. A note also gives contact information for making arrangements at other times.

Include this level of research in your study of potential emergency airports that lie along your cross-country routes. En route, know your position relative to these alternates at all times in the event that you must divert for weather or a mechanical repair.

Students tell us that one of the most valuable benefits of their free six-month membership is AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner. The Real-Time Flight Planner allows you to overlay your route with active temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and current weather; tap into AOPA's Airport Directory Online for the latest information on 5,500 public-use airports and 7,000 fixed-base operations; plan a route while your flight plan and navigation log are created automatically—ready to print in kneeboard format and to file online with DUAT/DUATS—and more.

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.

COMPANY LAUNCHES ALL-GLASS CAREER PILOT PROGRAM
Europe-American Aviation has launched an all-glass-cockpit commercial pilot program. The new Cleared Direct Career Pilot Program has begun enrollment and classes will commence on Nov. 2. Designed as an ab initio program that will take about six months to complete, Cleared Direct will provide enrollees up to 100 hours of multiengine time in all-glass cockpits. Europe-American Aviation, in Naples, Fla., uses Diamond technically advanced aircraft and Diamond Simulation's Level 5 flight training device.

SOCAL FLIGHT SCHOOL JOINS CARBON NEUTRAL PLANE PROGRAM
How green is your flight school? Angel City Flyers in Long Beach, Calif., can make the claim that it is one of the most environmentally friendly flight schools in the nation. The flight school has joined the Carbon Neutral Plane carbon offsetting program. Carbon Neutral Plane offers programs specifically designed for general aviation to certify that member aircraft are carbon neutral. Angel City Flyers uses Diamond aircraft to reduce environmental impact through fuel-efficient turbo-diesel engines, according to Seosamh Somers, president of the flight school.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ORDERS DIAMOND D-JET
The University of North Dakota (UND) Aerospace Foundation has ordered a Diamond D-JET personal jet for air service and flight education, Diamond Aircraft said on Oct. 5. "The addition of the D-JET supports our commitment to leading the industry by staying on the forefront of aviation technology," said Bruce Smith, dean of UND's Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. "It is an ideal transition aircraft into the regional airlines when used in conjunction with our level six CRJ 200 flight training device." UND announced a few weeks ago that it is acquiring a Cessna Citation Mustang for training and executive travel.

RED, GREEN: WHAT DO THEY MEAN? TAKE THE NEW SAFETY QUIZ
Each of the colors on your training airplane's airspeed indicator is there to give you vital information about airspeed limitations. Do you know which color means what? Take the new AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Quiz and test your knowledge. Each Safety Quiz offers a quick, easy, and interactive way in which to assess and expand your knowledge. Plus, you can earn a chance to win a Sporty's Air-Scan V aviation radio/scanner.

ABLE FLIGHT RECEIVES DONATION FROM SHELL AVIATION
Able Flight Inc., a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide flight training for persons with disabilities, has received a $2,000 donation from Shell Aviation. Jerry Toenjes, U.S. sales manager for AeroShell, said, "We all know the feeling of independence and freedom we have when we're flying. To be able to help people with disabilities...enjoy this same feeling of independence and self-reliance is definitely something that AeroShell wanted to be part of." The donation was generated by $7,500 in T-shirt sales at this year's EAA AirVenture. The remainder was given to EAA's Young Eagles program.

CARDINAL STEALS THE SHOW AT AOPA EXPO
What was the first thing that pilots attending AOPA Expo in Hartford, Conn., saw when they got off the shuttle for the static display? AOPA's 2007 Catch-A-Cardinal Sweepstakes airplane—front and center, shining in the unseasonably warm New England autumn. See for yourself the nearly complete airplane in this week's update, and imagine yourself on the cross-country flight from Hartford to Frederick, Md., making weather choices and working with air traffic control.

FLIGHT TRAINING FUNDS AWARDED TO PROJECT PILOT STUDENTS
AOPA Project Pilot gives student pilots the support they need to complete their flight training and mentors the chance to share their passion with those students. A random drawing at AOPA Expo 2007 in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 4 through 6, of AOPA Project Pilot teams who signed up on-site, provided an extra incentive for students and future pilots to fulfill their dream of learning how to fly. AOPA gave away $2,500 for flight training to student pilot Megan Fenwick of Washington, D.C. One mentor, Robert Benda II of Centennial, Colo., was selected at random to receive a Sennheiser HMEC 460 Headset. Read more on 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.

LEARN AIRSPACE WITH WHERE IN THE AIR'S 3-D MODELS
Learning airspace can be a daunting and demanding task in the quest to become a pilot. Teaching the concept of 3-D airspace with a 2-D chart only compounds the problem. Where In The Air is a new company that is seeking to make the airspace learning process easier with large 3-D airspace models. Though only available for certain California airspace, the models could potentially be useful for teaching the concepts anywhere in the country. The models are priced from $92.99 to $735.25. 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.

Question: The aircraft I fly for my flight training has a burnt-out wing-tip strobe. Can I fly the airplane or must I delay my scheduled flight until the strobe light is fixed?

Answer: The anti-collision light system must be fully operational per FAR 91.205 (c) and (d) during both day and night flight operations, so the airplane is grounded until the bulb is replaced. Additional information on this subject can be reviewed in the Pilot Information Center's online subject report, Aircraft Lighting.

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.

Searching for an aviation scholarship or a loan program to help pay for your flight training? Check out AOPA's newly updated subject report, which includes tips on making your scholarship application stand out from the crowd.

Corona, CA. A Corona Airshow takes place October 13 at Corona Municipal (AJO). Contact Margaret Nunally, 951/277-2913.

Tallulah, LA./Vicksburg, MS. The Southern Heritage Air Foundation Air Show 2007 takes place Oct. 27 at Vicksburg Tallulah Regional (TVR). Contact Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau 800/221-3536, or visit the Web site.

Fort Worth, TX. A fourth annual Cowtown Warbird Roundup and FACtoberfest take place Oct. 26 and 27 at Fort Worth Meacham International (FTW). Contact John Zapp, 817/501-3641, or visit the Web site.

To submit an event to the calendar or to search all events visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER CLINICS
The next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in San Jose, CA; Indianapolis; Wichita, KS; Nashville, TN; and Corpus Christi, TX, October 20 and 21. 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 Northbrook, IL, and Greenville, SC, October 15; Colorado Springs, CO; Marietta, GA; St. Charles, IL, October 16; Birmingham, AL; Northglenn, CO; Rockford, IL, October 17; and Huntsville, AL, and Peoria, IL, October 18. The topic is "Regulations: What every pilot should know." For details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.