Training Notes and News

Cessna Aircraft Company has formally announced that it is entering the light sport aircraft market. A full-scale mock-up and program details were to be unveiled at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in late July.

"After conducting extensive market research, it is clear to us that there is a great need for this aircraft as we strive to drive down the cost of flying and learning to fly," Cessna CEO Jack Pelton said in a news release. "We believe this aircraft will make a major contribution to stimulating new pilot starts and will encourage already-licensed pilots to continue to fly because it will be more affordable."

Cessna displayed a proof-of-concept LSA design at last year's AirVenture and conducted surveys to determine interest in a Cessna LSA.

AOPA members speak their minds on FAA funding plan

The FAA funding debate has been active for some eight months now, and during that time your association has launched a modern, multi-pronged advocacy initiative that takes advantage of all media to bring the matter to the public's attention. And AOPA has garnered a huge response from members. You've offered a wide range of opinions and observations about the funding issue. One thing is clear: AOPA membership and the pilot community at large have become heavily policitized by the debate.

Here's a sample of what your fellow members have told us. A common thread is expressed by Jeffrey Jennings of Charlotte, North Carolina, who said, "If the United States ever had fees comparable to Europe, I would give up general aviation." Chuck Bain sees a disconnect between the FAA funding proposal, which would impose a large increase on aviation fuel, with the rest of the Bush administration's economic policies. "Taxes always limit the activity on which they are levied. By taxing, you remove the incentive to achieve or consume. The proposed FAA funding bill will actually reduce revenues, not increase them."

And student pilots have let us know they understand the plan is a disaster. John Kitos said he wonders whether he'll ever fly if the funding proposal is enacted. "I don't have a pilot's license, but I plan to someday. I could see that not happening if I don't support GA. I talk it up among friends and coworkers to raise awareness. I compare it to them being taxed and restricted in the driving of their own car."

Many members wrote to ask how they can help in the effort to defeat proposals to levy user fees and raise fuel taxes. The best way is to use AOPA's Web site dedicated to the FAA funding debate. This page has many links that help your voice to be heard. You can use it to find your senators or congressional representatives, and then e-mail them directly. The Web site also lets you sign a petition against user fees and fuel tax hikes.

Fuel prices hit aviation scholarship foundation

Rising aviation fuel prices are affecting everyone--including individuals and groups that would like to sponsor future pilots. The LeRoy W. Homer Foundation is having trouble granting sufficient money to cover the cost of flight scholarships because of rising fuel prices. Homer was the first officer on United Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after it was hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. His widow, Melody Homer, said the cost of funding a scholarship has increased from $5,000 when the foundation was started to more than $11,000 for its latest recipient in California. The foundation seeks assistance so that it can offer a second scholarship for 2007. For more information or to help, see the Web site.

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.

• A Day in the Life of America's Airports: We send 20 writers and photographers to capture a day's activities at our nation's airports.
• Lone Ranger: Barry Schiff fulfills his dream to solo in a P-51D Mustang.
• Flying Seasons--The eyes have it: Your eyes are your best midair-collision-avoidance tool.
• Expo Preview: Hartford, Connecticut, is home to AOPA Expo 2007.

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).

What It Looks Like

Vertical card compass

By Mark Twombly

Heading, altitude, and airspeed--three things you want to have under complete control whenever you fly. The heading part is handled by referring to the directional gyro, with the magnetic compass serving as a backup.

Reliability is the magnetic compass's strong suit. In flight we use the magnetic compass to calibrate the gyro-driven heading indicator. Readability is not. The magnetic compass is sluggish; subject to magnetic dip and northerly/southerly turning errors; and it can be fooled by nearby electrical equipment. Plus, it's not the easiest instrument to read and interpret. Certainly the heading indicator is more intuitive.

The problems inherent in a conventional drum-style magnetic compass led to the development of a different device, called a vertical card compass. It's a magnetic compass, which means it points to magnetic north no matter which direction the airplane is headed. (Although it appears that a magnetic compass card rotates when the airplane turns, it actually remains relatively stationary, pointing to magnetic north.)

The vertical card compass has the same compass presentation as the heading indicator, which makes it easier to read. You can see the full 360-degree compass, and the lubber line representing the airplane's heading is a plan view of an airplane. Heading information is more natural because the heading is always read at the 12 o'clock position off the nose of the aircraft symbol. The compass card rotates and presents all quadrants in their true relation to where the nose of the aircraft is pointed. That's easy!

Another advantage of the vertical card compass is that it is more stable than a conventional liquid-filled drum-type compass. It is not filled with liquid, it is not a balanced pendulum design like a conventional drum compass, and it relies on eddy current damping to eliminate much of the magnetic dip and turning errors that plague the conventional magnetic compass.

The FAA allows a vertical card compass to be used in place of a conventional wet compass, so you may well see one in an airplane you fly. You'll still have to apply the compensation corrections noted on the card mounted below the compass, but you might find that you actually enjoy using the magnetic compass.

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 are found below.

1. Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) is the continuous broadcast of recorded information concerning
1. pilots of radar-identified aircraft whose aircraft is in dangerous proximity to terrain or to an obstruction.
2. nonessential information to reduce frequency congestion.
3. noncontrol information in selected high-activity terminal areas.
2. If a recreational or private pilot had a flight review on August 8, this year, when is the next flight review required?
1. August 8, next year.
2. August 31, 1 year later.
3. August 31, 2 years later.
3. What action should a pilot take when operating under VFR in a military operations area (MOA)?
1. Obtain a clearance from the controlling agency prior to entering the MOA.
2. Operate only on the airways that transverse the MOA.
3. Exercise extreme caution when military activity is being conducted.
4. What information is provided by the radar summary chart that is not shown on other weather charts?
1. Lines and cells of hazardous thunderstorms.
2. Ceilings and precipitation between reporting stations.
3. Types of clouds between reporting stations.
5. In which type of airspace are VFR flights prohibited?
1. Class A.
2. Class B.
3. Class C.
6. Airspace at an airport with a part-time control tower is classified as Class D airspace only
1. when the weather minimums are below basic VFR.
2. when the associated control tower is in operation.
3. when the associated flight service station is in operation.
7. If an aircraft is involved in an accident that results in substantial damage to the aircraft, the nearest NTSB field office should be notified
1. immediately.
2. within 48 hours.
3. within seven days.
8. Which would provide the greatest gain in altitude in the shortest distance during climb after takeoff?
1. V_Y
2. V_A
3. V_X

Final Exam Answers

1. The correct answer is C. Generally, an ATIS will report current weather including ceiling and visibility, altimeter setting, wind direction and speed; runway(s) in use for arrival and departure; notams, and the like at a towered airport. An ATIS broadcast is normally updated once every hour, unless there is a significant change before that.
2. The correct answer is C. According to FAR 61.56, no person may act as PIC unless he or she has completed a flight review (or another substitute as spelled out in Part 61) within the preceding 24 calendar months. This means that the flight review expires at the end of the month, regardless of what day on which it was completed during the month.
3. The correct answer is C. Permission is not required to operate in a MOA, but pilots should exercise extreme caution when the MOA is active. MOAs can be active during certain hours, or by notam; see the VFR sectional chart, ask flight service, or check an online source such as the FAA's Special-Use Airspace Management System.
4. The correct answer is A. The radar summary chart shows precipitation returns, including some fairly hazardous storm signs such as hooks, pendants, and bow echoes, but does not depict cloud bases or tops, or cloud types. Precipitation intensity is depicted, but not type.
5. The correct answer is A. VFR flights are permitted in Class B and C airspace, as well as in Class D, E, and G airspace; however, flights in Class A airspace must be conducted under instrument flight rules, regardless of the weather conditions.
6. The correct answer is B. If the control tower at an airport is operated part-time, the airspace will only be Class D when the control tower is operating. The hours of operation can be found in the Airport/Facility Directory. The airspace determines minimum ceilings and visibilities needed for VFR operations.
7. The correct answer is A. NTSB part 830.5(a) requires immediate notification of aircraft accidents and various listed incidents. Note that the rule specifically addresses the notification of NTSB, not the FAA.
8. The correct answer is C. V_X is the airspeed that is used for the best angle of climb, which gives the greatest altitude gain in the shortest horizontal distance, normally used for climbout when there are obstacles ahead in the departure path. V_Y is the best rate of climb speed, and V_A is maneuvering speed.

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

Comm1 offers freebie to flight schools

E-publishing group, developers of the Comm1 Radio Simulator product line, would like to send all flight schools a free poster that covers the basics of VFR phraseology. The company already has shipped more than 2,500 posters. The 36-inch by 24-inch poster displays important frequencies and real-life communications scenarios. Contact e-publishing group at 888/333-2855, or visit the Web site.

TSA grants flight schools 3-month window for security awareness training

Flight training providers and flight instructors have more time to complete recurrent security awareness training. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued an exemption on June 8 allowing flight school employees and instructors to take the recurrent training up to one month before or one month after their annual renewal month. The TSA granted the three-month window because flight training providers and flight schools commented that the one-month time frame for recurrent training was too restrictive.

Visa program to continue for visiting flight students

After hearing from AOPA and other organizations about how new regulations would stifle business, the Department of State has determined that flight schools will continue operating under current regulations for students visiting from other countries for flight training. Accredited flight schools that participate in the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor program will be able to accept international flight students under the current J-1 regulations and screening by the Transportation Security Administration.

The proposed changes to the J-1 program would have reduced the duration of training from its current 24 months to 12 months; required trainees to earn a degree before beginning flight training; and required proof of English proficiency even though that is already a prerequisite for pilots.

School News

University of Cincinnati students receive scholarships

Three University of Cincinnati students have been awarded scholarships from Sporty's Pilot Shop for the 2007-2008 academic year. Matt Bengel, 20; Alex Glueck, 29; and Steve Warther, 18, are all enrolled in the university's professional pilot program. Bengel received a $5,000 scholarship funded by The Sporty's Foundation. Glueck and Warther were each awarded $5,000 Vorbeck Aviation Scholarships.

Purdue team wins air race collegiate division

Two Purdue University students placed first in the collegiate division of the Air Race Classic. Katie Sparrow and Marie Janus flew the Purdue team airplane, a Piper Warrior, about 2,500 miles from Oklahoma City to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. The annual women's cross-country race took place June 19 to 22. The Purdue team bested four other college teams and placed fourth overall among 47 teams.