AOPA Action

Pilots can now get all notams for a given flight from electronic sources, thanks to a change in the status of "local" notams. In January, all new local, or L, notams were reclassified as D notams and added to the national notam system. In addition, each new D notam is preceded by a keyword that indicates the area affected, such as navigation, lighting, runway, ramp, or airspace. That means for the first time, pilots can get all relevant notams--including those that affect only their destination airport--without calling flight service. In the past, pilots who used online briefing sources did not receive local notams, which can include important operational data like runway closures.

The change marks the first stage of a three-part plan for updating the notam system. The final phases of the projects will not be completed before 2010.

Fun, free interactive courses let you learn at your own pace

If you've ever taken one of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's interactive online courses, you know they're an easy, free way to become a safer pilot. For those who haven't taken a course, though, there are a few things you should know.

First, the courses are quick: Most fall in the 45-minute range, and ASF offers several 15- to 30-minute minicourses. In addition, course progress is automatically saved; if you need a break, you can pick up right where you left off.

The courses stick to the need-to-know information, and use cutting-edge graphics and interactivity to keep things fun.

In addition, many qualify for the FAA Wings program. So visit the ASF interactive courses page.

Don't miss the just-updated Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace if you're a student pilot preparing for your practical test.

Online course a new tool for GA security

General aviation security is one of AOPA's top priorities. To ensure pilots, flight schools, airport tenants, and businesses do their part to secure their aircraft and airports, AOPA teamed with the Transportation Security Administration to develop the new General Aviation Security online course.

The interactive course is divided into tracks for aircraft owners, renters, flight schools, and FBOs. For flight school and FBO employees, the custom tracks take you through the TSA's annual recurrent security awareness training.

Adopting principles from AOPA's Airport Watch program, the course shows you examples of suspicious activity at airports and ways to handle a variety of scenarios.

FAA, Lockheed need to hear about flight service glitches

They're listening, but pilots aren't reporting. The FAA and Lockheed Martin created the toll-free hotline (888/FLT-SRVC) to discover glitches pilots are experiencing with flight service and then use the information to fix them. The problem is that pilots are not reporting their complaints or compliments through the hotline.

"Last summer, calls were topping 130 to 150 a week. Now the number of complaints ranges from 10 to 30 a week, on average. The FAA and Lockheed can't fix glitches they don't know exist," said Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of regulatory affairs.

Lockheed and the FAA have assured AOPA that they are working to improve the system and want to know what problems pilots are experiencing--dropped calls, long hold times, poor briefer knowledge, or other snags.

In addition to reporting on your telephone briefing experience, you can take another step to smooth the process. Download AOPA's Telephone Briefing Flight Planning Tips to have handy every time you call flight service. The card provides shortcuts and tips for helping the briefer give you the information you need.