Refresh your airspace expertise before flying season
By AOPA ePublishing staff
If you’re among the many pilots who’ve spent more time on the ground than you’d like this winter, you might awake from your aviation hibernation to find you’ve forgotten the many nuances of flying in complex airspace.
No one wants to end up on the wrong side of an airspace or regulatory violation, so it’s a good idea to invest a little time in brushing up on the rules. If spring sees you back in the air after a hiatus of several years, the newly updated “ Pilots’ Guide to Getting Back Into Flying,” will tell you what has changed while you’ve been grounded.
If your flying break has been shorter, you might want to review the notam system with the AOPA Pilot Information Center’s online subject report on notams and temporary flight restrictions, then take an airspace refresher with the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s Airspace for Everyone Safety Advisor and Know Before You Go: Navigating Today’s Airspace online course. These comprehensive materials cover everything you need to know to safeguard yourself and your certificate.
Once you’ve reviewed the rules, reinforce what you’ve learned with Airspace Flash Cards from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.
On the off chance you do go astray, it’s a good idea to know what to do when you see an F-16 off your wing. Review the In-Flight Intercept Procedures Card and print out a copy for your flight bag, then take the ASF Safety Quiz on intercept procedures to be sure you’ve mastered the material.
When you’re ready to fly, take advantage of AOPA’s TFR and notam locator tool to identify temporary flight restrictions in your area. And give yourself added protection by signing up for the AOPA Legal Services Plan. For as little as $29 a year, you’ll receive legal representation in the event of an airspace violation, accident, or incident.
February 28, 2008
