AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition - Volume 8, Issue 29

In this issue:
Ohio teacher named aerospace educator of the year
UND orders 25 Cessna 172s
New aerodynamics course provides stall/spin insight

NUMBER TWO TO LAND
Poor spacing between landing aircraft causes many go-arounds, especially at nontowered airports. If an aircraft that has just landed is hotly pursued by the next arrival, the second aircraft is going to have to abort its landing. Sometimes spacing seems reasonable, but the safety margin evaporates. Failure of the following aircraft's pilot to allow enough time for the landing aircraft to clear the runway is often to blame. What if the aircraft that landed ahead of you couldn't slow down before the first taxiway? How far down is the next exit point? Chapter 4 of the Aeronautical Information Manual gives general procedures for exiting and clearing runways after landing at towered and nontowered airports. Are you sure your aircraft is clear? See the section's definition. 

At some airports, it is impossible for the pilot of an aircraft waiting to depart to see the runway's far end. Not sure of the location of the aircraft that just landed? Request a position report before you take off. Give one after you land. Avoid tying up the frequency, as discussed by readers of the blog entry " Too much taxi talk" by Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.

If it is obvious upon your arrival in the traffic pattern that spacing is tight, extend your downwind leg or reduce airspeed. Learn more in the June 17, 2005, " Training Tip: Light it up, slow it down." Remember that the aircraft you are following has the right of way. A too-close-on-final conflict between a Cessna 172 and a following Cessna Cardinal was detailed in " Pilot Counsel" in the October 2006 AOPA Pilot: "The pilot of the Cardinal flew a longer downwind leg to allow the 172 to exit the runway. Even so, the Cardinal was on final approach while the 172 was still landing. Because the 172 took longer than normal to exit, the possibility that the Cardinal would have to do a go-around was growing." What happened next—the Cardinal overflew the Cessna at low altitude—led to enforcement action and certificate suspensions. This is an incident worth studying; make special note of the applicable regulations and how their interpretation guided the case's resolution.

Questions about the flight review (which you may hear referred to as a "biennial flight review") continue to plague pilots. Simply put, you cannot act as pilot in command (even when solo) without a current sign-off for a flight review. Go to AOPA Online to learn more about the requirements and expectations for the flight review. You can also go to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Web site to download a free copy of the foundation's Pilot's Guide to the Flight Review .

OHIO TEACHER NAMED AEROSPACE EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Chantelle Rose of St. Paris, Ohio, will be named the 2008 A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year at a ceremony on July 18. Rose will receive the award and a $1,500 cash stipend at the National Aviation Hall of Fame's annual ceremony in Dayton, Ohio. Rose is a science teacher at Graham High School, where she engages her students with her passion for flight and also enthusiastically shares her expertise with other classroom teachers and young people in her community, according to the National Hall of Fame. She teaches an entire curriculum on flight and each year gives her students opportunities to engineer and create tasks associated with NASA projects.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ORDERS 25 CESSNA 172s
The University of North Dakota (UND) has taken delivery of four Cessna 172 Skyhawks, the first of an order of 25. The airplanes will replace Piper Warriors as the university's training aircraft. Earlier this year, UND Aerospace acquired a Cessna Citation Mustang that will be used for flight training as well as executive training.

NEW AERODYNAMICS COURSE PROVIDES STALL/SPIN INSIGHT
The word "aerodynamics" might conjure images of dry textbooks and dense equations, but a basic understanding of how wings work can help pilots avoid the maneuvering mistakes that cause so many accidents. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has developed a new interactive course that makes the need-to-know concepts of aerodynamics and maneuvering flight easy to grasp. Essential Aerodynamics: Stalls, Spins, and Safety covers the basics of why airplanes fly, how weight and G forces affect the wing, and why stalls and spins happen (and how to recover from them), among other topics. The free online course runs approximately 60 to 90 minutes, but your progress is saved so you can take a break whenever you like.

AOPA SUPPORTS MOVE TO LOWER GAS PRICES
AOPA has joined a new coalition led by the transportation industry that aims to curb rising fuel prices. The coalition, Stop Oil Speculation Now (S.O.S. Now) acknowledges, "We need to increase domestic supply, oil exploration, alternative energy sources, and conservation. But we also need fair markets, cutting excessive speculation with tough, fair rules that protect consumers and lower prices." AOPA President Phil Boyer said, "It's obvious that something needs to be done quickly. We've joined this effort that is quickly gaining momentum, and we hope that it ultimately creates a national energy policy that Congress can adopt." Read more on AOPA Online.

GA INSPIRES PILOT TO BOUNCE BACK FROM WORK INJURY
After Joe Mullins, a 27-year-old electrician from Colorado, was injured on the job in 2003 and underwent multiple hip surgeries, everyday life became difficult. "About two weeks after my surgery, I was laying on the couch feeling sorry for myself," Mullins wrote to AOPA. "I finally realized and said, 'You know what, life is too short.' I got off the couch, grabbed my cane, and headed to the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport." Mullins enrolled in flight training and a ground-school course, and earned his private pilot certificate June 10, 2007. "Flying has inspired me to move forward and upward to bigger and better things," Mullins said. "I traded in my cane for an airplane and learned the sky is the limit." Show someone that the sky is the limit by enrolling him or her in AOPA Project Pilot.

'THE ULTIMATE AIRPORT' REELS IN JUNE PHOTO OF THE MONTH
The early morning sun glistened off the water at Watson's Air Service in Wawa, Canada, while Terry Bardwell and members of his fishing party anticipated a spectacular sunrise flight on their way to a fun-filled fishing week at Lake Kabinakagami in Northern Ontario. Going to Oshkosh or just out flying? Get inspired, take a picture, and join the contest for a chance at cash prizes and to be published in AOPA Pilot. Go online to see the 2008 monthly contest winners and click on "2007 winners" to view last year's grand finale and a slide show of honorable mentions. This year's contest runs through Sept. 2.

AOPA OFFERS INSURANCE PRODUCTS FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS
AOPA Member Products has taken the guesswork out of shopping for aviation insurance. We've done all the legwork for you, partnering with only A+ rated insurance companies. You can rest assured that you're receiving the best coverage at the best possible rates. Read more about our owner's, renter's, CFI, term life, AD&D, and auto insurance.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF INTERCEPT PROCEDURES
With the presidential campaign heating up and football season just around the corner, pilots can expect to see numerous temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in the coming months. Checking notices to airmen before every flight will help you to avoid unintended formation flight with a military aircraft, but do you know what to do if you're intercepted? Test your knowledge of intercept procedures with the latest Safety Quiz from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. Then challenge yourself with previous quizzes. For more information on temporary flight restrictions and how to respond to intercepting aircraft, check out the foundation's free interactive course, Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace.

'MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATION FOR PILOTS'
Sure, Microsoft Flight Simulator is a great program that lets you fly a Boeing 747 or (insert your fantasy airplane here), but how much utility does it offer for your real flying? Jeff Van West and Kevin Lane-Cummings answer that question in their new book, Microsoft Flight Simulator X for Pilots: Real World Training. The book's 750 pages take the reader through the sport pilot and private pilot certificates, followed by instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, and air transport pilot certificate. For aspiring pilots, the book teaches the skills of flight, how to master the program, and how to utilize the software as a learning tool. Those who are already pilots will get guidance on how Flight Simulator X can be used as a continuing learning tool, how to simulate emergencies, and how to train for advanced certificates. The book sells for $29.99 and is available from PilotMall.com.

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: Can I use the flight instruction received overseas from a non-FAA certificated flight instructor toward a private pilot certificate in the United States?

Answer: Yes. According to Federal Aviation Regulation 61.41, a person may credit flight training toward the requirements of an FAA pilot certificate or rating if the training was received from a flight instructor certified by a contracting state of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the training is given outside of the United States.

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.

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 or send an e-postcard. For more details, see AOPA Online.

UPCOMING FLYING DESTINATIONS:
Denver, Colo. The Parade of Pistons takes place July 17 through 19 at Centennial (APA). For more information, contact Susan Bolinger, 218/525/6228, or visit the Web site.

Benson, Minn. A Benson Kid Day Weekend Fly-In takes place July 20 at Benson Municipal (BBB). For more information, contact Kent, 320/843-4432, 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 Newark, N.J., and Pittsburgh, July 19 and 20. 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 Wichita, Kan., Ypsilanti, Mich., and Germantown, Tenn., on Sept. 8. Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.