Training Notes and News

Thirty-one college and university flight teams competed in May for the gold in the 2008 National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation conference (NIFA Safecon) at Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University hosted the event, which drew teams totaling 393 students and 64 coaches. The students vied for top scores in ground and flight events ranging from preflight operations to short-field and power-off landings and message drops.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott's team took home the national championship trophy and first place overall for both flight and ground events. The national top pilot award went to Michael G. McConnell of Ohio State University. McConnell also was the top-scoring male contestant. Emily A. Brown of LeTourneau University was top-scoring female contestant. Jason M. Schappert, representing Jacksonville University, won the certificated flight instructor event, which was sponsored by AOPA. See the NIFA Web site for a complete list of schools and rankings.

Flying in front of the world: Student pilot podcasts his lessons

Pilots have been journaling their flight lessons at least since Wilbur and Orville kept diaries. Today's crop of students is branching out with the latest media to chronicle their flight experiences. The blogosphere includes a slew of student-pilot blogs (see "Preflight: Aviation Blogs," February 2008 AOPA Flight Training). Now students are podcasting their experiences for the benefit of others--and at least one aviation enthusiast has done so since he drove to his local airport for an introductory flight.

Bill Williams of Mesa, Arizona, says the process of podcasting a lesson is like keeping a media-rich scrapbook. "I've been inspired and entertained by all of the aviation podcasts that I've been to, and wanted to add to this content by giving back some of what I have gained from all of these people's hard work," he says, citing as his influences The Finer Points, Uncontrolled Airspace, and Willis Hawkins' Student Pilot Flight PodLog.

Williams, who trains in a Piper Cherokee at Chandler Municipal Airport, says he also has altruistic reasons for podcasting. Putting it out there "just might help to inspire a few people to get involved in aviation, finally taking the plunge themselves," he says. "I'm actually still amazed that anybody listens...but if I think about how voracious I am with aviation content, I shouldn't be surprised." Williams' podcasts include cockpit audio and video feeds.

A self-described amateur audio/video/photography enthusiast, Williams says podcasting allows him to combine those interests into something that benefits others. And, if the notion of putting your flight lessons out there for the world to see (and hear) makes you cringe, consider this: Williams, 36, says young people today have grown up with social networking site such as MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter, et al, and they "are comfortable wearing their lives on their sleeves...to keep with the times, I need to teach myself to be more open, and what better way than to learn to fly in front of the world?"

What It Looks Like: Flat-spotted tire

By Mark Twombly

Today your instructor has you flying to a small-town airport with a single 2,000-foot-long, 50-foot-wide runway. That's more than enough asphalt to safely land and stop the airplane, but just to make things interesting, there are trees on the approach end and a quartering crosswind.

Given your relative inexperience with short fields, and the added challenge of negotiating the trees and a crosswind, you're understandably nervous. A thorough review of short-field procedures during the preflight briefing helps restore your confidence, and you depart on the training flight.

Your approach to the strip is right on the money, and the main wheels touch down lightly a third of the way down the strip. "Nice job," the instructor says.

Later, back at home base, you do a cursory check of the airplane and notice that there's a small area on the left main tire where the tread is worn down to the point where the grooves are not visible. "How did that happen?" you ask yourself.

You are looking at a flat-spotted tire, so named because the affected area has been worn "flat" relative to the rest of the round tire. It likely occurred when you touched down on the short strip because either your left foot was depressing the left brake pedal when the left main touched down, or you applied too much left brake after touching down. In either case, the effect is to lock the left tire so that it skids on the landing roll.

Flat-spotting can shorten the life of the tire. If the flat-spotting is severe enough, cord beneath the belts can be exposed, which is cause for immediate replacement of the tire. Even if cord is not showing, the tire may be imbalanced or so out-of-round that it is uncomfortable when the airplane is rolling.

To guard against flat-spotting, make sure the balls of your feet are on the rudder pedals, and not the brake pedals, before you touch down. Use brakes judiciously, especially early in the landing rollout before the full weight of the airplane is on the wheels. If you hear tire squeal on landing or sense that a wheel may be locked up, release some brake pedal pressure to allow the tires to spin.

FAA proposes changes to sport pilot rule

In the almost four years since the sport pilot rule was implemented, the pilot community and the FAA have gained a lot of practical experience. Now the FAA has used that experience to develop 22 proposed changes to the rule that would affect aircraft, pilots, and procedures. For example, the proposed changes would alter altitude limitations--now set at a maximum of 10,000 feet mean sea level--to include an above ground level limitation. This would increase the operating window for pilots who live in mountainous terrain. Another change to the rule would allow the use of light sport aircraft in Part 141 flight training programs. Other changes would replace proficiency checks currently conducted by flight instructors with checks done by pilot examiners, and would retroactively require sport pilots to receive one hour of flight training on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments.

Learjet commits $300,000 to training center

Bombardier Learjet Inc. has committed $300,000 to a new aviation training center located at Col. James A. Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas. The funding goes toward scholarships and equipment for the center, which broke ground in March and is slated to open in early 2010, according to a report in the Wichita Business Journal. Wichita Area Technical College will be the managing partner of the aviation center, which will have capacity to train more than 1,500 students in aviation service and manufacturing and general manufacturing.

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:

• Harrison Ford: Barry Schiff talks flying with Indiana Jones.
• The Candy Bomber: Gail Halvorsen dropped chocolate bars from a Douglas DC-4 transport on a mission of mercy after World War II. Today he uses a Remos light sport aircraft.
• "Get Your Glass" Archer's New Look: A team of pros gives AOPA's sweepstakes airplane a gleaming new coat of paint.

Are you ready to read about more advanced subjects than these? Just as pilots upgrade to more advanced certificates, it might be time to upgrade your magazine. You can convert your paid membership to AOPA Pilot at any time by calling AOPA toll-free (800/USA-AOPA).

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 staff and may be found below.

1. Outside controlled airspace, the minimum flight visibility requirement for VFR flight above 1,200 feet above ground level (agl) and below 10,000 feet mean sea level (msl) during daylight hours is
1. one mile.
2. three miles.
3. five miles.
2. Which preflight action is specifically required of the pilot before each flight?
1. Check the aircraft logbooks for appropriate entries.
2. Become familiar with all available information concerning the flight.
3. Review wake-turbulence avoidance procedures.
3. An aircraft's annual inspection was performed on July 12 of this year. The next annual inspection will be due no later than
1. July 1, next year.
2. July 13, next year.
3. July 31, next year.
4. During a night flight, you observe a steady white light and a flashing red light ahead and at the same altitude. What is the general direction of movement of the other aircraft?
1. The other aircraft is flying away from you.
2. The other aircraft is crossing to the left.
3. The other aircraft is crossing to the right.
5. When may an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) be tested?
1. Anytime.
2. At 15 and 45 minutes past the hour.
3. During the first five minutes after the hour.
6. Who should not participate in the Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) program?
1. Recreational pilots only.
2. Student pilots.
3. Military pilots.
7. During the preflight inspection, who is responsible for determining that the aircraft is safe for flight?
1. The pilot in command.
2. The certificated mechanic who performed the annual inspection.
3. The owner or operator.
8. Which initial action should a pilot take before entering Class C airspace?
1. Contact approach control on the appropriate frequency.
2. Contact the tower and request permission to enter.
3. Contact the FSS for traffic advisories.

Final Exam answers

1. The correct answer is A. The phrase outside of controlled airspace is indicative of Class G, as this is the only "uncontrolled" airspace; therefore, one statute mile of flight visibility is required for day VFR between 1,200 feet agl and 10,000 feet msl. Flight in this airspace also requires cloud separation minimums.
2. The correct answer is B. FAR 91.103 requires pilots to become familiar with all information concerning the flight, including but not limited to aircraft performance, weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives available, and runway lengths at airports of intended use. Checking logbooks and reviewing wake turbulence avoidance, while good advice, are not specific requirements.
3. The correct answer is C. FAR 91.409 states that no person may operate an aircraft unless it has had annual inspection within the preceding 12 calendar months. The use of the term calendar month specifies that the inspection is valid until the end of the month. A subsequent inspection would then be necessary by the last day of July next year.
4. The correct answer is A. The white light that is observed is the position light on the tail of the aircraft you are behind, and the flashing red light is the other aircraft's flashing beacon. You are behind this aircraft and traveling in approximately the same direction. The red and green wing position lights should not be observable from the rear of the other aircraft, but either may be observed if that aircraft was crossing your flight path.
5. The correct answer is C. Analog (121.5/243.0 MHz) ELT tests should be conducted only in the first five minutes after the hour and should be limited in duration to three audible sweeps. A communication radio would be tuned to 121.5 MHz to receive the signal. Testing of digital 406 MHz ELTs should be performed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
6. The correct answer is B. Student pilots are advised not to participate in LAHSO, and pilots have the right to decline a LAHSO clearance if they believe that it will compromise safety of flight.
7. The correct answer is A. The pilot in command is responsible for determining that the aircraft is safe and airworthy before a flight, as laid out in FAR 91.7(b). An owner is responsible for having maintenance performed and a mechanic is responsible for actually performing that maintenance, but it is the PIC who is ultimately responsible for determining that the aircraft is safe for the intended flight.
8. The correct answer is A. Before entering Class C airspace, contact the approach control with jurisdiction over that airspace. The appropriate frequency may be found on sectional aeronautical charts, or in the Airport/Facility Directory. Calls to the tower are appropriate for Class D operations. FSS does not provide traffic advisories at an airport with an operating control tower.

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