| The following stories from the June 5, 2009, edition of AOPA ePilot were provided to AOPA members who expressed an interest in the particular subject areas. Any AOPA member can receive information tailored to their areas of interest by updating their preferences online. - My ePilot— Turbine Interest -Embraer-CAE installs simulator at Dallas training centerOwners, operators, and pilots of Embraer’s new Phenom 100 light jet can now take advantage of the first Phenom 100/300 simulator at the company’s training center at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Training for the Phenom series is conducted under a joint venture between Embraer and CAE, dubbed Embraer-CAE Training Services. A second training facility, in Burgess Hill, United Kingdom, will soon commission the second Phenom 100/300 simulator. Read more >> - My ePilot – Helicopter Interest -Cobham glass cockpit approved for helicopter IFR operationsCobham Avionics announced FAA approval of its synthetic vision glass cockpit for single-pilot IFR operation of the Bell 412 helicopter. The supplemental type certificate was issued to Broussard, La.-based Arrow Aviation, making it the world’s first IFR approval for a synthetic vision system in a helicopter. Read more >> TRAINING TIPsFuel on board
Attending to refueling chores is not always convenient. The pressure to get going tempts many pilots to pass on a top-off. Frequently, the fuel-exhaustion accidents that afflict general aviation pilots could be avoided with a little patience and better fuel awareness. But it’s not just impatience that tempts pilots to cut corners on fuel. “One of the most obvious risks is intentionally planning a flight close to the limits of the amount of fuel that you will carry (or believe that you are carrying). Another is passing up a fuel stop. Still another is misjudging your ability to navigate under adverse circumstances of darkness or marginal conditions,” wrote Dan Namowitz in the April 2004 Flight Training column, “ Accident Analysis: Easily Preventable.” Check out the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s online fuel management resources for more information on how to reduce your chances of having a fuel-related accident.
Speaking of fuel awareness, note that when you fill out a VFR flight plan form, fuel on board is expressed in hours and minutes, not gallons. (See “How it all Works: Air traffic control” in the Learn to Fly section of the AOPA Flight Training Web Site.) If you need ATC’s assistance to find your way home some day, your fuel condition will be a major factor in the instructions you receive. Learn how it all comes together to enhance safety in the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Advisor, Say Intentions: When You need ATC’s Help .
Bottom line: A healthy fuel load puts time on your side when you need it most. TRAINING PRODUCTSGleim unveils Garmin 530 online training courseGot a Garmin GNS 530 in your training aircraft, and still trying to figure out all the bells and whistles? Gleim has introduced a new interactive online course aimed at getting the user up to speed not only in the use of the buttons and knobs, but also on how to use the controls effectively and efficiently. The course includes streaming audiovisual presentations plus downloadable reference materials that can be studied offline. Study Unit 1 is available free. Six-month access to the complete course is $99.95. Order online or call 800/874-5346, extension 471. |
Do you always carry the maximum permissible fuel? Do you bother to refuel at your destination? Flight school and flying club policies vary on how to manage fuel and whether to refuel en route. Keep meticulous track of your fuel consumption, and avoid “traps” that can reduce your fuel load or trick you into overestimating fuel on board, as described in the Aug. 10, 2007, “ Related Articles
