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TRAINING TIPsGlides: Real and simulated There may be differences in aircraft performance between a simulated power-off glide and the real thing. In the May 2003 AOPA Pilot “ Test Pilot,” Barry Schiff challenged readers to judge the following statement true or false: “A propeller that has been stopped creates more drag during a glide than a windmilling propeller.” What’s your answer? (See Question 12.) Your aircraft’s pilot’s operating handbook tells you how far your ship glides from a given altitude. But how well do you judge distance? No use gliding toward a runway that’s out of reach! In cruise flight, use a GPS to test your skill estimating distance. Here’s how, as Alton K. Marsh relates in the August 2006 AOPA Pilot feature “ Proficiency: The prop stops here”: “On a recent cross-country I first estimated the gliding distance, which for my altitude above mountainous West Virginia terrain was 4.5 miles, then waited until I saw an airport and selected the Nearest button, which brought up the airport name and distance. That particular airport was 4.3 nm. I then knew how far 4.3 miles looked on the ground and made a mental note of where the airport intersected my wing. Want more airport options? Climb.” And if your POH provides glide data based on zero wind, keep headwind or tailwind effects in mind—plus other considerations. “When taking advantage of a strong tailwind to reach an emergency landing spot, remember to allow room to perform an upwind turn prior to landing. Also remember that some private airports may not be in the GPS database, so look around a bit before fixating on the airport the GPS says is closest,” says the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s Emergency Procedures Safety Advisor. Gliding to a landing may not be by choice—but you’ll have many choices to make on the way to touchdown. YOUR PARTNER IN TRAININGNobody enjoys taking an FAA knowledge test, but we'll try to make it a little easier for you. The Pilot Information Center has links to test questions, test guides, and testing centers. Then, when you're ready to take the test, be sure to download a coupon for a $10 discount through CATS Testing Centers. You can use the discount at any of the more than 400 CATS authorized centers around the world. Print the coupon from AOPA Online.
Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time) or from AOPA Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you're not already a member, join today and get the pilot's edge. Login information is available online. FLIGHT TRAINING NEWSVicki Cruse memorial scholarship announcedThe legacy of Vicki Cruse, the aerobatic pilot who died Aug. 22 while representing the United States at an international aerobatic competition, will be celebrated through a memorial scholarship. The scholarship will be administered through the International Association of Women Pilots Amelia Earhart Scholarship Fund. Funds will go toward providing financial aid to women pilots for emergency maneuver and aerobatic training. Read more >> College freshmen explore aviation careersStudents starting out at Birmingham Southern College (BSC) without a declared major had a hands-on introduction to opportunities in aviation on Aug. 31 at Shelby County Airport in Alabaster, Ala. The airport and members of the Shelby County Aviation Association hosted an event for incoming freshmen that included presentations about what aviation has to offer and hands-on exposure to a variety of aircraft. Students were treated to one-on-one discussions about aircraft on the flight line, including gliders, low-wing and high-wing airplanes, and taildraggers. Read more >> New insurance option for clubs, flight schoolsOwners and operators of flying clubs, flight schools, and other commercial aviation operations can now get some potential financial relief on insurance rates through a new program with Travers & Associates. Instead of paying a flat rate, customers can now opt for a pay-as-you-go program that directly relates the cost of the premium to the number of hours flown per month. If a company has a great month and flies often, the premium never goes above what it would have been at the flat rate. Contact Travers for more information. Inside AOPATest your towered airport ops knowledge Every year, there are more than 40 million arrivals and departures at controlled airports. Nearly half of these are general aviation operations. Flying into, out of, or near towered airports presents some unique challenges—especially if you do most of your flying to and from nontowered airfields. Are you up on your towered airport operations knowledge? Find out with the latest safety quiz from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. ‘It’s a drag’ You wouldn’t run a marathon and add layers of clothing at each water stop. That’s about how much sense it makes to fly into icing conditions—none. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has created a new Pilot Safety Announcement (PSA), “It’s a drag,” to illustrate how ice can accumulate on your aircraft to rob it of performance and even result in an accident. Check out the new PSA >> Check out the lighter side of aviation at SummitMore than 2,000 sport pilot certificates have been issued since the rules were released in 2004. If you’re thinking about joining the ranks of this growing segment of the pilot population, find out more at AOPA Aviation Summit, Nov. 5 through 7, in Tampa, Fla. Read more >>
TRAINING PRODUCTSFree sport pilot addendum, syllabus for ‘Complete Private Pilot’Bob Gardner, author of the The Complete Private Pilot textbook and syllabus, has created a companion sport pilot curriculum and syllabus available for free download. The materials provide information needed for flight schools, flight instructors, and students to follow the private pilot course modified to meet the sport pilot requirements. For more information and a link to the PDF file, see the ASA Web site. 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. FINAL EXAMQuestion: I was reading through a list of notams and noticed that many included the phrase “wie until ufn.” What exactly does this mean?
Answer: The contraction “wie until ufn” means “with immediate effect until further notice.” The notam that you are reading would be in effect immediately and remain so until further notice. Notam contractions are listed on the FAA’s Web site. Pilots can view current notams online through the FAA’s NAIMES PilotWeb NOTAM System or listen to them by calling Flight Service at 800/WX-BRIEF. AOPA members can view current security notams, including graphics and plain-English translations, on AOPA Online. Got a question for our technical services staff? E-mail [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. Picture Perfect
AVIATION EVENTS & WEATHER To submit an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online. Flight Instructor Refresher ClinicsThe next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Baltimore, Md., and Richmond, Va., Sept. 19 and 20; Colorado Springs, Colo., and Seattle, Wash., Sept. 26 and 27; San Jose, Calif., and Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 3 and 4; Wichita, Kan., and Corpus Christi, Texas, Oct. 10 and 11. 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 SeminarsAOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Rochester, Minn., Fort Worth, Texas, and Reno, Nev., Sept. 21; Sacramento, Calif., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Houston, Texas, Sept. 22; Milpitas, Calif., Bellevue, Neb., and San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 23; Santa Rosa, Calif., Olathe, Kan., Sept. 24; Mesa, Ariz.; Clayton, Mo.; Blue Bell, Pa., Sept. 28; Tucson, Ariz., Boise, Idaho, Kansas City, Mo., Allentown, Pa., Sept. 29; Springfield, Mo., Grand Forks, N.D., Santa Teresa, N.M., New Cumberland, Pa., Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 30. Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. | Got news? Contact ePilot. Having difficulty using this service? Visit the ePilot Frequently Asked Questions now at AOPA Online or write to [email protected]. |
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