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Eyes above the forest |
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FEATUREDAbove the forest: Drug busts, rescues, and night hunters
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GA NEWS |
| Flying the same airplane without incident for 12+ months? You’re entitled to 10% claims free credits your first year with Avemco—15% your second! Also receive up to 10% off your annual premium with Avemco’s Safety Rewards. Learn more>> |
An Angel Flight medical mission received assistance from a Florida flight school while in the midst of transporting a patient. The Angel Flight mission pilot was attempting to transport a patient in need of a lung transplant from Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville, and had to land at Kissimmee Gateway Airport because of a malfunctioning alternator. An instrument student and a CFII with SunState Aviation Flight School who had planned to fly a cross-country to Gainesville agreed to take the patient, amended their flight plan, and got her to her destination for surgery.
When aviation blogger Tim McAdams got his flight instructor certificate in 1981, instrument flying in helicopters was very rare. In fact, back then very few companies required it for employment as a commercial helicopter pilot. Today it is much different. An instrument rating is required for most jobs and all professional training programs include the rating. Moreover, any pilot who begins his or her career instructing (as most do) will need a CFII. Read more >>
The House this week took up the issue of FAA funding. AOPA President Craig Fuller testified before the aviation subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, stating in his prepared remarks that the FAA needs a stable four-year funding plan that considers the needs of all sectors of aviation. Fuller called on the subcommittee members to provide the FAA with long-range financial certainty. Read more and watch AOPA Live® >>
The creation of the light sport aircraft (LSA) category opened a world of possibility for manufacturers, who began producing everything from new old standards—such as variations on a Cub—to something completely different. AOPA Live Executive Producer Warren Morningstar explored the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Fla., documenting some of the industry’s more creative entries. One of the most intriguing was the Storch, an LSA that Morningstar describes as “a grasshopper on steroids.” Watch AOPA Live >>
One of AOPA President Craig Fuller’s top concerns is the declining pilot population: The number of American pilots dropped from its peak of more than 800,000 with current medicals to about 600,000 in 20 years, and many who start flight training stop before achieving their certificate. That’s why AOPA launched a flight training student retention initiative to increase student pilots’ chances of success. Fuller talks about the initiative and how pilots can rally general aviation in Part 2 of this exclusive interview. Watch AOPA Live >>
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
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You’ve read plenty about weather in textbooks, but how well does the theory translate to the real world? Find out with the latest Air Safety Institute safety quiz, an assortment of questions meant to test the more practical side of your weather flying knowledge. Get started >>
Thinking about purchasing a Piper Cherokee, and wondering how it measures up? Curious about the performance of a Pitts S-2B? The AOPA Pilot Information Center's Aircraft Fact Sheets contain information for nearly 100 aircraft. Each short report includes an overview of the aircraft, a table of specifications, and a list of additional resources—whether you want information on the small, fun American Champion 7EC Champ or the hefty, utilitarian Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
Gain valuable knowledge about flying safely by learning from the mistakes of others. Using your ePilot personalization preferences, like "piston single-engine" or "turbine," the Air Safety Institute's Accident Database generates a list of accidents that have been added to the database in the past 30 days. If you haven't personalized your newsletter, select your aircraft preferences from the "types of aircraft" section on the ePilot personalization page.
Given the size and diversity of the general aviation pilot population, we should expect to see some really dumb decisions periodically. One incident that occurred near Las Vegas got AOPA Foundation President Bruce Landsberg thinking about how little some people think. A Piper Cherokee buzzed a car on a country road, but the pilot misjudged the altitude and hit the roof of the car. The left main gear broke out the car’s front and rear windows before separating from the aircraft. Read more >>
Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics | Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars | |||||||||
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can’t make it in person? Sign up for the CFI Refresher Online. |
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. |
| Air Force Pilot Lowers Blood Pressure Are you worried about your blood pressure? Is it creeping up? Learn how some pilots keep their blood pressure down using a device discovered through Air Force research. Find out details here. www.zona.com |
Flight training with a sport pilot instructor should be allowed to count toward the aeronautical experience requirements of higher certificates, AOPA told the FAA in a petition for a change to the regulations. The creation of the sport pilot certificate was intended in part as a less expensive entrée into the world of general aviation, and for some pilots as a stepping-stone to higher certificates. But a 2009 letter of interpretation suggests that flight training given by a sport pilot instructor could not be credited toward the hour requirements for future certificates and ratings, such as the private or recreational certificates. Read more >>
Economic conditions over the past two years took their toll on general aviation. But amidst uncertainty, GA celebrated some important successes. Groups banded together against user fees and saw the proposal disappear from the president’s budget. GA caucuses in the House and Senate grew swiftly. And now, with positive economic indicators signaling an upturn, GA groups are looking ahead with hope. “We’re beginning this year with more optimism than the last two,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller in a panel discussion Feb. 7 at the National Air Transportation Association FBO Leadership Conference. Read more >>
The Senate Finance Committee reported out an FAA reauthorization bill Feb. 8, with Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) describing the action as a “solid step” toward a return to long-term authorization of the agency, its modernization programs, and the Airport and Airways Trust Fund that pays for them. “As we work to modernize our airways, the fund’s reauthorization is long overdue,” Baucus said in a statement at the opening of the committee session. Read more >>
AOPA is calling on members in the state of Washington to help defeat a proposed excise tax on aircraft that is similar to a taxation plan dropped by lawmakers last year after a vigorous informational effort by the aviation community. House Bill 1847, which would impose an annual half-percent levy “for the privilege of using any aircraft in the state,” was introduced Feb. 4. It seeks to raise revenue from aircraft taxes “to provide funding to maintain enrollment in the basic state health care plan.” Read more >>
Hundreds of local pilots joined AOPA President Craig Fuller for a pilot town hall meeting at Van Nuys Airport in California Feb. 5 to find out more about the state of general aviation. The visit had a special significance for Fuller, who grew up in California and earned his instrument rating at Van Nuys. “I always enjoy these gatherings, but this one was different!” he said after the event. Read more >>
| AOPA Aircraft Financing Program offers NEW lower rates Our goal is to get pilots into the aircraft of their dreams. To help make aircraft ownership more attainable we just lowered our rates to make monthly payments more affordable. For more information, or to have a representative call you to discuss financing, go to www.aopa.org/loans. |
AOPA is requesting that the FAA evaluate hazards to visual flight operations and solicit input from the public during its analysis of the aeronautical impact of a tethered balloon proposed by a defense contractor for installation at Camp Verde, Ariz. The contractor, Stara Technologies, has asked to establish the helium-filled balloon—about the size of a tractor-trailer—aloft at 2,500 feet above ground level, as a platform for advanced camera technology. Two private general aviation airports are located within a few miles of the community of Camp Verde. Read more >>
AOPA is encouraging members to study and submit comments on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) released by the National Park Service that proposes four alternatives for addressing aircraft noise above Grand Canyon National Park. While the intent of the law that led to the draft was primarily to address air tour noise over the canyon, there are some proposed changes for all operations over the canyon. The draft EIS puts forth the National Park Service’s preferred alternative and three other remedies considered for addressing noise. Read more >>
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The AOPA Store is chock-full of items that any pilot or aircraft owner would want. These are products that have been screened by pilots, tested by pilots, and approved by pilots to assure that the AOPA logo is placed only on the highest quality merchandise. Stroll the virtual aisles of the AOPA Store and you’ll find shirts, jackets, hats, wallets, watches, books, DVDs, training materials, and much more. The best thing, though, is that all of the items for sale in the AOPA Store are designed with the general aviation pilot in mind. Read more >>
Tax time is just around the corner and identity thieves couldn’t be happier. Using your stolen Social Security number, identity thieves can file fraudulent tax returns and receive refunds before you even file. Protect yourself this tax season with these simple steps from AOPA and LifeLock, the trusted leader in proactive identity theft protection. First, never respond to unsolicited e-mails from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS never initiates communication with taxpayers through e-mail. Read more >>
February is American Heart Month, so use this occasion to focus on your cardiovascular health: Exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and keep you flying. And if you’re one of more than 81 million Americans with some form of cardiovascular disease, the FAA may require you to provide documentation that your condition is stable or your blood pressure controlled before you may renew your medical. AOPA explains what the FAA will require for a variety of heart-related conditions in its Medical Certification—Heart and Circulatory System subject reports.
| FREE Video Tip! — Courses for Beginner to Pro! Click for a Free Video Training Tip and find a course to achieve your next goal, or to make your flying safer and more rewarding. Not sure? Call us at 800-854-1001 and talk to one of our pilot training advisors. |
The 2011 Crossover Classic is the third sweepstakes project AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Tom Horne has managed, plus he’s had a front-row seat on several others. And every full-restoration project posed its own set of challenges. With the Crossover Classic, AOPA wanted the airplane to be the very best restoration project yet. That’s a worthy goal, but there are risks. There is always the compulsion to add more and more features and equipment. And time is of critical importance in the Crossover Classic’s situation. Read more >>
Advantage Avionics, of Chino, Calif., has finished its massive installation. Garmin’s G500 is quite intuitive, and running the dual Garmin GNS 430Ws (which feed nav data to the G500) was a no-brainer since AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Tom Horne was already familiar with their operating logic. The tests were anticlimactic, save for some minor tweaks: turning down the autopilot-disconnect warning tone’s volume, and adding command bars to the PFD among them. Read more >>
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We’re looking for an aviation technical specialist, aviation education program developer, business analyst, financial analyst, IT project architect, program specialist—communications, and vice president of new product development and interactive marketing. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
Picture PerfectAOPA’s online photo gallery allows you to upload your own aviation photography as well as view, rate, and comment on others’ photos. Your favorite aviation images from AOPA Pilot are still available online through this new gallery. Take a look, and submit your own photos! | AOPA Forums: So if I wanted to buy an airplane . . .A forum poster wants someone to look at a potential airplane he'd like to purchase, but his normal mechanic can't make it down. How can he go about getting someone who is trustworthy, knows about the airplane, and can give him a fair recommendation on whether to buy? Read more >>
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Engage in AviationCheck out user-submitted events from your region. To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. AOPA does not endorse the events listed below, nor have ePilot editors edited the submissions. AOPA assumes no responsibility for events listed. |
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QUIZ ME!Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member who contacted our aviation services staff through the AOPA Pilot Information Center. Test your knowledge.
Question: Will I need a student pilot certificate and a medical certificate prior to my first solo flight in a glider?
Answer: A student pilot certificate is required before you can operate an aircraft in solo flight. Assuming that you meet the student pilot eligibility requirements set forth by 14 CFR 61.83, you may obtain the certificate from a designated pilot examiner or from the flight standards district office. You can also obtain a student pilot certificate from a designated aviation medical examiner if applying for an FAA medical certificate. As a glider pilot, though, you are not mandated to hold a medical certificate. Part 61.23(b) of the federal aviation regulations describes other operations that do not require a medical certificate. Got a question for our aviation services staff? The AOPA Pilot Information Center is a service available to all members as part of the annual dues. Call 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672), or e-mail to pilotassist@aopa.org. |
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Did you know? As an AOPA member, you can access airport diagrams, information about FBOs, and more from anywhere using your Windows Mobile or BlackBerry device. AOPA Airports apps for Windows Mobile and BlackBerry are free to members as part of AOPA’s collection of mobile applications. The application was developed by Hilton Software, maker of the popular WingX product. Download it today >> |
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