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FeaturedTechnique: The ‘panic pull’
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Unleaded Swift fuel tested in radial engine
An unmodified Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine running on Swift Enterprises’ high-octane unleaded fuel 100SF showed no signs of knock in an informal round of testing, Purdue Research Park announced Oct. 25. Read more >>
Training veteran opens new Piper training facility
Tapping into his past experience managing SimCom’s Piper training operation, Bill Inglis has opened Legacy Flight Training LLC in the terminal building at Florida’s Vero Beach Municipal Airport. As former training center manager for SimCom next to the Piper factory at Vero Beach, Inglis specialized in training for the Piper M series of airplanes, the Matrix, Malibu Mirage, and Meridian. When SimCom moved its Piper training operation to Orlando, Inglis on his own established Legacy Flight Training to give customers the option of continuing to train next to the Piper factory. Read more >>
NTSB: On-board video lost in Reno crash
Investigators were unable to retrieve on-board video from badly damaged equipment recovered from the site of a fatal Sept. 16 crash at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev., the National Transportation Safety Board announced Oct. 21. Investigators had hoped to analyze data from an on-board camera system and another system that recorded data on memory cards and using telemetry. Read more >>
Reporting Points: Delivering the 600th TBM
Destined for an owner in Oregon, Daher-Socata’s 600th TBM waited at the factory in Tarbes, France, for the overwater delivery to the United States. AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Thomas A. Horne joined one of Daher-Socata’s favorite veteran ferry pilots—Margrit Waltz—for what promised to be a memorable trip. Maybe you’ve seen Waltz’s image featured in Pratt & Whitney Canada’s latest round of ads. Read more >>
To Iceland in a TBM 850
The delivery flight began with a 3:30 p.m. local departure from Daher-Socata’s home airport in Tarbes, France, and ended some 7.5 hours later with an arrival at the Keflavik, Iceland, airport. Along the way there was a fuel stop at the Glasgow, Scotland, airport. There, the pilots picked up survival suits and a raft. Read more >>
Keflavik to Narsarsuaq to Sept-Iles
The Keflavik airport used to be a U.S. Navy base back in the day, but no more. Thanks to two 10,000-foot runways—and the four ILS approaches that serve them (thanks, Navy!)—Keflavik makes sense when the winds are up and the clouds are down. Read more >>
TBM clears customs; its pilot gets socks
The 250-odd-nm trip from Sept-Iles, Quebec, to Bangor, Maine, was an easy 50-minute jaunt in N600YR. It wasn’t long before this 600th TBM was parked on the customs ramp at Bangor International Airport. Out came the customs officer, complete with sidearm, stern looks, and a few questions. After clearing customs, there would be other business to attend to: retrieving the long-lost socks. Read more >>
Plan on 2013 for a ride into space
It may be nearly two years before Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo blasts off for suborbital space with commercial passengers aboard, according to a published news report. In an interview published online by the Wall Street Journal, Virgin Galactic’s chief pilot, David Mackay, predicted that it would be at least 2013 before the company’s commercial space tourism operations begin. That forecast further pushes back various possible schedules that called for flights in 2008, 2010, and 2012. Read more >>
‘Claire Bear’ adventures teach kids about aviation
Pilot and author Sue Hughes has released the fourth in a series of children’s books aimed at making aviation fun and accessible for young children. Claire Bear Flies to Oshkosh continues the adventures of Claire Bear, an aerobatic performer and mentor for young pilots. Illustrated by Linda Terentiak, Claire Bear Flies to Oshkosh describes Claire Bear’s flight to the biggest aviation show in the United States. And yes, Claire Bear really does fly to the show, landing on the green dot as instructed. Read more >>
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PS Engineering offers free installation on audio panel
If you've considered purchasing a new PS Engineering PMA8000 series audio panel, and you have a Garmin 340, now is the time. Between Nov. 1 and Feb. 29, the company is offering free installation for all units purchased through a dealer. Read more >>
Former medical certification manager advanced FAA policies
Dr. Audie W. Davis, former manager of the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division, died Oct. 25 at the age of 80. Davis was the manager of the Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City for 36 years and was instrumental in advancing the FAA’s airman medical certification policies and procedures. Read more >>
Hover Power: Wind gusts
The effects of wind on a helicopter can be profound. To a pilot who clearly understands this, wind can be very helpful. Yet, helicopter pilots sometimes underestimate the risks of flying in gusty wind conditions. On March 27, 2002, the pilot of a Hughes 269 helicopter lost control while hovering at the Fort Collins Downtown Airport. The flight instructor reported that the wind was about two knots at takeoff, but forecasted to be gusty in the afternoon. While hovering at about three feet with the student pilot at the controls, the helicopter encountered a very strong gust and began to wobble. Read more >>
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Caucus members sound off on GA issues
Find out what members of the Senate General Aviation Caucus have to say on issues that matter to pilots. Members discuss the Block Aircraft Registration Request program, user fees, planning for a transition to unleaded avgas, the economic impact of GA, the Pilot’s Bill of Rights, and more in the GA News and Advocacy channel on AOPA Live®. Is your senator or representative a member of the GA Caucus? Find out online.
In it for the long haul: Klapmeier talks Cirrus future
Shortly after taking the reins at the company he co-founded with his brother Alan, Cirrus CEO Dale Klapmeier sat down with AOPA Editor in Chief Thomas B. Haines at AOPA Aviation Summit. Find out about Chinese ownership, the Vision jet, and a potential expansion of the product line. Watch AOPA Live >>
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
Safety & Proficiency
Reporting Points: iOS 5 update troubles
iPad and other Apple device users should take note of a quirk that can occur after updating the operating system to iOS 5. According to multiple application developers, the operating system could delete data, including charts and approach plates, if the device senses the memory is full, or almost full. Read more >>
AZBIC inbound
Remember when you were a student pilot flying the traffic pattern? Sometimes, mixed in with the familiar radio calls from other pilots, you would hear a puzzlingly problematic position report proffered in an utterly unfamiliar vocabulary. Where does one look for an aircraft inbound to land in York, Pa., that has reported “AZBIC inbound”? Misunderstandings can cause conflicts. Now that you get it, do you announce your position in terms that would tell student or noninstrument-rated pilots your location when you’re inbound on an instrument approach during VMC? Read more and take the poll >>
Want to avoid runway incursions? ATC is there to help
Runway incursions continue to plague general aviation; more than 75 percent of them are caused by GA pilots. More often than not, they are unintentional and simply the result of pilots' uncertainty as to where they need to be or what ATC expects them to do. What should you do if you find yourself in a taxi situation that you're unsure about? Ask ATC, brought to you by the Air Safety Institute, has the answer! Listen to a controller describe the most common mistake pilots make when it comes to runway incursions, and how you can avoid it. Watch AOPA Live >>
Aeromedical matters
Has it been a while since you studied flight physiology? Because your health may affect your next flight, it’s a good idea to stay on top of things medical. See if you can answer these questions confidently: Do you need a current medical certificate to act as safety pilot? What’s the difference between hypoxia and carbon monoxide poisoning? To brush up on the facts and examine the medical side of things take the Air Safety Institute’s latest safety quiz, sponsored by the AOPA Insurance Agency. Take the quiz >>
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Free Webinar helps you prepare for in-flight emergencies
Real-world emergencies are rare, but they don’t always happen to “other pilots,” and a little preparation can make a big difference when things start to go downhill. Join Air Safety Institute Chief Flight Instructor JJ Greenway and air traffic controller Andy Marosvari Thursday, Nov. 3, at 3 and 8 p.m. Eastern time (12 and 5 p.m. Pacific) for a fast-paced hour of tips on handling critical situations in the cockpit, sponsored by the AOPA Insurance Agency. Register online >>
Aviation after dark: Brush up before you head out
Shorter days mean more opportunities for night flying. Before you take off into the starry expanse, refresh your memory of the aeromedical and regulatory issues specific to night flight. AOPA’s subject report discusses the limitations of night vision, night illusions, lighting and night blindness, weather minimums, regulations, and tips to keep your flying pleasurable and safe. Find even more resources from the Air Safety Institute.
Leading Edge: Oxygen bar
There’s one drawback to the Cessna 441 at FL350: The cabin altitude is about 11,000 feet and where slow-onset hypoxia should be considered. This topic gets relatively little attention and even the federal aviation regulations don’t even bring up the subject of oxygen impairment below pressure altitudes of 12,500 feet msl (5,000 at night). A pulse oximeter is a wonderfully simple-to-use device that clips on a fingertip to measure your oxygen saturation and heart rate instantly. Read more >>
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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. | |||||||||
ADVOCACY
Proposed $100 user fee an 'arbitrary number'
Republican members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are urging a congressional deficit-reduction panel not to make changes to the current aviation financing structure by adding user fees and other taxes. The letter to the co-chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction also pointed out that the $100 user fee proposed by the Obama administration “is an arbitrary number with no basis for its establishment.” Read more >>
Keep flying: 180 hp, one passenger, driver’s license medical
Take a friend for a $100 hamburger. Practice takeoffs and landings for proficiency. Fly for the fun of it—and do it using a driver’s license medical. After the first of the year, AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association will request an exemption to allow pilots to use their driver’s license and self-certification to fly one passenger in an aircraft with fixed landing gear, four or fewer seats, one powerplant, and an engine of 180 horsepower or less. But why the aircraft limitations, in particular the 180-hp request? Read more >>
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Judge dismisses FBO group’s injunction request
A ruling by a federal judge in California allowed the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) to proceed with a lawsuit against FBOs and avgas distributors under state law, but did not address the businesses’ claim that federal law preempts state regulations on avgas, the National Air Transportation Association announced. The ruling and subsequent filing are the latest chapter in a legal back-and-forth that started in May when the CEH threatened to sue the businesses for the distribution of leaded fuel. Read more >>
Seattle airspace redesign a model of collaboration
A new Class B airspace design that will go into effect Dec. 15 in Seattle, Wash., is a positive example of a process that combined creative thinking and collaboration with users to produce a successful outcome with widespread support from pilots. The FAA has published its final rule establishing the airspace modification. Pilots are urged to study the new boundaries that will become effective Dec. 15. Read more >>
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Member Benefits
If you hate shopping malls, you’ll love the AOPA Store
AOPA makes buying holiday gifts for your pilot family and friends easy—and you don’t have to battle the mall crowds. The AOPA Store lets you shop for all kinds of AOPA merchandise right from your computer. All items in the AOPA Store were selected and tested by pilots for pilots so you are assured quality merchandise. Read more >>
Hertz offers $50 savings on a weekly rental at the airport
Save $50 on a weekly rental at the airport when you include PC# 162820 in your reservation of an economy through full-size vehicle, or small SUV from Hertz. This offer is valid for vehicle pickup Oct. 15 through Dec. 15. Reserve your car today. A portion of all revenue generated will be returned to AOPA and reinvested to support the association’s daily efforts to maintain the freedom, safety, and affordability of general aviation.
Your favorite airports, fast
The AOPA Airports application for Apple iPhone and iPod touch gives pilots quick access to airport information. You can save your favorite airports for quick reference, and any airport you view is automatically added to your “Recents” list for easy recall. Powered by ForeFlight, the app is free to AOPA members.
| | The FAA medical certification process can be a minefield for the unprepared—Don’t go it alone The AOPA Medical Services Program can provide you with personalized, in-depth assistance from experts who understand pilots, paperwork, and the FAA. Plus, receive access to important tools that can help keep you flying. Enroll today! |
AOPA 2012 Tougher than a Tornado Sweepstakes
Maine event: ‘The Boss’ comes along …
Of all the places the AOPA 2012 Sweepstakes Tougher than a Tornado Husky was scheduled to travel, AOPA Pilot Senior Editor Dave Hirschman anticipated that a planned autumn flight to Maine would be the highlight. But as the time approached, two complications made the trip uncertain. First, high winds and rain blew into the East Coast. The second complication was more nervewracking. AOPA President Craig Fuller, owner of a recently acquired 1998 Husky A-1A, also planned to come along on the trip in his own airplane. Most of the AOPA crew had never traveled with The Boss before. Read more >>
AOPA Now: Enjoying the freedom to fly
When you spend a lot of time in Washington, D.C., as AOPA President Craig Fuller does, you tend to spend your days buttoned up—literally confined to a suit and tie. So Fuller was thrilled to be able to throw on a pair of jeans and climb into his Husky for a weekend of fun flying around the Northeast. Fuller and an AOPA team shot photographs of the trip. Read more >>
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AOPA Career Opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We’re looking for a director of media relations, AOPA Live producer/videojournalist, Web business analyst, medical certification assistant, associate editor–Web, associate editor–Web/ ePilot, .Net developer, aviation technical specialist, and manager of airspace and modernization. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
Community
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! | | |
Rally GACheck 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: I recently ran across an ATC transcript in which the controller was giving a pilot weather conditions for an airport in Canada. He stated the following: “cu-fract-2, strata-cu-6.” I’ve never heard a controller say this. What does it mean?
Answer: This statement means that there are cumulus fractus clouds with 2/8 sky coverage, and stratocumulus clouds with 6/8 sky coverage. It is rare that you would hear ATC communicate like this in the United States, as it is a more common International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) weather reporting format. Fractus clouds are defined as low, ragged stratiform or cumuliform cloud elements that are normally unattached to larger thunderstorm or cold frontal cloud bases. They appear as irregular shreds of clouds, as if torn, always in association with other clouds. They have a clearly ragged appearance and linger for a short time before, during, and a short time after precipitation. Fractus applies only to stratus and cumulus cloud forms, i.e., cumulus fractus and stratus fractus. Also known as scud, fractus clouds can look ominous, but by themselves are not dangerous. To learn more, check out this information from the National Weather Service.
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 email to [email protected]. |
My Membership| | 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. |
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