NOVEMBER 15, 2013 - VOL 15, ISSUE 46

Technique and Safety

Ice Week

Ice Week encore

Missed the Air Safety Institute's Ice Week? You can still participate: See the videos, watch the recorded webinar, and take the Ice Flight quiz. In this first installment of the Air Safety Institute's Flying the Weather video series, you'll appreciate the danger of airframe icing as AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Tom Horne discusses how airframe ice affects the aircraft's handling and that all-important facet of flying, lift. Read more... Share:  

Rotorcraft Rookie

A new beginning

A longtime fixed-wing pilot takes his first step to learning how to fly helicopters. Read more... Share:  

IFR Fix

Dangers lurk in 'uneventful' flights

In a NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System record, a pilot attributes his errant decision making, which led to a scary encounter with ice, to "my determination not to disappoint a friend." Has your determination not to disappoint a passenger ever degraded your piloting judgment, putting you in a tight spot? Share your lessons learned. Read more... Share:  

Video

Short-field landing trouble?

Energy management is crucial for short-field landings, and their techniques differ from normal landings for a reason. To avoid confusion, sometimes it helps to take on a broader view of why these differences are important. Watch the video... Share:  

Blog

A sensible man?

Who are we to judge our fellow humans as to what makes sense and what's dangerous? If you've seen a recent video of a pilot landing on a cargo ship in a microlight aircraft, you might wonder. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Article

Aircraft bill to reduce cost of flying

Congress on Nov. 14 gave final approval to a bill that requires the FAA to streamline the certification methods for smaller general aviation aircraft, advancing an initiative that should reduce the cost of upgrading existing aircraft and bringing new aircraft to market. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

FAA releases UAS roadmap

The FAA has released its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap, setting the stage for integrating unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System. AOPA continues to work with the agency to ensure unmanned aircraft operate safely and in compliance with existing operating rules. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

NTSB weighs in on ECi cylinder AD

In an unusual move, the NTSB is weighing in on a proposed airworthiness directive affecting thousands of ECi cylinders. In formal comments to the FAA, the NTSB says it supports a more conservative approach in line with recommendations issued by the board in February 2012. Read more... Share:  

Health

Members only

Too sweet to fly

Diabetes mellitus that is controlled by diet and exercise does not require a special issuance, so your aviation medical examiner may issue a medical certificate without approval from the FAA. However, you will need some documentation for your AME at the time of your next FAA physical examination. Read more... Share:  

Technology

Article

Slowed rotor, speedy cruise

It takes off and lands like a helicopter, cruises like an airplane, and autorotates like an autogyro. Carter Aviation Technologies' Slowed Rotor/Compound (SR/C) prototype reached 200 mph Nov. 7 and broke the mu-1 barrier, a ratio that generally limits the speed of rotorcraft. Read more... Share:  

Article

Swift Fuels gains ASTM approval

An Indiana company has secured ASTM approval for a high-octane and unleaded formula that could replace 100LL. Engine and aircraft manufacturers can now seek FAA certification for specific airframe and powerplant combinations. Read more... Share:  

Opinion

Blog

Flight training on the cheap

What's the best and least expensive flight training tool available to fighter pilots and the general public? You're sitting on it. Read more... Share:  

Blog

The future of general aviation is you, so get cracking

Every pilot should commit to replacing him- or herself in the pilot population by actively recruiting a friend, coworker, or acquaintance to become a pilot. Read more... Share:  

Gear

Article

FAA approves wingtip device 'cradle' for some aircraft

The FAA has issued a supplemental type certificate for a wingtip device cradle that will give the owners of many popular Piper and Cessna aircraft the ability to attach a variety of electronic devices to their aircraft. Read more... Share:  

Apps of the week

Five random aviation apps

This week AOPA highlights five random apps, covering everything from fuel calculations to an addictive air traffic control game. Read more... Share:  

Article

Garmin launches online training for G5000

To help pilots focus on learning the avionics, Garmin on Nov. 12 launched an interactive online training course for the G5000 integrated flight deck. Garmin plans to expand its eLearning Training courses to additional products in the future, a company spokeswoman told AOPA. Read more... Share:  

Travel

Slideshow

Weekend seaplane odyssey

As a baker's dozen of pilots discover, moving five seaplanes—four of them on straight floats—1,200 nautical miles from Minneapolis to Florida is an adventure in flying, and a lesson in human relations. Six degrees may separate the general population, but in aviation, it's only about two degrees. Read more... Share:  

Answers for Pilots

Holiday trip planned?

The holidays are here! It's wonderful. It's memorable. It's exhausting! If you are planning a family trip, it's natural to focus more on the family than on the flying, but that distraction can lead to accidents. Here are some recommendations for pilots flying for the holidays. Read more... Share:  

Financial

Article

Wolf Aviation Fund grant applications due Dec. 15

Individuals and organizations involved in general aviation are urged to apply for Wolf Aviation Fund grants by the Dec. 15 deadline. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Foundation focus

Aviation experiences up for bid

A flight in a P-51D Mustang, a Waco Great Lakes biplane, an unusual attitude course, and your airplane in the pages of AOPA Pilot magazine are among the items up for bid in the AOPA Foundation's annual online auction. Read more... Share:  

Member benefit

Do you have nonowner's insurance?

It was just supposed to be an hour-long Sunday-morning flight. But after a botched crosswind landing, the pilot found that a wheel fairing, runway light, and "nicked" prop cost $30,000. Read more... Share:  

News and Notes

Article

Synergy Air taking new orders

Synergy Air is building another dozen RV-12s in the special light sport aircraft category. The company expects to build about 30 RV-12s in the next 12 months and up to 50 the following year. Read more... Share:  

Article

Pilot earns certificate despite injury

Amanda Rodelander deferred her dream of learning to fly after an ATV accident in June 2001 permanently damaged her left arm. But she persevered, earning her private pilot certificate in June 2013. Read more... Share:  

Article

Boeing employee flying club boasts 500 members, 18 aircraft

A fleet of 18 aircraft, access to flight training, reasonable hourly rates, and the support of the company are among the reasons pilots join the Boeing Employees Flying Association. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Strategic Partner spotlight

Car rental deals for members

Alamo, Enterprise, and National are supporting AOPA members by offering car rental discounts of up to 25 percent every day and through sponsorship of AOPA outreach events, AOPA Airports, and the Fly-Outs feature in AOPA Pilot. They also provide financial support that helps AOPA promote, protect, and defend general aviation. Learn more... Share:  

Pilot Protection Services participants only

Logbook mistakes could lead to trouble

Failing to keep up-to-date logbooks or recording inaccurate or incomplete logbook information, even by mistake, can lead to trouble with the FAA. Join Kathleen A. Yodice from the Law Offices of Yodice Associates as she discusses the repercussions of providing incorrect information on FAA forms in a webinar Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Register here...

AOPA Career Opportunities

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for a financial analyst and staff assistant/PAC coordinator. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.

Forums

Useless pilot gadgets

What do you think are the most useless pilot gadgets? Read more...