NOVEMBER 29, 2013 - VOL 15, ISSUE 48

Technique and Safety

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Fly the LDA into Hartford

Hartford-Brainard Airport in Connecticut is home to one of the most unusual instrument approaches in the world. Try your hand at the LDA approach and see if you have the skills to find the runway in IMC in this safety quiz. Take the quiz...

Rotorcraft Rookie

Flying helos: Get it under control

If you are going to learn to fly a helicopter you first have to learn how to control it. Read more... Share:  

Video

Give 'normal' its due

While pilots give soft- and short-field takeoff techniques their due diligence, the normal takeoff is how most pilots depart the airfield most of the time. So it makes sense to pay more attention to what we're doing for the bulk of our departures. Watch the video... Share:  

IFR Fix

Few clouds at 700

You might get in at Aurora, Mo., might not. Hard to know. Read more... Share:  

Webinar

Wagstaff offers tips on aerobatics

Join Patty Wagstaff, six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team, and AOPA Pilot Senior Editor Dave Hirschman for a discussion of aerobatic flying in an AOPA Stay Smart Webinar Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. They will share their own experiences, describe a few aerobatic maneuvers, talk about aerobatic training, and give tips on how to get started. Register here... Share:  

Blog

Over the river and through the woods, part 2

If you're flying by general aviation over the Thanksgiving holiday, remember that there is no place you have to be. Consider some excerpts from NTSB reports—and guess which of these surprising decisions are real, and which are fictitious. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Advocacy

New law gives GA reason to be thankful

Just as many were headed out of Washington, D.C., to begin the Thanksgiving holiday, the general aviation community found one more reason to be thankful as the long-awaited Small Airplane Revitalization Act became law. Read more... Share:  

Article

Sleep apnea scrutiny on pilots

Pilots impacted by the FAA's proposed new obstructive sleep apnea policy can expect to pay some $2,000 to more than $5,000 for testing and, if needed, equipment for treatment, according to an AOPA investigation. Meanwhile, the trucking industry was successful through legislation in October in forcing the federal government to use rulemaking when it considers the impact of sleep apnea on commercial drivers. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

FAA tackles approach obstacles

The FAA released a plan Nov. 15 to identify and mitigate the risk of potential obstructions jutting into airspace reserved for the descent path of instrument approaches. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Fewer, better notams coming soon

The FAA and aviation industry stakeholders are working toward new solutions that will reduce the overwhelming volume of notams that pilots have to sift through prior to flight. Read more... Share:  

Health

Members only

Collateral damage, part 1

The 16-day partial government shutdown added insult to injury in the realm of pilot medical certification at the end of a year that has seen some of the longest delays we've seen in quite a while. Find out some of the basics of the process of how the FAA does medical certification. Read more... Share:  

Opinion

Blog

It's time to change our image, part 1

The political guys in the White House know that private jets are the go-to, symbolic hot button for an immediate, predictable response from the public about the inequity of it all. They don't appreciate the beauty, the productivity, the freedom, and even the spiritual nature of flying. This perception disparity is serious business. Read more... Share:  

Blog

'Tis the season of thanksgiving and goodwill

During the holidays, Opinion Leaders blogger and psychotherapist Jolie Lucas's counseling practice gets as busy as Oshkosh in July. She recommends clients find "something to be grateful for." Lucas shares what she's thankful for in aviation. Read more... Share:  

Technology

Article

NASA tests insect solutions

A small team of specialists at NASA's Langley Research Center has taken to the skies in a Falcon jet hunting bugs in an effort to reduce wing contamination, drag, and fuel consumption. Their work may ultimately also help solve a problem that can kill humans: airfoil icing. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Hover Power: Electric flight

In the race to the first all-electric-powered helicopter flight, find out which innovations gave designer Pascal Chrétien of France an edge. Read more... Share:  

Gear

Article

Aviation gifts unplugged

Armchair flying is never more fun than around the holidays, when weather prevents at least parts of this nation from getting into the cockpit. So here are some more ideas of what to give yourself—or the other pilot in your life—to keep him or her from flying withdrawal. Read more... Share:  

Poll

What are the top 10 apps of the year?

Help choose the top 10 aviation apps of 2013. AOPA readers can choose between one and 10 apps from a list of 30 chosen by the AOPA Online editors. Feel free to write in your favorites if they didn't make the list. The winners will be announced before the end of the year. Take the poll...

Article

Lightspeed unveils $500 burger contest

Pilots who buy selected Lightspeed Aviation headsets are entered into a contest to win a "$500 hamburger" getaway package. Read more... Share:  

Apps of the week

Five game apps for the Thanksgiving holiday

In between the turkey and the football, consider giving these five aviation game apps a try: Chopper, Tiny Wings, Infinite Flight, Skies of Glory, and Wings Earth: Flight Simulator Experience. Read more... Share:  

AOPA product

Black Friday sale: Save $140 on FlyQ EFB

From Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, you can get two years of FlyQ EFB IFR+VFR subscription for less than the price of one—$99. Read more... Share:  

Travel

Article

Traveling by GA

When adding an extra 80 pounds of camera equipment onto normal luggage for travel, fitting it all in a general aviation aircraft can be a challenge. AOPA staff photographer Chris Rose shares his tips—based on years of experience and lots of mistakes—on packing when flying GA. Read more... Share:  

Financial

Article

Reno races in fiscal danger

Organizers of the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev., need to raise $500,000 by Dec. 15 to ensure they can insure the 2014 event. Citing an "oppressive" insurance bill, Reno Air Racing Association President and CEO Mike Houghton published an appeal for donations Nov. 22. Read more... Share:  

Article

Land-O-Lakes Flying Club: Economical flying

A limit of 15 members, reasonable hourly rates, and an owned fleet are among the things that have kept the Land-O-Lakes Flying Club operating since 1958. Read more... Share:  

Member benefit

Aviation market recovering: Time to buy an aircraft?

Many aircraft owners were shocked by economic events of 2008 and 2009. Fortunately, the market is recovering and banks are loosening up requirements on aircraft loans and reintroducing financing products. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Foundation focus

Bid on aviation experiences

Earn a tailwheel endorsement, get a trip to NCAA basketball's Final Four, and more in the AOPA Foundation's online auction to support general aviation. Bidding closes Dec. 14. Read more... Share:  

News and Notes

Article

China loosens general aviation flight restrictions

China, which has been acquiring foreign companies in the aviation sector and sending delegations abroad to observe general aviation in action, will relax a rule requiring government approval of most GA flights. Read more... Share:  

Article

New Red Tails monument honors subset of Tuskegee Airmen

A new monument to the Red Tails, a subset of the Tuskegee Airmen, took three years to fund and complete. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Foundation focus

Grant funds girls' aviation program

Thanks to a grant from the AOPA Foundation, the Girls Inc. chapter in Oak Ridge, Tenn., is offering its members training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics via the SkyGirls program. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Foundation focus

#GivingTuesday donations boost GA

The AOPA Foundation can continue to support projects including the Air Safety Institute, growing the pilot population, Giving Back grants, and preserving and improving community airports with donations from the general aviation community on Dec. 3 for the second annual #GivingTuesday campaign. #GivingTuesday is a national day of giving to kick off the holiday season. Learn more in this video, and to donate to the foundation on Dec. 3, go online.

More News

Pilgrim Aviation 'flies' Cessna 150 to a mall

Strange but true general aviation news

Young flight instructor credits CAP with his success

CAF members vote to move HQ

Flight Training Apps releases 'Private Pilot—Ground Portion'

Sweepstakes

Blog

One first-rate interior

Air Mod's Dennis Wolter is a fanatic about ergonomic design, and it shows with the AOPA Sweepstakes Debonair's seats. He's fond of opining about the design merits of the concept of "the measure of man": A "standard" human of the 1940s is much different from one today. Read more... Share:  

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Nonprofit aviation organization executive director

LightHawk, a nonprofit environmental aviation organization, is seeking an energetic, goal-oriented executive director to lead all aspects of the organization. Responsibilities include overseeing fundraising, administrative, operational, fiscal, and risk management functions of LightHawk. LightHawk's mission is environmental with a specialty in using aviation to catalyze positive change. Learn more and check out other exciting opportunities...

Forums

Teaching aerobatics

Do you need to be a CFI or have a commercial certificate to teach aerobatics? Read more...