Guardians of the sea.A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter returns from a rescue training mission during the USCG’s Advanced Helicopter Rescue School. To fly for the Coast Guard, you must first be a USCG officer or a graduate of another armed service’s flight school, and have served on active duty as a military pilot. Pilots who undergo the advanced training will work with hoist operators and rescue swimmers while coping with 36-knot winds and 20-foot waves, among other scenarios. Pilots call it the best week of flying in the Coast Guard.
WHAT: Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk
WHERE: Astoria, Oregon
PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Rose
AOPA announces dates, details of new grassroots events
Can't-miss, one-day fly-ins planned across the country
AOPA will hostseven regional fly-ins throughout 2014. These one-day events will feature educational seminars, aircraft displays, food, and fun. Scheduled at friendly general aviation airports throughout the United States—including AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland—these events are a great way to celebrate GA. AOPA will join the fun at other events throughout the country—including Sun‘n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, April 1 through 6, the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering May 3 and 4, and EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh July 28 through August 3.
Plan to attend one or all events—RSVP today online (www.aopa.org/fly-in).
- Cowboy Country
San Marcos Municipal Airport (HYI), San Marcos, Texas.
Join us April 26, 2014. - Speed Demons
Indianapolis Regional Airport (MQJ), Indianapolis, Indiana.
Join us May 31, 2014. - History on Parade
Plymouth Municipal Airport (PYM), Plymouth, Massachusetts. Join us July 12, 2014. - Gateway to the Backcountry Felts Field (SFF), Spokane, Washington.
Join us August 16, 2014. - Warbird Wonderland
Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California.
Join us September 20, 2014. - Homecoming Fly-In AOPA Headquarters, Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), Maryland. Join us October 4, 2014.
- It’s Better at the Beach, Malcolm McKinnon Airport (SSI), St. Simons, Georgia. Join us November 8, 2014.
Sporty’s helps student pilots capture that solo moment
Company will create custom video
With the proliferationof compact video cameras, pilots are more eager than ever to capture great moments such as the first solo—but often aren’t sure how to edit or share the video footage. A new service from Sporty’s video production team will take that footage and turn it into a professionally produced package that can be shared.
MySolo lets the pilot upload raw video that will be edited, then shared at Sporty’s MySolo YouTube channel. The pilot includes some additional information about the flight—name, date of flight, flight instructor, and make/model of aircraft. The finished product is about five minutes long.
The cost is $59.95. Preview a sample MySolo video here.
Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman said that while the service is producing videos about first solos, “we’re able to produce similar videos about any particular flight. Contact us at [email protected] and we can discuss your project.”
For more information about MySolo, see the website.
AOPA to FAA: Rescind training standards
Allow loggable simulator time
AOPA has askedthe FAA to rescind its training standards for the instrument rating and allow students to log more simulator time. The FAA standards reduce simulator time that can be logged from 20 hours to 10 for the instrument rating.
“Reducing the amount of simulator time allowed flies in the face of common sense, especially today when improved technologies and training techniques make it more effective than ever,” said David Oord, AOPA manager of regulatory affairs. “That’s why we’re asking the FAA to rescind the policy statement, begin an expedited rulemaking process that would let students get credit for 20 hours of simulator training for the instrument rating, and reissue the letters of authorization needed for flight simulators to be used for the higher level of credited time.”
Although the rule under Part 61 already allows for only 10 hours of simulator time to be logged toward the instrument rating, the FAA has issued letters of authorization (LOAs) to simulator manufacturers for more than 30 years. Those LOAs have increased the allowed time to 20 hours for specific simulators, but because they have been issued on an individual basis, there are now a variety of letters in circulation with different stipulations and requirements, and some without expiration dates. Using the rulemaking process to make 20 hours of simulator time loggable a part of FAR Part 61.65(i), then reissuing letters of authorization for approved training devices, would allow the FAA to standardize its requirements.
“Simulators are a low-cost way for students to experience a wide range of flying conditions they might not otherwise experience during their training,” said Oord. “The agency should afford the training industry the flexibility to train pilots using a variety of new and innovative ways. Only through new thinking and innovation will we collectively rise to the next level of safety.”
AOPA has long advocated for the use of simulators as cost-effective means of training, which allows pilots to experience a wide range of weather and wind conditions not necessarily available while flying under the hood.
Skycatcher reaches inglorious end
Cessna LSA will no longer be sold
Cessna Aircraft officialshave decided that the remaining 80 two-seat Skycatcher light sport aircraft will not be sold, but rather will be used for spares. The decision came in late January when dealers were notified that the aircraft is no longer in the Cessna lineup. Cessna CEO Scott Ernest declared last fall that the Skycatcher had “no future.”
The Skycatcher no longer appears on the Cessna website. The website bydanjohnson.com reports there were 275 Skycatchers in the FAA registry at last count, but Dan Johnson, a founder of the light sport movement and head of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, said that number includes those registered to Cessna, meaning only 195 are in private hands. Johnson said there may have been concern at Cessna about parts support for the fleet that resulted in remaining new aircraft being used for spares.
Remarks by Ernest came during the October 2013 National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas. After those remarks, Propeller Product Line chief Jodi Noah said there were still Skycatchers available for delivery. That was correct at the time. It appears the concern over support for the aircraft led Cessna to keep the remaining unsold units for parts.
The aircraft had a rough entry into the market with mishaps during flight testing. There was a brief effort to approve the Skycatcher in the Primary category for delivery in Europe, but changes demanded by the FAA that would have required additional expensive flight testing halted those plans. Efforts to sell all remaining Skycatchers failed because Cessna officials did not want customers to be frustrated by a lack of parts. The aircraft was manufactured in China but assembled in Independence, Kansas.
Where are you parking?
Flying to a busy airport requires more preflight preparation
Successfully navigating abusy controlled airspace to a smooth touchdown is only part of the equation when flying to a busy airport. Getting around on the ground is another challenge altogether. A key task to prepare in advance is deciding which FBO you plan to visit. Your decision could be based on everything from fees to services, but regardless of why, make sure to nail it down before taking off. Call FBOs in advance if you're unsure; at peak times or during apecial events, parking reservations my be required. Then imagine the various taxi routes you may be given based upon where you may land and get off the runway. Mentally preparing for the various taxi routes will go a long way to making sure you aren’t confused by the controller’s instructions. Finally, once you land, have the airport diagram out, and on your initial call to the ground controller, say who you are, where you are, and where you’re going ("Cessna One-Two-Three-Alpha-Bravo, off Runway 1 at Charlie, going to Mom and Pop FBO”).
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