Training Tips
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Article
It's such a frigid morning that for the first time this season the threshold has been reached for applying cold-weather aircraft operations. Even for a pilot trainee who has taken and passed a pre-solo written exam and logged dual and solo flight time in an aircraft, cold-weather operations constitute a subject worthy of special review when the seasonal change of conditions arrives. Read more...
 
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Flight Training News
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Advocacy
Pilots training under both Part 61 and Part 141 will be able to take advantage of increased simulation allowances. Part 61 students will be allowed to log up to 20 hours of instrument time in an approved advanced aviation training device (AATD) or up to 10 hours of time in an approved basic aviation training device (BATD). Part 141 students taking an approved instrument rating course will be allowed to accomplish up to 40 percent of their total flight training hour requirements in an aviation training device. Read more...
Article
Finding the notams relevant to your planned flights just got easier. The FAA's new online search tool streamlines the burdensome and confusing process of wading through scores of safety notices filled with obscure acronyms. Read more...
Article
One flight school in Arizona celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday by hosting a huge dinner for its hundreds of international students, and supported a local charity in the process. Read more...
Article
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators Executive Director Doug Stewart has announced he'll retire in February 2015. Read more...
Flight Training magazine
Like a horse, an airplane sometimes has a mind of its own and will drive you to the farm should you fail to command the airplane to do what you want it to do. Learn the rules for taking control—a cowboy code, if you will. Read more...
Login required
Eager to share general aviation safety knowledge at your fly-in or community event? Use the Air Safety Institute's "Safety To Go" portal to download free presentations like the new "Weather Challenge" seminar straight to your computer or portable storage device along with videos, Accident Case Studies, and Real Pilot Stories. New products are added quarterly.
Download now...
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Scholarships
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Article
Aviation professionals and college students have an opportunity to get help paying for their aviation education from scholarships offered through the National Business Aviation Association and Experimental Aircraft Association. Read more...
Article
The New England Section and Eastern New England Chapter of The Ninety-Nines are offering flight training and education scholarships for men and women. Read more...
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Training Resources
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Flash-based, login required
Do you know how to use the radio to talk with other traffic and ATC? Test your knowledge with the Air Safety Institute's Radio Communication quiz. Take the quiz...
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Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time) or from Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you're not already a member, join today and get the pilot's edge.
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AOPA Live
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AOPA Live This Week
Walt and Debbie Kuemmerle fly a T-28 Trojan to airports and events around the South, and their vintage military trainer gets plenty of attention. Cirrus marked another milestone in the development of its single-engine jet, and Bob Showalter reflects on 70 years of serving aviation and the family's plan for the future. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Dec. 4...
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Career Pilot
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Flight Training magazine
You've been flying light piston singles ever since you began working on your private pilot certificate, and now let's say you've logged 150 hours. Frankly, you're tiring of what seem to be ever more lethargic groundspeeds and climb rates, small useful loads, and limited ranges—not to mention the squirrelly behavior in turbulence. You begin to wonder: What would it be like to fly a jet? Once you release the brakes, hang on. Read more...
Southwest pilots file for mediation
The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association filed Nov. 20 with the National Mediation Board for mediation of its contract negotiations. The union's negotiations focus on the airline's flat fleet growth, stagnant career advancement, and compensation. Pilots' sacrifices over the past four years have helped Southwest reach its financial goals, the union added. The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association becomes the third Southwest labor group to request national mediation; it represents Southwest's more than 7,500 pilots and 500 pilots at AirTran Airways.
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For more aviation career news, see the Flight Training website.
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Training Products
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Sporty's offers hands-free Smith & Wesson LED
Sporty's Pilot Shop now offers a Smith & Wesson flashlight that fits in a shirt pocket for hands-free operation. A pilot can choose from one or two LEDs, which protect night vision, or seven extra-bright, white LEDs. The flashlight has a built-in magnet to keep it handy and a pivoting shirt clip. It is available through Sporty's for $24.95.
Lightspeed launches flight bag collection
Lightspeed Aviation has launched a collection of premium flight bags, with bags inspired by aviation authors. Two bags are made of full grain cowhide and one of ballistic polyester with full grain cowhide accents. Each incorporates purpose-built pockets for items like headsets, iPads, and transceivers. They range in price from $179 to $249.
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Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.
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Member Benefits
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Article
Start 2015 off right, and don't let "updating insurance" fall to the bottom of the to-do list. AOPA Insurance Services offers insurance for owners, renters, flying clubs, flight instructors, and others. It also offers life insurance services for pilots of all ages, an emergency assistance program, and auto and home insurance products. Read more...
Members only
The FAA has statutory authority to deny medical certificate applications, but there are two distinct options available to pilots who wish to question and/or dispute a medical denial: FAA reconsideration and NTSB review. Read more...
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Blogs
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You may have learned that you should not fly for 24 hours after scuba diving because of decompression sickness, also known as the bends. But what really happens, and what are the real rules? Read more...
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Instrument Tip
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IFR Fix
The aircraft seems less responsive in pitch now—but what would that have to do with icing? Read more...
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Final Exam
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Question
After reviewing the weather for a proposed flight to an airport about 100 miles away, a pilot feels that the potential for some cloudy conditions and the airmet for icing won't affect the flight. This line of thought represents which hazardous attitude?
Answer
The pilot in this example is exhibiting the hazardous attitude of invulnerability. Pilots who have this hazardous attitude tend to feel that accidents won't happen to them and are more likely to take riskier actions. (Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 17.)
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Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.
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Career Opportunities
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Aviation job board
Lockheed Martin seeks a director of aviation services and operations to develop strategies to grow the business and shape new opportunities. This position is responsible for overall leadership for one of three mission areas generating $200 million in sales annually, with a geographically dispersed team. Oversight comprises mission-critical aviation services including aircraft modifications/upgrade services; pilot/mechanic training services; and aircraft maintenance, reset, and logistics services. Read more about this exciting opportunity!
AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for an associate editor— Web/ePilot, coordinator for pilot community development, program manager for flight training initiatives, senior advertising sales/account executive, senior financial analyst, digital marketing manager, major gift officer, senior ambassador, .Net applications developer, social media evangelist, legal services plan program manager, and account manager II. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
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Education and Seminars
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Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Dec 6-7 - Orlando, Florida; Northbrook, Illinois; and Denver, Colorado
Jan 3-4 - Charlotte, North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; and Ypsilanti, Michigan
Jan 10-11 - San Antonio, Texas; Long Beach, California; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Bellevue, Washington
Jan 17-18 - Santa Clara, California; Ridgeland, Mississippi; and Baltimore, Maryland
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.
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Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars
Jan 5 - Mesa, Arizona; and Reno, Nevada
Jan 6 - Sacramento, California; and Tucson, Arizona
Jan 7 - El Paso, Texas; and Milpitas, California
Jan 8 - Santa Rosa, California; and Albuquerque, New Mexico
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Jan 8 - Carlsbad, California
Jan 10 - Farmingdale, New York
Jan 15 - Murrieta, California
Jan 17 - Keene, New Hampshire
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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ePilot Flight Training Editors:
Sarah Deener
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse |
Contributors:
Jill W. Tallman
Warren Morningstar
Alton K. Marsh
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Ian J. Twombly
Dan Namowitz |
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