Training Tips
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It's your ride
"I'm not thinking about my checkride yet," said a student pilot who was diligently working through private pilot training. "That's in the future, and there are plenty of goals to focus on before that."
That's a positive approach to flight training that lets you savor each milestone. And although it may be premature to be marking a checkride date on your calendar, it's not too soon to identify elements that will make your flight-test experience enjoyable and stress-free.
The way to do that, as with any other flight, is to pay attention to details.
Different student pilots will face different decisions. If you have flown the same aircraft throughout training, its flight characteristics, ground handling, systems, useful load, and any "bugs" may be well known before flight-test day.
A student pilot who flies multiple aircraft, even of the same type, may prefer one to another and should plan ahead to secure it for the ride. (But be ready to handle any surprise like a last-minute maintenance "squawk" that puts the aircraft out of service.)
Whichever aircraft you fly, review its ARROW documents ahead of time (airworthiness; aircraft registration; radio certificate, if flying internationally; operating limitations; and weight and balance). Rides have been called off because paperwork wasn't in order.
After solo, you enter the training stage where the practical test standards become the benchmark for assessing your demonstrations of maneuvers and knowledge. A hard copy of the PTS, or a link to it, should be in your flight bag or on your electronic device—and you should refer to it often.
Many student pilots take the required knowledge test at this point in training, when practical experience reinforces the learning derived from ground study. Don't regard this as a mere administrative exercise; a high score is evidence of motivation, and makes a great impression on your designated examiner before you ever say a word on test day. (He or she will review your paperwork before the exam begins.)
Does your flight school or instructor have a standardized or typical method of sending trainees along for checkrides? Does that method work for you? Some student pilots are comfortable announcing to the world, sometimes on social media, that "Tomorrow is the big day! Wish me luck!" Others prefer the restrained approach to relieve any pressure.
It's your ride, so take command of it by stating how you want to handle the proceedings. With the stage thus set, you'll feel free to fly your best!
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Flight Training News
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Article
Tony Seton found a way to turn a fuzzy goal—recapturing his long-lost instrument proficiency—into a focused project. Read more...
 
Article
The developer of the solar-electric aircraft Sun Flyer has announced a collaboration with Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology to develop a training system. Read more...
Ice Week
Take part in the Air Safety Institute's Ice Week from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1. When Mother Nature serves up ice, be the first to know how to avoid icing encounters and learn how to assess icy conditions in a forecast so you can apply that knowledge before your next flight. While you explore the Ice Week site, register for the Air Safety Institute's brand-new webinar, "Known Icing, Known Risk," which will launch Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Ice Week is brought to you by AOPA Insurance Services and VOYA. Register now...
Article
Cirrus owner training standardized by the company can now be used to rent Cirrus aircraft from others across the country. OpenAirplane, the company founded to allow pilots to rent aircraft from multiple locations in the United States with a single (model-specific) checkout, has reached an agreement with Cirrus that will allow the use of Cirrus training credentials in lieu of that OpenAirplane checkout. Read more...
FlightSafety Legacy 500 simulator to enter service
Pilot training in FlightSafety International's new Embraer Legacy 500 business jet full flight simulator will begin in November in St. Louis, the company announced Oct. 20. FlightSafety said it expects the simulator to be approved by the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency by the end of October, and it has received interim Level C qualification in Brazil. The company is Embraer's factory-authorized training provider for the E-Jet family of airliners and Lineage and Legacy executive jets.
Article
Does automation lead to a lack of professionalism? The acting NTSB chief thinks it does, and recently called for a new approach to the man-machine interface. Read more...
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Training Resources
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Seminar schedule
Get ready for a no-nonsense look at how you can get better, more complete weather information with the Air Safety Institute's "Real World Weather" seminar. Find a seminar location near you and get together with fellow pilots to take a look at what's really going on out there and how it affects your flying. You'll even get FAA Wings credit and AOPA Accident Forgiveness, to boot! Learn more...
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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
AOPA Live from the NBAA convention in Orlando, Florida, looks at some new aircraft that are actually flying. The NTSB chairman worries about automation causing a lack of professionalism and diminishing safety. Also this week, aircraft control by voice command. AOPA Live This Week®, Oct. 23...
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Career Pilot
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Article
Here's a riddle: What job requires a private pilot certificate, but never asks you to leave the ground? Just weeks after earning his private pilot certificate, Chris Schuster is part of an emerging class of professional fliers. Read more...
Article
Honeywell's annual forecast of jet deliveries based on interviews with operators shows signs of improvement for the jet industry. Read more...
New business jets, avionics, and businesses aviation services were announced at the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention Oct. 21 through 23 in Orlando, Florida. Catch up on what's happening in the industry on AOPA's NBAA news page.
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For more aviation career news, see the Flight Training website.
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Plane Spotter
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A plainer trainer
What's the difference between a Yak-18 and a Nanchang CJ-6? Where must a plane spotter go to inspect one of these exotic aircraft? Welcome to the world of military-trainer spotting, former Eastern bloc variety. But don't call a travel agent. You can observe a CJ-6, China's 260-horsepower, radial-engined development of the Russian Yak-18 (for Yakovlev Design Bureau) stateside in formation-flying displays, and in private ownership. As AOPA reported on a CJ-6-against-T-34 fly-off, you can spot it by its "disproportionately long legs, monstrous wing dihedral, and thick metal skin."
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Training Products
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PDF
Flight training will introduce you to new skills, terminology, and concepts, but don't let the rush of information overwhelm you. Take a step back and get the big picture of where your training will take you with AOPA's Field guide to flight training. This free PDF walks through everything from estimating costs of earning a pilot certificate to finding ways to use it once you've earned one. Download the PDF...
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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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Video
Famed aerobatic helicopter pilot Chuck Aaron shares about his role as the main helicopter flight consultant for Disney's Planes: Fire & Rescue to ensure the flight scenes were authentic. Plus, in this exclusive bonus video, Aaron points out his favorite flight scene and Cal Fire Battalion Chief Travis Alexander talks about the water-dropping scenes. Watch this exclusive video...
Members only
If you think of yourself as what you eat, are you imagining a day-old brown-and-gray cheeseburger and grease-sodden fries, or a crisp, brightly colored salad? Check out these 10 tips from Dr. Jonathan Sackier to help you improve your food intake. Read more...
Member benefits
Whether you're taking a family road trip or just running an errand at the store, a reliable car battery is imperative. AOPA Insurance Services partner Liberty Mutual offers some basic tips for improving your car battery's health and performance. Read more...
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Blogs
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As airlines begin to spool up their hiring and training, an age-old question has popped up: Do regional airlines care how you get your time? Does it matter if you log most of your post-commercial time as a CFI? Blogger Chip Wright weighs in...
The Bell 206 Jet Ranger is what the non-helicopter-flying public pictures when you talk about vertical flight. Advanced Helicopter Concepts owner Neal Lanning writes about flying what he calls "one of the most reliable airframes ever built." Read more...
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Instrument Tip
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IFR Fix
When you brief an instrument approach with circling minimums, can you explain whether it has a standard circling approach maneuvering radius, or an expanded one? Read more...
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Final Exam
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Question
Under which atmospheric conditions is carburetor ice most likely to occur?
Answer
Conditions are most favorable for carburetor ice when the temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity is greater than 80 percent. (Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 6.)
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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
Reporting directly to the president, the vice president of marketing will manage all marketing functions including brand management and awareness, product marketing and marketing communications, and all marketing activities that fuel sales growth. The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall corporate marketing strategy, competitive strategy analysis, and management of the product launch process and product life cycle management. 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 executive assistant, ambassador for Southern California, .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
Oct 25-26 - Windsor Locks, Connecticut; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Wichita, Kansas
Nov 1-2 - Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Ashburn, Virginia
Nov 8-9 - Atlanta, Georgia; and San Diego, California
Nov 15-16 - Anchorage, Alaska; and Austin, Texas
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's new Online eFIRC.
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Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars
Nov 5 - West Lafayette, Indiana
Nov 10 - Jacksonville, Florida
Nov 11 - San Diego, California; and Daytona Beach, Florida Nov 12 - Frederick, Maryland; Long Beach, California; and Melbourne, Florida
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Oct 24 - Verdi, Nevada
Oct 25 - Spanish Fork, Utah
Nov 7 - St. Simons Island, Georgia
Nov 8 - Kennesaw, Georgia
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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