April 17, 2015 - VOL 15, ISSUE 16

Flight Training News

Article

Three students, 'One Week Ready to Solo'

A former Navy corpsman, a Harley-Davidson custom builder, and a global advertising manager for General Motors have been tapped for a one-week adventure that could change their lives—learning how to fly through the One Week Ready to Solo project. Read more...  

Flight Training magazine

Technique: Turns around a point

Are you ready to show an examiner you've mastered turns around a point? Get tips on locating the right point, compensating for wind, and avoiding common errors in this maneuver, which is easy in concept but difficult in execution. Read more...  

Article

Sharpen your skills

AOPA offers pilots attending the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo a full lineup of fun, informative seminars. Read more...  

Article

Raisbeck, Embry-Riddle establish professorship, scholarship

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will offer a four-year, full-tuition scholarship for Raisbeck Aviation High School students and will soon have an endowed engineering professorship at its Prescott, Arizona, campus, Raisbeck Engineering announced April 6. Read more...  

Article

Chinese companies order Cessna Skyhawks for training

Cessna Aircraft has secured orders from four companies in China for Skyhawk training aircraft, Cessna parent company Textron Aviation announced April 13. Read more...  

Advocacy

FAA lists instrument approaches to be cut

The FAA has identified 736 VOR and NDB instrument approach procedures it would eliminate during the establishment of the NextGen satellite-based air traffic system. Read more...  

Training Resources

PDF

Don't worry, call for help

When expectations and reality diverge in flight, you may need to change plans and ask for help from air traffic control. The Air Safety Institute's Say Intentions: When you need ATC's help Safety Advisor explains why and when it's best to key the mic and talk to ATC. Download the Safety Advisor to learn more...

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 6 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.

Career Pilot

Virgin America adds San Francisco-Hawaii routes

Virgin America has begun selling nonstop tickets from San Francisco to Honolulu, Oahu, and Kahului, Maui, in Hawaii, the company announced. Service to Honolulu begins Nov. 2 and service to Kahului begins Dec. 3. The daily flights will be operated with new Airbus A320s, according to Virgin America.

Airbus official calls for training change

Airbus Group safety official Harry Nelson called for a shift in emphasis for airline training programs from regulatory requirements to practical experience and hand-flying at a recent international conference of pilot-union leaders in Madrid, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nelson said training tends to be too boring and predictable, and often is disconnected from actual flying experience, according to the report.

Parkland College offers associate's degree in aviation

After taking over the University of Illinois' Institute of Aviation in fall 2014, Parkland College said it "is reinvigorating the aviation curriculum and is seeking to rebuild the pipeline of new flight students by offering compelling options" for students to earn an Associate in Science degree in aviation. Parkland is leasing the university's fleet of aircraft and received a Piper Warrior flight training device from Frasca International in the fall, according to a media release.

For more aviation career news, see the Flight Training website.

Plane Spotter

From Russia, with lift

Plane spotting has evolved since the days when swooping in over town and landing in a field was the customary way to bring folks out to see an aircraft. Nowadays flight-tracking software and cellphones spread the word, but plane spotting remains a community attraction, as when spectators (and news media) headed to airports an ocean apart to see an Antonov AN-225 arrive. The six-engined heavy-lifter, heaviest of aircraft at 628,000 pounds, was only recently displaced as the longest. Its wingspan roughly equals the length of landing fields used by barnstormers of old.

Training Products

Headsets galore at Sun 'n Fun

Many pilots will flock to the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo April 21 through 26 with shopping lists in hand. For student pilots, one of the first significant purchases is often a headset. Ranging in price from less than $100 to more than $1,100, headsets protect your hearing, facilitate communication, and can even reduce noise fatigue. Passive noise reduction models provide a more affordable option, while active noise reduction—often referred to as "noise canceling"—makes your flight even quieter. Aircraft Spruce has a wide selection online; if you make it to Sun 'n Fun, you can judge for yourself how models measure up at manufacturers' and sellers' booths.

Learn engines, power, thrust

Aircraft Propulsion: Pistons, Turbines, Propellers & Thrust by David Robson introduces concepts related to aircraft propulsion, from principles of power and thrust to the details of four-stroke piston engines, radial engines, turbine engines, superchargers, turbochargers, and propellers. The book is available through ASA as a PDF e-book for $79.95.

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.

Member Benefits

Pilot Protection Services

A test that could save your life

Far too many people effectively die of ignorance from an almost completely avoidable disease. Learn about preventing colorectal cancer. Read more...  

Blogs

Learn the local weather, wherever you are

One of the most important variables in the day-to-day life of a pilot is weather. Understanding what to expect based on local geography and terrain can help you with flight planning; blogger Chip Wright explains what he's learned about weather patterns in the places he's flown. Read more...  

How to destroy your engine in one minute

Opinion Leaders blogger Mike Busch details three cases in which piston engines were destroyed or severely damaged by detonation or pre-ignition in just a matter of minutes. And, he offers tips to help you avoid this costly situation. Read more...  

Fly the cloud: Controlling whiteout and brownout

Whether the rotor wash kicks up loose earth causing a brownout or snow causing a whiteout, the techniques used to mitigate potential obscuration conditions are alike, according to blogger Markus Lavenson. Lavenson shares two techniques that have worked well for him over the years. Read more...  

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

A last defense in CFIT scenario

As you prepare to level off from the descent in instrument conditions, a ground proximity warning goes off. What's the correct response? Read more...  

Flash-based, login required

Uplift your datalink knowledge

Are you looking for practical advice on safely using datalink weather in flight? Enter the Air Safety Institute's IFR Insights: Cockpit Weather online course tutorials and interactive scenarios that connect datalink science to our knowledge of onboard avionics. You'll see that datalink is not a crutch to make an unflyable situation flyable, but rather an excellent tool supplementing our big weather picture to avoid dangerous weather. Take the course...

Final Exam

Question

Density altitude is an important factor in flying year round but becomes especially important during the warmer months. How can a pilot calculate density altitude?

Answer

Density altitude at the surface is calculated by first calculating pressure altitude, and then using a chart or flight computer to adjust the pressure altitude for the current temperature at the surface. (Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Chapter 10.)

Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: First officer, Enterprise Holdings Inc.

The Enterprise Holdings Inc. Corporate Aviation Department has an immediate opening for a first officer. Duties include assisting the captain to ensure safety of all flights, providing excellent customer service to passengers, assisting with preflight and in-flight duties, and other tasks as appropriate. This position is based at corporate headquarters in St. Louis. A relocation package will be provided. Apply for this exciting opportunity today!

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for part time, temporary digital product support; a senior director of government affairs (airport advocacy); director of government affairs (airspace/air traffic); aviation technical specialist; director, pilot community development; vice president, information and technology; senior ambassador, You Can Fly; outreach and events coordinator; vice president for major and leadership gifts; Sitecore developer; director of studies, research, and analysis; and account executive. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.