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Top Stories
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Article
A detailed list of unmanned aircraft encounters reported by pilots reveals just over half of all such encounters were reported in five states. The FAA released the latest data Aug. 21, along with a call for responsible drone operation. Read more...
 
Article
Lockheed Martin has developed a graphical briefing tool that will help keep manned and unmanned aircraft safely separated. The new tool is part of a larger effort to deploy technology that will keep everyone in the airspace well informed in real time. Read more...
AOPA Live This Week
One of the Women Airforce Service Pilots was on hand to see the restoration of a Vultee BT-13 Valiant that will become the first aircraft in the National WASP World War II Museum's collection that was flown by WASPs. Also this week, AOPA's National Aviation Community Center drew a different kind of crowd—about 100 fitness fanatics—for a workout with an "air-obic" twist, and AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines reports from Alaska. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Aug. 27...
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Technique and Safety
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PDF
AOPA's Air Safety Institute has released the 24th Joseph T. Nall Report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of general aviation accidents during 2012. It's accompanied by the 2013-2014 GA Accident Scorecard, a less detailed summary that documents the unexpected improvements in GA safety during the past two years. Download the reports...
Aircraft Maintenance
Many owners seem well-versed in oil changes and spark plug cleaning, but unfortunately not as well-educated when it comes to compliance with maintenance logging requirements. Read more...
Article
Sometimes the best way to build something is to break it into little pieces. An aerobatic competition sequence is one example. Read more...
Flash-based, login required
Real Pilot Stories: Vacuum Failure in IMC shows how important it is to be proficient and prepared in the event of an instrument failure during flight in instrument meteorological conditions. As Dr. Donna Wilt can attest, it is crucial to practice partial panel in realistic situations, be resourceful, and know when to declare an emergency and get help from ATC. Watch the video...
Blog
Takeoffs look easy, but they rank as a high-risk operational area and are far more likely to produce fatalities than landings. Power loss and high density altitude are two takeoff scenarios that demand adequate planning, according to Air Safety Institute Senior Safety Advisor Bruce Landsberg. Read more...
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AOPA Fly-Ins
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Article
Flying west from Colorado Springs, pilots can explore the breathtaking scenery of the Front Range while learning valuable lessons in density altitude, weather, and flight planning. Read more...
Article
The weather sounded like it could be bad—high winds and storms were forecast—but Anoka County-Blaine Airport stayed warm and breezy all day, delighting visitors, and especially those who chose to camp under the Minnesota summer skies for AOPA's Fly-In Aug. 22. Read more...
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Advocacy
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Article
The expanded Powder River Training Complex, a collection of special-use airspace covering approximately 28,000 square miles over Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota, will become active Sept. 17. Read more...
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Health
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Pilot Protection Services
What's the difference between a plain stress test and a nuclear stress test, and when would you need to have one in order to get a medical certificate? Dr. Warren Silberman explains. Read more...
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Technology
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Article
The four-seat Tecnam P2010 featured in the September issue of AOPA Pilot has won approval in Europe for the Garmin G500. It comes standard in the United States with the Garmin G1000. There is no timetable for approving the G500 in the United States.Read more...
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Opinion
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Blog
Aviators are equipping with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), but "not in droves, mind you," writes Opinion Leaders blogger Amy Laboda. Read more...
Blog
"Meeting and staying in touch with the people who can help us personally and professionally—networking—is much like discussing the weather; everyone talks about it, but hardly anyone does anything about it," writes Opinion Leaders blogger Rob Mark, as he shares tips for networking successfully. Read more...
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Gear
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Article
AOPA has released two new digital flight planning tools—the AOPA Flight Planner, powered by Jeppesen, and AOPA GO, a new mobile application. Both applications are available exclusively to AOPA members and are designed to complement existing tools AOPA Airports™ and AOPA Weather. Read more...
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Travel
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Online resource
Canada is an extraordinary travel destination, from lighthouses adorning the Nova Scotia coastline to the Montreal jazz festival or the green Northern Lights mystically arcing across British Columbia's mountains. However, before crossing the border, pilots must meet certain requirements, including the use of the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS). The Air Safety Institute's free online tutorial is among many resources designed to make the trip easy. Read more...
Article
Two college friends celebrated a recent graduation by flying the East Coast—and gave back to the aviation community as they traveled. Read more...
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Financial
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Article
The generally accepted wisdom that big jets are selling best while small jets wither is no longer true. Now the big jet sales are fading, but smaller ones continue sales growth. Read more...
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News and Notes
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Article
Retired fish spotter Bill Corbett of Poquoson, Virginia, watched as his airplane was destroyed for science by NASA Aug. 26. It was his home for 26,000 hours. Read more...
Article
Cirrus Aircraft's Vision SF50 jet has achieved a "significant milestone" toward certification with FAA issuance of type inspection authorization for the aircraft. Read more...
Article
A boy who had waved at airplanes from outside the fence met an airline pilot who waved back, and he later flew in a Piper Archer with AOPA Central Southwest Regional Manager Yasmina Platt. Read more...
Article
The seventh annual Plane & Pilot Midwest LSA Expo will take place Sept. 10 through 12 at Mount Vernon Airport in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Read more...
Article
If Danger Zone pumping through a hangar's sound system didn't get 100 fitness fanatics' hearts pumping, working out at the airport instead of the gym certainly did. While watching helicopters, light general aviation airplanes, and business jets take off and land, Soldierfit participants recently performed "air-obic" exercises—dive bomber push-ups, banking turns, airplane tugs, and takeoffs—and learned that community airports are a welcoming place. Read more...
Article
Two filmmakers want to bring Rinker Buck's iconic Flight of Passage to the silver screen. Read more...
AOPA Foundation focus
The AOPA Foundation's 2016 calendar is filled with spectacular aviation images to remind you of the fun you've had, the places you've been, and the friends you've made along the way. The 16-month calendar is AOPA's gift to you to recognize the personal impact you're having on the future of general aviation through your support of the AOPA Foundation. Reserve your copy by making a donation to support GA's future. Reserve your calendar...
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Career Opportunities
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Aviation job board
Cirrus Aircraft is currently seeking a technical training manager to develop, manage, and administer training programs that encourage cooperation and collaboration in achieving overall regulatory compliance and job proficiency. This position will be responsible for Cirrus technical training standards, continual development of technical training programs, and efficiency in technical training at Cirrus Aircraft, and will report to the director of organization development. Read the full job description now.
AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for a database developer; aviation event planner; manager of aviation safety programs; ambassador—Texas; director of aviation security; graphic design intern; director of media relations; and director of regulatory affairs.To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
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Question of the Week
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Question
You're a commercial airplane single-engine-land-rated pilot and you are working toward earning a rotorcraft private pilot certificate. You're coming up on the expiration of your last flight review and you want to give the FAA Wings program a try. Can you fulfill your flight review requirement by utilizing your rotorcraft training to complete a phase of the Wings program?
Answer
Unfortunately, you can't. Because you are training for your initial rotorcraft rating and not currently rated in that category and class, you cannot use any of the training toward a Wings phase to count for your flight review. Although FAR 61.56 is the regulation governing flight reviews, it is not clear enough to answer this question. The regulation states that completion of a phase of an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency award program can be used in lieu of a flight review. For further guidance, see the Wings Program Advisory Circular, AC 61-91J. Section 5(c)(3) of the advisory circular states, "Pilots may demonstrate all proficiency requirements for any phase of the WINGS Program in the same category and class, or may demonstrate those skills in any category and class for which they are rated." This statement confirms that in order to complete a Wings phase you must already be rated in the category and class used. The good news is that when you do get your rotorcraft rating, that will count as a flight review.
Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA. |
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Education and Seminars
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Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Sep 12-13 - Colorado, Springs, Colorado; Elkridge, Maryland; and Sandston, Virginia
Sep 19-20 - Phoenix, Arizona
Sep 26-27 - Sacramento, California
Oct 10-11 - Nashville, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Windsor Locks, Connecticut
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
Aug 31 - Ypsilanti, Michigan; Houston, Texas; and Florham Park, New Jersey
Sep 1 - Independence, Ohio; East Hartford, Connecticut; and San Antonio, Texas
Sep 2 - Columbus, Ohio; Waltham, Massachusetts; and Austin, Texas
Sep 3 - Manchester, New Hampshire; and Batavia, Ohio
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Sep 5 - Hayden, Idaho; and Santa Ynez, California
Sep 8, 9 - Galesburg, Illinois
Sep 12 - Sparta, Tennessee; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Richmond, Virginia
Sep 15 - Chatham, Massachusetts
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Aviation Calendar
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Check out user-submitted events from your region. To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. AOPA does not endorse the events listed below, nor have ePilot editors edited the submissions. AOPA assumes no responsibility for events listed.
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ePilot Editors:
Sarah Deener
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
David Tulis
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse
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Contributors:
Jill W. Tallman
Elizabeth Tennyson
Warren Morningstar
Alton K. Marsh
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Ian J. Twombly
Dan Namowitz
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