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Top Stories
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Advocacy
The FAA has announced a proposed rule governing the use of commercial small unmanned aircraft systems that would address many of AOPA's concerns, including setting certification requirements for operators and requiring see-and-avoid capabilities.
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Article
When we're up in the sky or spending time at our favorite airports, we keep our cameras handy so that we safely can grab that perfect shot and share the moment with others. Now it's even easier to share those photos and videos with the pilot community. AOPA has partnered with Share Aviation, a social network by pilots, for pilots.
Read more...
AOPA Live This Week
The founders of a social network for pilots talk about what the Share Aviation community is all about; AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines gets a Cessna CJ type rating without ever flying a real airplane; and AOPA explains the ins and outs of a proposed rule for small unmanned aircraft. Plus, take a look at the range of aircraft in the light sport category and their prices.
AOPA Live This Week®, Feb. 19...
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Technique and Safety
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iPad-friendly, login required
How do you cope with cockpit distractions, confusing taxiways, and miscommunications when operating at airports? The Air Safety Institute's new Runway Safety online course puts you in real-world scenarios that depict the complexities of airport surface operations. Building off 14 years of educating pilots on runway safety through its original online course, the Air Safety Institute takes a fresh look at the subject that will challenge pilots of all skill levels.
Test your knowledge right from your desktop or tablet...
Accident analysis
After running out of fuel, the pilot of a G36 Bonanza landed short of a residential airpark in some small pine trees. The engine didn't suffer any damage and the airframe wasn't damaged too badly either. However, the pilot didn't survive. Could something as simple as a shoulder harness have saved his life?
Read more...
AOPA Premier Partner sponsored content
Picking up an IFR clearance isn't always easy, especially if you're departing a nontowered airport. Former National CFI of the Year Doug Stewart shares simple tips to help you keep up with fast-talking controllers, eliminate void time pressure, and pick up clearances in the air. This free PDF transcript is useful for any instrument pilot and can be viewed on your PC, laptop, or iPad.
Download the PDF from AOPA Premier Partner PilotWorkshops...
Members only
How long is a solo endorsement valid? The regulations can be confusing, even misleading, but a recent FAA interpretation provides some clarification by distinguishing between student pilots and already-certificated pilots seeking additional certificates or ratings.
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IFR Fix
For a pilot who flies IFR infrequently, should weather requiring an alternate raise a caution flag about the go/no-go decision?
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Pilot Safety Announcement
Tapping the fuel indicator will not feed the engine—a healthy fuel reserve will. Yet there are pilots who find themselves and their airplanes coming up short of their intended destination. What if the airlines handled fuel management the way some general aviation pilots do?
Sit back, relax, and watch this Pilot Safety Announcement...
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Technology
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Article
L-3 Aviation Products has unveiled its Lynx line of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) products, ranging from the basic NGT-1000, which provides ADS-B Out data, to the innovative NGT-9000, a 1090-MHz transponder and ADS-B transceiver with a touch-screen display and 978-MHz ADS-B receiver.
Read more...
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Opinion
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Blog
Every pilot understands the notion of "pilot in command." Few owners have the benefit of a "certificated ownership instructor" to teach them about their new responsibilities and authority as "owner in command." Opinion Leaders blogger Mike Busch shares tips to help you take control of aircraft ownership and the associated maintenance.
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Gear
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Article
Aviation Supplies & Academics Inc. on Feb. 12 announced seven new apps for Android designed to help pilots prepare for the oral portion of practical tests.
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Travel
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Article
The thirty-sixth edition of the Bahamas and Caribbean pilot guides are now available as spiral-bound books or iPad apps. The guides are updated annually and published by Pilot Publishing Inc.
Read more...
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Financial
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Article
Quest Aircraft, manufacturer of the 10-seat Kodiak single-engine turboprop designed for backcountry aviation, has been acquired by Setouchi Holdings of Japan.
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Member benefits
It's easy to be awestruck at the latest models and upgraded glass panels, shiny paint jobs, and plush interiors, but before you buy an airplane, ask yourself what is important to you. Buy what you need first, not necessarily what you want.
Read more...
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News and Notes
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Article
An online video service launched to give enthusiasts an aerobatic ride-along from multiple camera perspectives is expanding into a more interactive experience. Launched by a pair of Chicago-area pilots, iFlyTheAirShow.com has set up a system allowing the audience to call the sequence.
Read more...
Article
An FAA emergency airworthiness directive calls for inspections of certain Enstrom helicopter models after a main rotor separation killed two.
Read more...
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Poll
After nearly a year of voting for their favorite AOPA Pilot magazine covers, from the first issue in 1958 to the December 2014 cover, AOPA members have narrowed them down to the top five. Will it be a Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer on floats, Citabria 7GCBC floatplane, Ford Tri-Motor, Douglas DC-3, or Grumman Widgeon? Place your vote to select the favorite Pilot cover in history. The winner will be announced in next week's AOPA ePilot, and will appear in AOPA Pilot magazine.
Place your vote to select the favorite Pilot cover in history.
Blog
New FAA proposed rules would create a new unmanned aircraft systems operator certificate that would require a knowledge test every two years. AOPA Senior Editor Al Marsh wonders if there's an opportunity in the potential new flood of applicants coming to knowledge test centers at airports around the country: If we treat them as part of the aviation community, might they become private pilots, too?
Read more...
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Career Opportunities
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Aviation job board
The director of operations at this Massachusetts company will oversee all aviation operations, including directly interfacing between the company, operations, maintenance, sales, and customer service. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating flight department activities with customers and other departments.
Apply for this exciting opportunity now.
AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for an outreach and events coordinator; aviation event and meeting planner; vice president for major and leadership gifts; Sitecore developer; director of studies, research, and analysis; administrative assistant, Air Safety Institute; Air Safety Institute intern; associate editor—Web/ePilot; online marketing manager; .Net applications developer; and account manager II. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities,
visit AOPA Online.
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Question of the Week
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Question
En Route Flight Advisory Service (EFAS), also known as "Flight Watch," can be a great resource for current weather information during a flight. To use this service, a pilot must initiate contact on which frequency?
Answer
A pilot must use 122.00 MHz below 18,000 feet msl anywhere in the conterminous United States and Puerto Rico. (See the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, page 12-5.) Remote communication facilities outlets are located to ensure coverage for this frequency at 5,000 feet agl and above. (See Aeronautical Information Manual 4-6-4.)
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
Feb 21-22 - Fort Worth, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; North Las Vegas, Nevada; and Melbourne, Florida
Mar 7-8 - Phoenix, Arizona; and Orlando, Florida
Mar 14-15 - Columbia, Maryland; and Burlingame, California
Mar 21-22 - King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Ontario, California; and Virginia Beach, Virginia
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
Feb 21 - Puyallup, Washington
Feb 22 - Puyallup, Washington
Feb 24 - Lakeland, Florida
Mar 2 - Bedford, Massachusetts; and Greenville, South Carolina
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Feb 26 - Louisville, Kentucky; and Madison, Wisconsin
Feb 28 - Mobile, Alabama; Chandler, Arizona; and Burlington, Washington
Mar 5 - Dallas, Texas
Mar 19 - Buffalo, New York
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
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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