|
|
Top Stories
|
Article
A tall (but true) tale of a rare aircraft find in Texas, progress on third class medical reform, amazing aviation videos, pilot saves, new aircraft from Mooney, and one pilot's surprise of a lifetime topped the most-read stories of 2014. Take a look back and see if your favorite story is included, and see what you may have missed that kept pilots talking all year.
Read more...
 
AOPA Live videos
Warbirds and crosswinds
What do you get when you combine an irascible Texas pilot and a rare warbird collection? A tall tale, but this one is true. Salute the Consolidated PBY Catalina in this patriotic tribute to the aircraft that played a key role in the Pacific during the Battle of Midway in World War II. And, learn how to make safe crosswind landings. You won't want to miss these most-watched AOPA Live® videos of 2014.
|
|
|
|
Technique and Safety
|
|
Accident analysis
The rule "always leave yourself a way out" takes on particular importance when flying a piston single over mountainous terrain in instrument conditions.
Read more in this special report from the Air Safety Institute...
IFR Fix
Your preparedness to fly the ILS or LOC RWY 2 approach to Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Keene, New Hampshire, is a result of your hour-long preflight ground review.
Read more...
Digital newsletter
The Air Safety Institute's flight instructor newsletter brought home Folio's 2014 Eddie Award for best Standalone Digital Magazine in the Association/Nonprofit category. Whether you're actively instructing or getting back into helping flight students learn, CFI to CFI has you covered.
Check out the latest edition...
Video
Be on the lookout for freezing precipitation and icing when flying this winter season. The Air Safety Institute shares this short Pilot Safety Announcement as a reminder to avoid weather conditions conducive to airframe icing.
Watch the video...
|
|
|
Health
|
|
Members only
Former FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Manager Dr. Warren Silberman explains the various lengths of wait periods to receive a special issuance authorization after having melanoma, lung cancer, lymphoma, acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and bladder cancer.
Read more...
|
|
|
Technology
|
Article
From laser guns to laser defenses, twisting wings to cameras that capture a propeller in action, 2014 was a busy year on the cutting edge.
Read more...
Article
Experienced pilots make better decisions with less brain activity, according to a study published in November that could influence future flight training. Stanford University professor and lead author Maheen Adamson told the university news service that future flight training might be tailored to help pilots think more efficiently.
Read more...
|
|
|
Opinion
|
|
Blog
Engine limits, runway mix-ups
When it comes to opinions, pilots don't hold back, especially in matters pertaining to their aircraft or piloting technique. Some of the most-read and most-commented Opinion Leaders blogs centered around Mike Busch's posts about aircraft engines and maintenance: "How do piston aircraft engines fail?," "What makes an engine airworthy?," and "Do piston engine TBOs make sense?" rounded out the top three posts of the year. Plus, Ron Rapp intrigued pilots with his experience witnessing a Boeing 757 land at the wrong airport.
|
Gear
|
|
AOPA Strategic Partner sponsored content
Aircraft Spruce offers discount on AOPA Logo Collection
AOPA members can save 10 percent on Aircraft Spruce's AOPA Logo Collection by entering promo code "AOPALC" in the Web checkout. This special offer is limited to the AOPA Logo Collection items carried by Aircraft Spruce including iPad flight bags, backpacks, duffle bags, suit organizers, travel kits, Scheyden sunglasses, and more.
|
Travel
|
Pilot resources
If you are ready to trade the winter weather for some warm sunshine, why not fly yourself to the Bahamas? It is easy to do, but it requires some additional pre-trip planning for the aircraft, pilot, and passengers. AOPA offers a two-minute video that gives an overview of the process and a podcast with Rick Gardner, AOPA's representative for the Bahamas and director of aviation services for Caribbean Sky Tours.
Check out these and other resources on AOPA's Flying to the Bahamas Web page.
|
|
|
Financial
|
Article
Flight instructor Xylon Saltzman wasn't satisfied with what the general aviation simulation market had to offer, so he created his own. The Seattle entrepreneur behind one-G simulation landed new FAA approvals in 2014, and is now beginning to market his advanced aviation training devices in earnest.
Read more...
|
News and Notes
|
|
Article
A retired airline pilot flying a modified Lancair IV single-engine airplane has launched a new bid to fly around the world and over both poles.
Read more...
Article
Mojave Airport in California has long been an epicenter of unusual attitudes and flight envelopes pushed. Now, it is more so. The owners of Flight Research, a firm providing upset recovery training for general aviation—as well as aircraft flown by the National Test Pilot School—launched the International Flight Test Institute Dec. 10, right next door to the National Test Pilot School, which is now no longer the only civilian test pilot school in the country—or at the airport.
Read more...
Poll
Vote for your favorite 'Pilot' cover
The Ryan PT-22, Eclipse 500, and Mooney Acclaim Type S were among the aircraft featured on the AOPA Pilot covers in 2008, while the Cessna Caravan, Goodyear Blimp, and AOPA's Let's Go Flying Sweepstakes Cirrus were on the covers in 2009. Vote for your favorite from each year.
|
|
|
Career Opportunities
|
|
AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for a graphic designer, associate editor—Web/ePilot, program manager for flight training initiatives, senior advertising sales/account executive, online marketing manager, major gift officer, senior ambassador, .Net applications developer, social media evangelist, and account manager II. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities,
visit AOPA Online.
|
Question of the Week
|
Question
When flying inside a Mode C veil in Class E airspace, am I required to make contact with air traffic control? The flight is being conducted under visual flight rules.
Answer
A Mode C veil is printed on aeronautical charts to indicate an area within 30 nautical miles of a Class B airspace primary airport. Transponder operation in Mode C is required, but contact with ATC is not required if you remain in Class E airspace. (Sources: Aeronautical Information Manual, 4-1-20, and FAR 91.215.)
Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Education and Seminars
|
Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
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
Feb 7-8 - Sacramento, California; Nashua, New Hampshire; Louisville, Kentucky; Fairfax, Virginia; and New Orleans, Louisiana
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aviation Calendar
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ePilot Editors:
Sarah Deener
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse
|
Contributors:
Jill W. Tallman
Elizabeth Tennyson
Warren Morningstar
Alton K. Marsh
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Ian J. Twombly
Dan Namowitz
|
|
|
|
|
|
