Training Tips
|
Article
A student pilot flying the traffic pattern in a Cessna 152 reduces power to 1,500 rpm when opposite the touchdown zone, holds the aircraft in level flight with gentle back-elevator pressure, and watches for the airspeed to slow to the aircraft's VFE of 85 knots before lowering flaps. The pilot of a faster Cessna 182S is a few miles out from the airport, and has been instructed to enter the left downwind. Slowing from 140 KIAS, the speed is still well above its top-of-the-white-arc airspeed, 100 knots. Nevertheless, the pilot reaches for the flap switch and extends 10 degrees of flaps. Then, when the aircraft has slowed to 120 KIAS, the pilot extends another 10 degrees of flaps. Both pilots are following the correct technique for their aircraft. Why the difference? Read more...
 
|
|
|
|
Flight Training News
|
Article
Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona, has ordered six RedHawk remanufactured diesel Cessna 172s for its training fleet, RedHawk Aero announced Jan. 20. Read more...
Article
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has signed an agreement for delivery of 20 new Sun Flyer solar-electric two-seat trainers now in development. Read more...
Article
Ozarka College in northern Arkansas will offer an Associate of Science degree program in aviation beginning in the fall 2015 semester, the college announced. Read more...
Webinars cover iPad tips, airplane buying
Sporty's has announced its webinar series for 2015, including "Flying Refresher—Time for Rusty Pilots to Get Current," "Buying Your First Airplane," and "Weather Flying and the iPad." The company said the series is based on pilot feedback of the most popular topics. Find dates and further information about the free webinars online.
Login required
When you're feeling perfectly fine, flight physiology may not be at the top of your reading list. However, brushing up on the topic with the Air Safety Institute's Aeromedical Matters safety quiz might help stave off conditions that could become impairing and keep you from flying. Take the quiz...
Article
San Carlos Flight Center will host a Silver Eagles Celebration on Feb. 7 at San Carlos Airport in the San Francisco Bay area of California. Read more...
|
|
|
Scholarships
|
|
Article
Floats manufacturer Wipaire Inc. is sponsoring a floatplane scholarship that will be awarded at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Read more...
Article
A new scholarship program administered by Nova Southeastern University will award a total of nearly $1 million to 12 students every 18 months for flight training through American Flyers, the university announced Jan. 13. The scholarships will cover the cost of flight training for Nova Southeastern University aviation students at any of American Flyers' locations. Read more...
|
Training Resources
|
Login required
Climb in the right seat of Dean Clark's Cessna 182 as he recounts the tale of his unexpected encounter with ice-filled clouds. This Air Safety Institute Real Pilot Story will help you understand that even flying a familiar route in a trusted airplane with no serious weather in the forecast can sometimes turn out to be more of a challenge than you anticipated. Watch Real Pilot Story: Ambushed By Ice...
|
|
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.
|
|
|
AOPA Live
|
|
AOPA Live This Week
Repo man Nick Popovich and his team specialize in the kind of aircraft that come with overhead bins and drink carts. Also this week, AOPA President Mark Baker is honored by Harrison Ford in Hollywood, and balloons in numbers lift off over Lake Havasu City. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Jan. 22...
|
|
Career Pilot
|
Southwest hit with record fine for Midway delays
The Department of Transportation fined Southwest Airlines a record $1.6 million for delays involving 16 airplanes at Chicago's Midway Airport in January 2014, the Chicago Tribune reports. Passengers remained on arriving airplanes for hours during severe weather, violating rules that require airlines to give passengers on domestic flights the chance to leave the aircraft within three hours of arrival, according to the newspaper.
|
|
For more aviation career news, see the Flight Training website.
|
|
|
Plane Spotter
|
The big dipper
A big high-wing twin-engine airplane swoops down toward a lake, touches down, and in seconds scoops up a few thousand gallons of water to be dropped on a nearby forest fire. Powered either by two huge 1,000-horsepower radial engines, or on later models, turboprops, the Canadair CL-215 flying boat was designed with firefighting in mind. It also has short-field capability for takeoffs from backcountry strips. Yellowknife, Canada-based Buffalo Airways includes a CL-215 in its fleet of fire-suppression aircraft, and describes on its website how a typical firefighting run is flown.
|
Training Products
|
Discounts on safety, survival gear from Aircraft Spruce
Your instructor has drilled you on emergency procedures in case you need to make a forced landing, but have you talked about what to do once you're on the ground? In conjunction with the Air Safety Institute's Survive: Beyond the Forced Landing video, seminar, and Safety Advisor, which delve into how you can improve the chances of help reaching you quickly, AOPA Strategic Partner Aircraft Spruce is offering special pricing to AOPA members on safety and survival gear. Use promo code AOPAWPS to get discounts on products ranging from tents to personal locator beacons. Customers will automatically be entered to win a $50 Aircraft Spruce gift card in a monthly giveaway when using the promo code.
|
|
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
|
|
Members only
In the Aeronautical Information Manual, the FAA urges every pilot to file a flight plan with the FAA that specifies information relating to the intended flight. For flights under IFR, a flight plan is required; for flights under VFR, a flight plan is optional. You must follow certain procedures to be in compliance with the regulations when using a flight plan under either. Read more...
|
|
|
Blogs
|
|
International flying is increasingly done in airplanes with only two engines. With an extended (twin) operations (ETOPS) program, airlines may establish that they can operate twin-engine aircraft for long distances over water with the equivalent safety margins as for a four-engine jet. Read more...
AOPA's Regional Fly-Ins bring the flying community together as lovers of all things aviation and benefit the communities that host them, writes Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas. Having participated in the 2014 fly-ins with the Mooney Ambassadors, Lucas offers tips for making the most of a 2015 fly-in. Read more...
|
|
|
Final Exam
|
Question
What is ground effect?
Answer
Ground effect is an aerodynamic condition in which an aircraft experiences increased performance when operating close to the surface. It decreases with height and is negligible once height is equal to wingspan. (Source: Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 5.)
|
|
Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.
|
Career Opportunities
|
|
Aviation job board
If you are a certificated flight instructor looking to put your mark on a flight training program, Tradewind Aviation is looking for you! As director of training, the successful candidate will schedule and oversee all flight training events and programs, including a complete overhaul of the FAA-approved training program. The director of training will also oversee all third-party training vendors. Click here to 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 director of studies, research, and analysis; administrative assistant, Air Safety Institute; Air Safety Institute intern; member services representative; graphic designer; associate editor—Web/ePilot; senior advertising sales/account executive; online marketing manager; .Net applications developer; and account manager II. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
|
 |
Education and Seminars
|
Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Feb 7-8 - Sacramento, California; Nashua, New Hampshire; Louisville, Kentucky; Fairfax, Virginia; and New Orleans, Louisiana
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
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
Feb 2 - Northglenn, Colorado
Feb 3 - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Feb 9 - Germantown, Tennessee; and Fayetteville, Arkansas
Feb 10 - Nashville, Tennessee; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
|
Rusty Pilot Seminars
Jan 24 - Wilmington, North Carolina
Jan 31 - Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; and Spanish Fork, Utah
Feb 26 - Madison, Wisconsin
Feb 28 - Birmingham, Alabama; and Burlington, Washington
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
|
|
|
|
Aviation Calendar
|
|
Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See AOPA's enhanced calendar of events. Now you can filter events by date range, airport ID, state, or region. Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.
To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA Airports.
AOPA Featured Events
May 16 — Salinas, California. Salinas Municipal Airport (KSNS). AOPA Fly-In.
Jun 6 — Frederick, Maryland. Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK). AOPA Homecoming Fly-In.
Aug 22 — Minneapolis, Minnesota. Anoka County-Blaine Airport (KANE). AOPA Fly-In.
Sep 26 — Colorado Springs, Colorado. Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS). AOPA Fly-In.
Oct 10 — Tullahoma, Tennessee. Tullahoma Regional Airport (KTHA). AOPA Fly-In.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
