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Top Stories
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Slideshow
John Slemp photographs the artwork on World War II veterans' flight jackets to honor those who have served their country. "I'm trying to tell their story through their jackets," Slemp said. "To me it's all about their story and this is a conduit to that." View the slideshow...
 
Article
AOPA Pro Pilot is a new level of membership designed to meet the exclusive needs of professional pilots. Read more...
AOPA Foundation focus
Let the bidding begin: The AOPA Foundation's annual online general aviation auction is open until Dec. 20 and boasts 21 once-in-a-lifetime experience packages, nine flight experiences, seven packages for pilots who enjoy sports, 12 getaway packages, and more. Read more...
AOPA Live This Week
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Dick Cole drew a crowd at the AOPA National Aviation Community Center for events commemorating the 1942 raid on Tokyo, during which Cole was Jimmy Doolittle's copilot. Also this week, AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines reports on his own turn at the controls of a North American B-25 Mitchell, and AOPA convenes a symposium on leveraging the power of aviation to teach science, technology, engineering, and math in classrooms. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Nov. 12...
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Technique and Safety
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Video
Unintended stalls—including power-on stalls—are among the leading causes of fatal aviation accidents. This new video from the AOPA Air Safety Institute, Margins of Safety: Avoiding Power-On Stalls, will help you recognize how different training and real-world scenarios can be. See how a power-on stall can occur during a takeoff and go-around and learn about techniques you can use to prevent it from happening. Watch the video...
Article
IMC Club completed its merger with the Experimental Aircraft Association Nov. 3 to form a new subsidiary that delivers real-world IFR and VFR discussions to the association's chapters. Read more...
Fly like a fighter
During an F-15 training mission, failing to speak up when the pilot lost sight of the "bandit" resulted in the enemy calling kill shots. Retired Air Force pilot Larry Brown counsels general aviation pilots to speak up as soon as they lose sight of traffic they are instructed to follow. Read more...
Video
The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Accident Case Study: Rescue Gone Wrong reveals the grip a mission mindset had on a pilot's flight decision—a costly mistake that holds lessons for all pilots. Watch the video...
Aircraft Maintenance
At some point, anyone involved in aircraft maintenance is bound to encounter a broken screw or bolt. A&P Jeff Simon explains what it takes to remedy the situation. Read more...
Blog
Aircraft wiring practices are non-negotiable—and aviation parts sometimes really do need to be expensive and well-made in order to function correctly in their demanding environment, writes AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Safety Advisor Bruce Landsberg. Read more...
Blog
Depth perception and height above ground are critical factors for helicopter pilots. Certain conditions can threaten safety by changing a 3-D world into a gray, 2-D view, explains Hover Power blogger Markus Lavenson. Read more...
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AOPA Fly-Ins
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Article
In 2015 Ed Loxterkamp had a lot of explaining to do: He needed to explain to his wife why flying to every AOPA Regional Fly-In was so important. He told her, "Mark Baker made me do it." Read more...
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Advocacy
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Advocacy
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has set Nov. 18 as the date to move the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2. Third class medical reform is among the provisions in the legislation designed to help general aviation pilots. Read more...
Advocacy
Membership in the House General Aviation Caucus has reached an all-time high, with 274 representatives taking part in the group. Read more...
Advocacy
The FAA has reduced the number of standard instrument approach procedures it proposed eliminating this spring from 736 to 334, citing public comments and the need for further review. Read more...
Advocacy
The FAA's new website for researching notices to airmen, designed to eventually replace the existing PilotWeb notam page, has received its finishing touches. Read more...
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Technology
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Article
The Perlan 2 glider, built to reach the edge of space and unlock secrets of the upper atmosphere, was in California Nov. 9 for ground vibration tests. Read more...
Article
One-G simulation will deliver and install an FAA-approved advanced aviation training device with no up-front cost. Read more...
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Opinion
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Blog
Is the see-and-avoid principle enough to ensure safety of flight? Opinion Leaders blogger Ron Rapp, who has survived a midair collision, shares his insights based on firsthand experience and on reports from accident investigation agencies. Read more...
Blog
Southern California's Oceano Airport is a buzzing general aviation facility, but it also has a troubled past involving a developer who had other plans for the land. Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas writes about the importance of promoting and protecting community airports. Read more...
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Gear
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Article
Lightspeed has decided to tango with other manufacturers already offering cordless aviation headsets for less clutter in the cockpit, offering the Tango headset for $800. The headset uses lithium batteries for 12 hours of performance and is in production. It has active noise cancellation. Read more...
Article
Garmin has made several announcements affecting Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast equipment upgrades, engine upgrades, and the G5000 ahead of the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas Nov. 17 through 19. The deals include savings for King Air owners who upgrade both engines and avionics. Read more...
'One Six Right' Blu-ray released
Filmmaker Brian J. Terwilliger told audiences at AOPA's Salinas, California, and Frederick, Maryland, Regional Fly-Ins that he’d have a special surprise for the tenth anniversary of One Six Right: The Romance of Flying, and he delivered the goods. The film's new Blu-ray Disc, which costs $29.95, includes an additional 10 minutes of footage, behind-the-scenes looks, time lapses, and a ride with the Blue Angels.
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Travel
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Pilot Getaways feature
Those who've had the pleasure of flying a Piper J-3 Cub know that there is something undoubtedly special about the little rag-and-tube machine, with its bright yellow paint job and black trim. If you've never flown one (or if it's just been a while), try your hand at the stick while earning your seaplane rating at Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in quiet central Florida. Read more...
Article
AOPA is advising members of significant rate increases to landing, ramp, and parking fees at several Mexico airports operated by concession holder Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico. Read more...
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Financial
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Article
Cobalt Aircraft has tried to launch a four-to-five-passenger canard aircraft for a decade and is now taking pre-orders for a certified version in California, but will need $30 million to complete certification. Read more...
Article
Aircraft sales data released Nov. 6 by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association showed piston and turboprop sales in a continued slump. The numbers may pick up by year-end, one aviation analyst said. Read more...
Article
A report released Nov. 10 by the Aircraft Electronics Association shows a soft market for general aviation avionics, with a 7.5-percent year-over-year decline. The latest AEA market report lines up with aircraft sales data provided by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and also suggests many owners are waiting to equip for the 2020 mandate requiring Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out for many GA operations. Read more...
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Article
Four young people who are working toward goals in aviation have been named the 2015 scholarship recipients of the AOPA AV8RS Scholarship Program. Read more...
Member benefit
You like the paint scheme and interior of a particular business aircraft that you are interested in purchasing. However, during the pre-buy inspection you discover quite a bit of deferred maintenance. That should be a red flag. It's less painful to paint a well-maintained aircraft than to own one that needs constant repairs. Read more about the eight common mistakes people make when buying a business aircraft.
Online resource
Owners love their airplanes but must be careful not to become too emotionally attached when it's time to sell. After cleaning the airplane; double checking all maintenance, inspections, and logbooks; and posting the aircraft for sale through various outlets, visit AOPA's Selling an Aircraft Web page to ensure a smooth transaction. Read more...
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News and Notes
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Article
Jack Pelton has been named CEO of the Experimental Aircraft Association, after serving for three years as its volunteer chairman. The longtime aviation executive will continue in that role as well. Read more...
Article
AOPA's first High School Aviation Symposium in Lakeland, Florida, drew more than 150 educators and industry leaders from around the country in support of science, technology, engineering, and math education. Read more...
Slideshow
As the rumble of the North American B-25 Mitchell's radial engines filled the air, Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Dick Cole stood, unassuming, in the open bay of AOPA's National Aviation Community Center in Frederick, Maryland, Nov. 8. Read more...
Pilot Protection Services
The FAA recently made changes to its compliance philosophy that may have a positive impact on how the agency interacts with pilots. Read more...
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Article
European regulators took a step toward allowing single-engine commercial operations that have long been approved in the United States and elsewhere. Read more...
Quiz
How much do you really know about the common and not-so-common parts of an aircraft? AOPA challenges you to test your aircraft parts knowledge with these close-up photos. You have five minutes to complete the 15-question quiz, so open your toolbox and begin! Take the quiz...
Article
Paul Salmon has broken yet another gyrocopter record just two months after breaking the transcontinental speed record. Now he has the distance record of 893 nautical miles. Read more...
Member benefit
A group of turkey vultures caused more than $5,000 in damage to a trainer during Glenn Carlson's thirteenth flying lesson. Thanks to his AOPA renter's insurance coverage, he was saved the $2,500 deductible he would otherwise have been responsible for paying. Read more...
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Career Opportunities
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Aviation job board
Ready to push the boundaries? If so, Appareo Systems is looking for you. Appareo is expanding its sales team and is seeking several territory managers. Successful candidates must develop and maintain productive working relationships with customers; ensure customers are satisfied with products and services; and make recommendations to management regarding product development, pricing, and sales projections. Learn more about this exciting opportunity.
AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a major gift officer; legal services plan administrative assistant; AOPA Foundation administrative assistant; account executive; and aviation event planner.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 plan to purchase a quadcopter for your kids for Christmas. You're worried that they might get themselves into trouble flying it, partly because of all the attention drones have been getting from the FAA and in the news. You want to ensure that they have fun but stay within the established rules. Where can you find information to help educate you and your kids? Do the same rules that apply to remote-control aircraft also apply to small quadcopters?
Answer
Yes. Noncommercial use of drones falls under the same rules as RC aircraft. Check out the FAA's Model Aircraft Operations Web page, which outlines the dos and don'ts of flying RC aircraft and drones. The FAA's Know Before You Fly website also presents useful information. It's good that you're thinking about educating yourself and your kids about the topic before flying. RC model flying has been done safely for many years. Education is one way to ensure that manned and unmanned aircraft coexist without adversely affecting safety.
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
Nov 14-15 - Ashburn, Virginia; Austin, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Anchorage, Alaska
Dec 5-6 - Denver, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; and Northbrook, Illinois
Jan 9-10 - Spokane, Washington; Charlotte, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; Santa Clara, California; and Ridgeland, Mississippi
Jan 16-17 - Portland, Oregon; Bellevue, Washington; and Elkridge, Maryland
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
Nov 18 - Milan, Illinois
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Nov 14 - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Ashland, Virginia; New Orleans, Louisiana; and San Jose, California
Dec 3 - West Windsor, New Jersey
Dec 5 - Scottsdale, Arizona; and Winter Haven, Florida
Dec 12 - Stow, Massachusetts
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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ePilot Editors:
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
David Tulis
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse
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Contributors:
Mike Collins
Sarah Deener
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Alton K. Marsh
Warren Morningstar
Dan Namowitz
Jill W. Tallman
Elizabeth Tennyson
Ian J. Twombly
Julie Summers Walker
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