Training Tips
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Article
During your climb to traffic pattern altitude, a loud, sustained noise fills the cabin, and you sense the airframe buffeting and vibrating through the controls. The aircraft's right door has just popped open. What do you do? Read more...
 
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Flight Training News
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Article
AOPA will host four regional fly-ins, all in new locations, in 2016: North Carolina, Washington, Michigan, and Arizona. "We've been overwhelmed by the success of the AOPA Fly-Ins, so we're excited to bring them to brand new locations, with new seminars, social events, and activities for 2016," said AOPA President Mark Baker. Read more...
Article
Aerobatics instructor Catherine Cavagnaro understands why many pilots are hesitant to try spin training. Her goal is to impress upon them that with proper knowledge and proper altitude, spins are "fun up high, but deadly down below." Pilots can learn more about spins during Cavagnaro's presentation at AOPA's Tullahoma, Tennessee, Fly-In Oct. 10. Read more...
Article
George Spencer took an aviation course at a summer school in Connecticut in 1944 and soloed the next year. There followed a lifelong passion for general aviation. Read more...
Video
On August 27, 2006, just an hour before sunrise, the crew of a regional jet received a clearance to taxi to Runway 22 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky. But in the pre-dawn darkness they taxied to the wrong runway for takeoff with dire results. Watch the AOPA Air Safety Institute's accident animation to learn from this mistake...
Facebook chat
Bring training concerns to October 'Flight Training' chat
What is preventing you from achieving your flight training goals? Whether it's time, money, self-confidence, or problems with a particular maneuver, bring your issues to the October Flight Training Facebook chat at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Oct. 6. Two chatters will each receive a $50 Aircraft Spruce & Specialty gift card. Set an email reminder here. Flight Training Facebook chats are underwritten by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.
Flying Fridays: Share your smiles
Happy that you're flying? Share photos of you, your friends, and your loved ones smiling in and around airplanes. Join the #AOPASmiles campaign by telling us where you are, what you're doing, who you're with, and why you're smiling! Just tag your photos with #AOPASmiles every Friday for our #FlyingFriday #AOPASmiles campaign.
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Tektober 2015
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Technology has the potential to improve pilots' lives by making flying safer and easier, boosting power and performance, and improving efficiency. For the month of October, AOPA will highlight how technology affects our lives—from how pilots can make the most of tools available now to game-changing tech on the horizon. Look for a new theme each week online and in AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition, and share your thoughts with AOPA on Facebook and Twitter.
Advocacy
AOPA is working with the military, government agencies, and flight planning service providers to help general aviation pilots avoid violating temporary flight restrictions. Find out how technology you are probably already using in the cockpit can now provide extra situational awareness and resources. Read more...
 
Blog
Flight simulators have been proving their worth since the 1930s, and today's sophisticated devices offer total control for instructors and advantages to students on a budget, writes Opinion Leaders blogger Amy Laboda. Read more...
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Scholarships
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AOPA Foundation focus
Twenty-four individuals have been selected as winners of the 2015 AOPA Flight Training Scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $12,000. Read more...
Article
Students studying to become aircraft mechanics in Van Nuys, California, will receive scholarships from Clay Lacy Aviation. Read more...
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AOPA Live
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AOPA Live This Week
AOPA gets intercepted by an F-16 over California, but we didn't break the rules. This close encounter is part of the association's effort to work with government agencies and flight planning providers to help general aviation pilots steer clear of trouble. More supporters are co-sponsoring legislation that would ease the medical certification burden for thousands, and a flight training scholarship winner gets another piece of good news. Plus, fly along with reigning world freestyle aerobatic champion Rob Holland as he takes another gold in Texas. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Oct. 1...
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Plane Spotter
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A Corvette with wings
A plane spotter arrives at the field just in time to hear the regulars remarking on the low-slung lines and speedy specs of a Corvette parked outside. A glance out the big window turns up no sports car; nothing is to be seen but a bizjet with tank-tipped wings and a horizontal tail mounted part way up the vertical stabilizer. That description might suggest an early Learjet, but this aircraft is a rarer bird. It is an Aerospatiale Corvette, a 1970s model of which only 40 aircraft were manufactured.
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Training Products and Resources
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PDF download
Whether we fly VFR or IFR, when we use our GPS the goal is to make the equipment do what we need, when we need it. Read tips from the Air Safety Institute's GPS From the Ground Up Safety Advisor and go beyond "Direct To." Download the Safety Advisor...
Article
Sporty's has unveiled its 2015 Christmas ornament, and this year's pick is the V-tail Bonanza. However, aviation enthusiasts also can order an ornament of a high wing, low wing, twin, or taildragger, and have it inscribed with an N number to commemorate a special aircraft or piloting milestone. Read more...
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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.
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Member Benefits
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Pilot Protection Services
What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and how does the FAA look at this condition regarding medical certification? Dr. Warren Silberman explains. Read more...
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Instrument Tip
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IFR Fix
What's 160 feet worth on a close instrument approach? It could be the difference between a quick landing and a lengthy missed approach, followed by a diversion. However, it comes with extra work for the pilot. Read more...
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Final Exam
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Question
You passed your private pilot checkride nearly six weeks ago. You haven't received your plastic pilot certificate in the mail yet. How long is your temporary certificate valid?
Answer
A temporary pilot certificate is valid for 120 days. (Source: FAR 61.17.)
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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. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.
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Career Opportunities
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AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for an account executive; human resources coordinator; legal services plan specialist; payroll technician; database developer; aviation event planner; manager of aviation safety programs; ambassador—Texas; director of aviation security; director of media relations; and director of regulatory affairs.To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
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Education and Seminars
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Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Oct 10-11 - Nashville, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Oct 17-18 - Wichita, Kansas; and Santa Clara, California
Oct 24-25 - Corpus Christi, Texas
Nov 7-8 - Atlanta Georgia; and San Diego, California
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
Oct 5 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Murray, Kentucky; and Reno, Nevada
Oct 6 - West Des Moines, Iowa; Somerset, Kentucky; Germantown, Tennessee; and Sacramento, California
Oct 7 - Bellevue, Nebraska; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Milpitas, California
Oct 8 - Olathe, Kansas; Alcoa, Tennessee; and Rohnert Park, California
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Oct 3 - Lakeland, Florida; and Prineville, Oregon
Oct 10 - Tullahoma, Tennessee; and Henderson, Nevada
Oct 11 - Middletown, Pennsylvania
Oct 13 - Fort Myers, Florida
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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ePilot Flight Training Editors:
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
David Tulis
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse |
Contributors:
Mike Collins
Sarah Deener
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Alton K. Marsh
Warren Morningstar
Dan Namowitz
Jill W. Tallman
Ian J. Twombly
Julie Summers Walker
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