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Road trip

Road trip. Where can you view SAM 27000—known when carrying the president as Air Force One? Head to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library in Simi Valley, California. There, find out how this customized Boeing 707—the last of the 707s used in presidential service—was disassembled and then trucked over more than 102 miles of roads and freeways. It was reassembled over a period of 10 weeks, and now sits in the Air Force One Pavilion.

What: Boeing 707-353B
Where: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
Photographer: Mike Fizer

>>Download a larger version of this photo

Counting the numbers

Proposed rule would restore sim time credits

By Elizabeth A. Tennyson

Preflight NewsThe FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would allow pilots to count more aviation training device (ATD) time toward earning an instrument rating. The proposed rule is in line with AOPA requests and previous industry practice.

The issue of how much ATD or “sim” time that can be counted toward instrument rating training requirements has had a convoluted history, and the NPRM released June 16 is just the latest in a series of steps intended to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of training through the use of simulation.

An FAA policy statement issued in January 2014 effectively cut in half the number of ATD hours a pilot may count toward an instrument rating, reducing the number from 20 hours to just 10 hours. At the time, AOPA asked the FAA to expedite rulemaking to restore the 20 hours of simulator credit.

The FAA acted to bring back the higher limit and in December 2014 issued a direct-to-final rule restoring the 20-hour simulator credit allowance. But two negative comments on that rule sent the agency back to the drawing board in January 2015.

The latest NPRM seeks to restore the 20-hour simulator allowance. It also proposes to eliminate the current requirement under FAR 61.65(i) for pilots to wear a view-limiting device while training in an ATD, a common-sense change also supported by AOPA.

Women in Aviation scholarships open

Opportunities for training, maintenance,engineering, type ratings

Women in Aviation International is offering 98 scholarships valued at more than $480,000, the organization announced July 1. Applications will be accepted until November 16.

“Our scholarship program is not just for pilots, not just for students, not just for young people, and not just for women,” WAI President Peggy Chabrian said. There are opportunities for flight training, type ratings, engineering, maintenance, and more.

Applicants must be WAI members as of November 2. More information is available at the website (www.aopa.org). Applicants are urged to check the website periodically as new scholarships are added until the November cutoff date.

Cirrus partners with Saint Louis University

Adding SR20 aircraft to fleet

Cirrus Aircraft has teamed up with Saint Louis University’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology to add two SR20 aircraft to the school’s training fleet. The partnership is intended to strengthen the training platform for SLU flight students with technically advanced aircraft, Cirrus said.

The airplanes are equipped with the integrated Cirrus Perspective by Garmin flight deck, a flight management system keypad controller, plus integrated engine indication and crew alerting/warning systems. The flight deck also includes a digital automatic flight control system and flight director, and ADS-B NextGen capabilities.

AOPA Flight Training staff
AOPA Flight Training Staff editors are experienced pilots and flight instructors dedicated to supporting student pilots, pilots, and flight instructors in lifelong learning.

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