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Top Stories
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Article
A fully restored Boeing 247D has returned to the airport where it was built to go on display at Seattle's Museum of Flight. It made its last flight from Seattle's Paine Field to Boeing Field April 26. Only four remain in the world, and now none fly. Read more...
AOPA Live This Week
A lot of pilots claim they can get a bit of extra speed at cruise by flying "on the step." Is there really something for free in aerodynamics? AOPA Live® puts flying on the step to the test. Also this week, he's the youngest guy and the only American flying in Red Bull's Challenger Cup series: Check out this profile of Kevin Coleman. And if you're an AOPA member, there could be a Cessna 172 in your future. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, April 28...
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AOPA Fly-Ins
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AOPA Pilot article
Fly in to the first AOPA Regional Fly-In of 2016 over some of the most gorgeous scenery in the United States. Lighthouses, scenic waterways, boats, and wildlife—Beaufort, North Carolina, has it all. Combine flying and the ocean with a great day of food, seminars, exhibits, and aircraft for a fabulous day at the beach. Get all the details for the Beaufort Fly-In...
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Technique and Safety
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Flash-based; login required
David Keller had just installed a panel-mounted camera in his Mooney when the unthinkable happened—the airplane's engine quit right after takeoff. Experience the entire event through the camera's lens, including the glide back to the airport, in the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Real Pilot Story: The Impossible Turn...
Accident analysis
The exhilaration of introducing friends to aviation can't be allowed to undermine a pilot's better judgment, as this fatal accident in a Bonanza M35 illustrates. Read more in this special report from the AOPA Air Safety Institute...
Video
In this installment of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's popular Ask ATC video series, learn why air traffic controllers suggest you stop and ask for progressive taxi instructions when you're not sure where you're supposed to go on the airport. Watch Ask ATC: Progressive Taxi...
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Advocacy
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Advocacy
The Senate Appropriations Committee has unanimously approved a bill that would provide $16.4 billion in funding to the FAA for the 2017 fiscal year. Read more...
Advocacy
The FAA, responding to urging from AOPA and other air traffic system users, will include two areas of congressionally mandated permanent flight restrictions on aeronautical charts. Read more...
Advocacy
The FAA proposes to decommission 666 of the more than 2,100 remote communications outlets in the continental United States. Read more...
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Health
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Pilot Protection Services
Don't procrastinate—start taking these five actions that could have wonderful consequences for your health. Read more...
Member benefit
Planning a trip? Practice these healthy habits when you're on the road or in the air. Read more...
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Technology
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Article
Solar Impulse 2 completed the Hawaii-to-California leg of its round-the-world journey April 23. Pilot and project co-founder Bertrand Piccard arrived at Moffett Federal Airfield just before midnight local time after a 62.5-hour ocean crossing during which the pilot was the only part of the system that required fuel. Read more...
Article
A Rhode Island science teacher has flown across the nation and back in a diesel-powered Cessna 182 using already approved plant seed oil mixed with Jet A to demonstrate renewable fuels. Read more...
Article
If the theme for last year's Aircraft Electronics Association convention was Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, this year's is connectivity—especially for the cabins of mid-sized and smaller business aircraft. Read more...
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Gear
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Article
Aspen Avionics has received a supplemental type certificate for installation of a digital, independent backup primary flight display. Read more...
Article
Owners of the Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop twin can now retrofit their airplanes with an angle of attack system. Read more...
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Financial
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Member benefit
AOPA member Mike Youngwirth recently decided to purchase his own aircraft and turned to AOPA Aviation Finance for help. After purchasing a Cessna 182, Youngwirth said he would "100-percent recommend AOPA Finance to a pilot friend." Read more...
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News and Notes
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Article
A Flying Tigers historical group plans to fly a C-47, like those that flew the Hump, from Australia to a Chinese museum that is dedicated to the Flying Tigers on the site of one of its former headquarters. Read more...
Article
The Small Unmanned Systems Business Expo kicked off April 27 in San Francisco, where formal presentations and informal conversations revealed a larger picture of an industry struggling to shed many burdens. Read more...
Article
The National Aviation Hall of Fame has issued a call for entries for its fourteenth Combs Gates Award, a $20,000 cash prize bestowed annually on an individual or group project that promotes and preserves the nation's air and space heritage. Read more...
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Article
Two races into the 2016 Red Bull Air Race World Championship, Matthias Dolderer has become the man to beat. The German pilot edged out the hometown favorite to take a season points lead that puts him in dominant position. The two American pilots, meanwhile, raced head to head in the opening round. Read more...
Webinar
Learn how to transfer your flight plan from your computer to your electronic flight bag; discover how helpful the range-estimating tool can be with predictive fuel warnings and fuel prices along the route; and find out how you can submit suggestions to make the AOPA Flight Planner even better. Just sign up for the AOPA Flight Planner webinar scheduled for May 4 at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Register today...
AOPA Aviation Lifestyles
AOPA members get a 5-percent discount at Brimstone Fire Protection for bags made of FAA-certified material that are tough, yet pliable enough to fold and fit within the small confines of your aircraft. For details or to watch videos, which include detonation footage, visit the Brimstone Fire Protection website. Use AOPA promo code AOPAMEM5OFF during checkout. Learn more...
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Career Opportunities
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AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for an AOPA Air Safety Institute and AOPA Foundation executive assistant, marketing specialist, communications director, pilot community development coordinator, Great Lakes "You Can Fly" ambassador, donor relations director, AOPA Foundation communications director, marketing copywriter, and member services representative. 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 would like to start doing as much preventive maintenance as you can on your aircraft, in accordance with 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A. You notice the nose oleo strut on your Cessna is low, and you know that it's on the list of preventive maintenance tasks, so you plan to do the servicing yourself. How do you find out how to do it? What is required after you're done?
Answer
The first step is to read FAA Advisory Circular 43-12A. You will learn that performing preventive maintenance requires pilots to use the methods, techniques, and practices acceptable to the administrator. This means you will need to reference the maintenance manuals from the manufacturer. It would probably be a good idea to have a mechanic at least look over your shoulder the first time you do this work. After the work is performed, an entry will need to be recorded in the aircraft logs. This entry will need to conform to the standards outlined in 14 CFR 43.9. Remember that section 14 CFR 43.9(a)(3) doesn't apply to pilots doing maintenance because a pilot is not authorized to sign off work done by others. For more information, read this AOPA Online article.
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
May 14-15 - Sacramento, California; Pensacola, Florida; and Kansas City, Missouri
May 21-22 - Hollywood, Florida; Albany, New York; and Conroe, Texas
Jun 4-5 - Tempe, Arizona; and Orlando, Florida
Jun 11-12 - Bloomington, Minnesota; Ashburn, Virginia; and Charlotte, North Carolina
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
Apr 30 - South Saint Paul, Minnesota
May 2 - Garden City, New York; and Hampton, Virginia
May 3 - Lakeland, Florida; Poughkeepsie, New York; and Danville, Virginia
May 4 - Fort Myers, Florida; Albany, New York; and Blacksburg, Virginia
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilots Seminars
Apr 29 - Blaine, Minnesota
Apr 30 - Addison, Texas
May 1 - Anchorage, Alaska
May 7 - Davenport, Iowa; Victoria, Texas; Willoughby, Ohio; and Greeley, Colorado
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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