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Training Tips
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Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce
A pilot is driving home after a VFR flight when an alert tone sounds on his cell phone. It's not a ringtone assigned to a frequent caller. It's not the office. This tone has a special meaning: Close your flight plan! Read more...
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Flight Training News
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Article
Joel Cihak, 16, launched his first solo with less than six hours scribbled in his logbook. The runway in New London, Virginia, disappeared beneath his wings as Cihak pointed the blue-and-white Cessna 150 skyward, his mom and dad cheering as they watched from the ramp below. Liberty University hosted Cihak and five other high school students for an intensive flight training camp that helped all six to solo. Read more...
Advocacy
Effective Aug. 15, Lockheed Martin Flight Service was renamed Leidos Flight Service, but the services that the company provides to pilots remain the same. Read more...
Advocacy
AOPA has submitted supporting comments and recommendations for enhancing the FAA's proposed changes to pilot certification and training. The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in May detailing a number of improvements to the federal aviation regulations, particularly Part 61, governing pilot certification and currency requirements. Read more...
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Video
Distractions while taxiing can have devastating consequences. This AOPA Air Safety Institute Pilot Safety Announcement aims to raise awareness of the problem. Watch Rundown Feeling and avoid a call to the tower, or worse...
The 2016 AOPA Flight Training Poll closes Aug. 22. Feedback gathered from students helps flight schools improve programs, so a few minutes on the computer can help make training work better for everyone. Not only will you help the aviation community grow, but taking the poll also puts you in the running for prizes sponsored by Aircraft Spruce and Specialty, Jeppesen, PilotWorkshops, and Sporty's Pilot Shop. Take the poll...
National Aviation Day, observed each year on Aug. 19, was established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to celebrate the history and advancement of aviation. In honor of this auspicious day, AOPA created an infographic showing five ways you can join in the celebration of aviation achievement. We also asked a few members to put into words what aviation means to them. Read more...
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AOPA Live
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AOPA Live This Week
A tasty treat awaits those headed to Bremerton, Washington, for the AOPA Fly-In Aug. 19 and 20, in the form of famous fish. This dish comes with chips—served hot and fresh as can be—at the airport café, which has a good line on fish arriving daily at local docks in this Puget Sound town. Also this week, top airshow performers from around the world turn to Bully Aero to give the tortured tools of their trade some TLC between bashings, and a teen with a flying dream started a jewelry business to help realize that dream. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Aug. 18...
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Plane Spotter
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Light sport flying boat
Can you answer this plane spotting trivia question: What was the first special light sport flying boat certified in the United States? According to Seamax America, it was the Seamax M-22, shown here at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The S-LSA, powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax engine, was designed in 1998, was flown as a prototype in 2001, and now has a spottable fleet of 135 aircraft. Note that the M-22's maximum gross weight is not the usual light sport aircraft maximum of 1,320 pounds, but rather 1,430 pounds, as allowed for light sport seaplanes.
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Training Products and Resources
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Wallet tool holds money, opens bottles
An innovative approach to holding money and credit cards also may help pilots facing an emergency situation. The Nite Ize seven-in-one money clip tool holds cash and credit cards but takes the wallet idea one step further: The financial tool that redefines a wallet includes multiple screwdriver blades, wrench openings, a ruler, bottle opener, and scraper. The FinancialTool Multi Tool Wallet is available online from PilotMall.com for $7.99.
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Summer's heat brings the potential for dangerous convective activity. Did you know there are an estimated 100,000 thunderstorms in the United States each year? Quick-developing storms can pose major trouble, especially when you're caught off guard and fly too close to one. Test your real-world knowledge of thunderstorm hazards with this quiz from the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Take the quiz...
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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
When the new third class medical reform regulations take effect in 2017, pilots who will be allowed to fly without the need for a current medical certificate will need to be well-versed on their responsibilities under the regulations, particularly 14 CFR 61.53 and 91.17, that address the use of medications while flying. Read more...
Member benefit
AOPA Insurance Services surveyed insurance carriers to learn whether third class medical reform would affect aircraft insurance. Nearly across the board, medical reform should have no negative impacts on insurance coverage. Most of AOPA Insurance's carriers said that if a pilot is in compliance with the FAA regulations (including medical reform when finalized), then that pilot is in compliance with the company's insurance requirements as well. Read more...
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Blogs
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Ground school over the years has changed. Instead of sitting in a classroom for a day or two, pilots do most of their ground training via the internet and computer-based training modules. The training can be conducted every month or on a quarterly or trimester basis, depending on the airline, writes Flight Training blogger Chip Wright. Read more...
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Final Exam
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Question
What is the difference between best rate-of-climb speed and best angle-of-climb speed?
Answer
The best rate-of-climb speed, also known as VY, provides the greatest gain in altitude in the shortest amount of time. The best angle-of-climb speed, also known as VX, provides the greatest gain in altitude over a given horizontal distance. The different airspeeds that either limit or result in specific aircraft performance are known as "V-speeds"—V for velocity. The different V-speed abbreviations are listed in 14 CFR 1.2. For more information on all the V-speeds and their effect on aircraft safety and performance, see the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, pages 8-9 and 8-10.
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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 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? AOPA is looking for an account executive, advertising-marketing coordinator, member services representative, Central Southwest regional manager, graphic designer, administrative coordinator, New York You Can Fly ambassador, aviation technical specialist, fundraising specialist, government affairs federal and state vice president, communications director, donor relations director, and AOPA Foundation communications director. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
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Education and Seminars
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Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Aug 20-21 - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Reno, Nevada
Sep 10-11 - Elkridge, Maryland
Sep 17-18 - Phoenix, Arizona; and Sandston, Virginia
Sep 24-25 - Colorado Springs, Colorado
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
Aug 20 - Bremerton, Washington; and Clayton, Georgia
Aug 24 - Frederick, Maryland
Sep 6 - Wichita, Kansas; Madison, Wisconsin; and Seattle, Washington
Sep 7 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Portland, Oregon
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilots Seminars
Aug 20 - Bremerton, Washington; Hayden, Idaho; and Fullerton, California
Aug 27 - Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Naples, Florida
Aug 31 - Racine, Wisconsin
Sep 8 - Newnan, Georgia
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
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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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