December 9, 2016 - VOL 16, ISSUE 50

Flight Training News

Article

AOPA builds on Fly-In success

AOPA Fly-Ins for 2017 will give you more to experience—from camping and camaraderie to workshops and clinics offering opportunities to learn new skills, fly more affordably, or make the jump from aircraft renter to owner. AOPA has expanded the scope of each of the four 2017 Regional Fly-Ins, adding a second day to allow attendees to experience more hands-on aviation and participate in local fly-outs. Read more...  

Podcast

Hangar Talk: You Can Fly

The declining number of pilots is general aviation's biggest threat. A smaller community means fewer airports, fewer airplanes, and higher prices—not to mention less influence in Washington, D.C. Learn how AOPA's You Can Fly program is working to reverse the decline in the pilot population. Listen to the podcast...  

Article

Aaron Tippin's son solos three classics on 16th birthday

Tom Tippin probably isn't the first high schooler to skip school on his sixteenth birthday. But he had a good excuse. On Dec. 1, Tippin was prowling around the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in Sparta, Tennessee, at 5 a.m., prepping three airplanes for his first powered solo flights. Read more...  

Safety seminar

What went wrong?

The AOPA Air Safety Institute's new safety seminar, Nontowered Case Studies: What Went Wrong?, offers attendees an opportunity to learn from others' mishaps at nontowered fields and avoid making the same mistakes. This free in-person seminar, brought to you by AOPA Insurance Services, underscores that flying at nontowered fields requires concentration, clear communication, and sharp eyes. You'll join expert seminar presenters and other pilots to play the role of accident investigator and work through evidence, eyewitness testimony, and other leads to figure out what went wrong, and why. Find dates and locations...  

Scholarships

Article

Women's aviation institute announces scholarships

The Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW) announced that $14,000 in scholarships, trophies, and prizes will be part of the group's annual celebration of women and aviation. Women who take a discovery flight during the 2017 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week March 6 through 12 and continue their flight training to "become the first to solo" will win iWOAW's First to Solo Challenge scholarship. Read more...  

Plane Spotter

Secret speedster

To say that the Cubcrafters XCub burst onto the scene suddenly last June from the manufacturer's Yakima, Washington, factory is to understate the result of the six-year project to develop and certify the 180-horsepower taildragger. Built for the backcountry and capable of the serious short-field performance you would expect of a two-place aircraft with "Cub" in its name, the 2,300-pound-maximum-gross-weight XCub breaks the bushplane mold for cruise speed. Designers accomplished the speed increase by using carbon fiber rather than metal components to make the tandem-seat CC19-180 lighter and stronger than a stock Super Cub.

Training Products and Resources

Login required

Taxi takeaways

Could you use a runway safety refresher? Get inside the cockpit with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Runway Safety online course and navigate tricky situations including distractions, confusing taxiways, and miscommunications. Review real-world complexities of airport surface operations and learn what to expect from ATC. Take the course...

Pilots 'got a brand new bag' in time for holidays

James Brown may have felt good because of his song, Papa's got a brand new bag, but pilots can feel good about Flight Outfitters' new Bush Pilot Bag. It contains three exterior pockets for headsets, radios, and navigation devices plus a roomy interior pocket for weekend essentials. The tan duffel's padded side and interior pockets feature high-visibility orange lining to help locate packed items. The bag has a pass-through strap on the back to attach to rolling luggage. The multi-use bag is available online from Sporty's Pilot Shop for $139.95.

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.

Member Benefits

AOPA Foundation focus

Support GA and get a tax deduction

Help strengthen the AOPA Air Safety Institute's programs that reach nearly 200,000 pilots each year; help Rusty Pilots return to active flying status; bring aviation opportunities within reach of more Americans through flying clubs; and much more with your year-end, tax-deductible gift to the AOPA Foundation. There's no more powerful way to help protect general aviation for today's pilots and future generations. AOPA dues don't fund these efforts, so your support is crucial. Every dollar you contribute by Dec. 31 is 100 percent tax deductible for 2016. Donate today...  

Pilot Protection Services

Incorrect readbacks

What happens when you read back an air traffic control instruction or clearance incorrectly and ATC doesn't catch it? AOPA Pilot Protection Services panel attorney Dean Greenblatt details an FAA case against an airline transport pilot. Read more...  

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

He's making a list

An FAA specialist was conducting a random sampling of aircraft operating in the National Airspace System when he was struck by how many flight plans were active for Piper PA-46s. Read more...  

Final Exam

Question

What can I do to improve my night vision?

Answer

To improve your night vision, allow about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. The U.S. Navy uses red goggles to help make this change. Also, set the cockpit lighting low and avoid using any bright lights. Try not to look directly at objects; instead, use off-center viewing because it allows better visual perception. Depth perception at night is reduced because of the lack of visual cues, so pay extra attention to your instruments, especially when you are low and approaching an airport. For more about night flying, including visual illusions, read AOPA's subject report.

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.

Career Opportunities

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for an account executive, donor relations director, New York You Can Fly ambassador, aviation technical specialist, and aviation financial analyst. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.