July 29, 2016 - VOL 16, ISSUE 31

Flight Training News

Article

Instructor studies students, predicts solos

After studying student pilots for more than 50 years, flight instructor John Dougherty says he can predict when most will be competent to solo. How many landings does it take? Read more...  

Advocacy

FAA restores birthday solos

Following a request from AOPA, the FAA has once again made it possible for student pilots to solo on their fourteenth or sixteenth birthday, depending on the type of aircraft they are operating. Read more...  

Article

Redbird announces upgrades

Redbird Flight Simulations announced several new product upgrades at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and put many of them straight to work on campus. Read more...  

Aiming for a jet rating

What key principle does Redbird pilot Brittney Miculka learn to better prepare herself for the cockpit of a Cessna Citation Mustang jet—and how can it help you? Find out in the ninth installment of her 10-part Winging It video series before she wraps everything up at EAA AirVenture's Pilot Proficiency Center.

Video

Know your AOA, keep stalls at bay

Angle of attack (AOA) indicators warn when you're about to exceed a wing's lift capacity. Learn how AOA indicators work with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Margins of Safety: Angle of Attack Indicators video, made possible by the Tom Davis Fund, and brought to you by Aspen Avionics. Watch the video...  

Webinar

Signal mirrors to the rescue

You don't plan to make an off-airport landing, but if it happened would you be prepared to deal with the consequences? Join AOPA Air Safety Institute Manager of Aviation Safety Programs John Collins Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time for a webinar that offers a commonsense approach to maximize your chances of survival and rescue. Register today...  

Plane Spotter

Resourceful Rans S-7

Makers of light sport and homebuilt aircraft are giving pilots almost limitless choices to meet their needs and budgets. From backcountry-bound taildraggers to canopied cruisers, variety keeps expanding—even within a single aircraft family. One such family is Rans Aircraft of Hays, Kansas, with designs including the conventional-gear, two-place S-7 series available for construction or factory built, powered by a standard 100-horsepower Rotax 912 engine. An S-7S has a gross weight of 1,320 pounds (the light sport aircraft maximum), cruises at 110 mph, and boasts a backcountry-strip-friendly takeoff roll of 300 feet.

Training Products and Resources

Sporty's free webinar explains headsets

Pilots investigating new headsets have a useful, free tool available courtesy of Sporty's Pilot Shop. A one-hour webinar and interactive buyer's guide hosted by Doug Ranly explains today's advanced headset technology including Bluetooth, noise cancellation, panel power, and other innovations. The webinar can help pilots decide between options for comfort, quiet, clarity, and price.

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

Pilot Protection Services

Third class medical reform: A vision realized

As the FAA begins its work to craft medical reform language into regulation, "it will become even more important for all pilots to be conscientious about the responsibilities these new privileges will require," counsels Gary Crump, director of the AOPA Pilot Information Center Medical Certification Section. Read more...  

AOPA Aviation Finance

Questions about aircraft financing?

Looking for competitive rates and terms on an aircraft loan? Wondering if an aircraft appraisal is necessary to apply for a loan or how your credit score affects the rate you might receive? AOPA Aviation Finance Co. President Adam Meredith answers these common questions. Read more...  

Final Exam

Question

What are the different types of airspace?

Answer

There are basically two kinds of airspace: controlled and uncontrolled. Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace all are considered to be controlled airspace. According to 14 CFR 1.1, controlled airspace is "an airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classification." Class G airspace is any airspace not designated as A, B, C, D, or E, and is defined as uncontrolled airspace. There are various regulatory requirements for operations within each of these airspace classifications. For detailed information, see the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Airspace for Everyone Safety Advisor and this AOPA Online article.

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 a member services representative, pilot community development coordinator, 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, Great Lakes regional manager, communications director, donor relations director, and AOPA Foundation communications director. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.