|
|
NBAA 2016
|
Despite a cool jet market forecast from Honeywell, the National Business Aviation Association's Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, buzzed with new announcements. Cirrus earned certification of its SF50 Vision Jet; Embraer debuted its Legacy 650E; Pilatus announced that its popular PC-24 was sold out through 2019; Gulfstream showed off a new interior for the G500; and Cessna touted progress on its Hemisphere and Longitude jets. Get all the news from NBAA...
 
Article
During the National Business Aviation Association's convention, best-selling author and historian David McCullough, author of The Wright Brothers, shared his thoughts on the presidential race and explained work ethics that today's society can learn from the Wright brothers, while Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) offered insights into which political party might control the House and Senate after the upcoming election. Also, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske discussed the progress that a government-industry working group (which includes AOPA) has made on easing the border-crossing process for general aviation travelers. Read more...
AOPA Live This Week
Cirrus Aircraft told attendees at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Florida, that the newly certificated, single-engine SF50 Vision Jet will be a game changer. Renowned biographer David McCullough discusses what made the Wright brothers great as well as his views on the current race for president. Also this week, AOPA takes you to Texas as the Commemorative Air Force relocates and holds its first Wings Over Dallas airshow. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Nov. 3...
|
Technique and Safety
|
|
Article
The F-16 pilot flying alone over South Carolina was told 40 seconds before the collision that traffic was straight ahead, two miles away. The Air Force officer had never heard an initial traffic alert so close, he later told investigators. He scanned the sky "aggressively" but did not spot the Cessna 150 until it was too late to prevent the collision that claimed two lives. Technology that could have given each pilot ample warning was absent from both aircraft. Read more...
IFR Fix
Airports in the Northeast braced for high winds and heavy precip from a late October storm. As the rain pounded down, this notice to airmen reported field conditions (FICON) on the longest runway at New Hampshire's Manchester Airport: "MHT 10/088 MHT RWY 35 FICON 5/5/5 100 PRCT WET OBSERVED AT 1610281100." If this notam's presentation appears different from what you are used to reviewing, that's because it is an example of the new format for FICON notams. Read more...
Video
The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Margins of Safety: Avoiding Power-On Stalls illustrates the difference between stall training and real-world scenarios. The video, brought to you by BendixKing by Honeywell, discusses techniques to recognize and prevent an accidental power-on stall. Watch the video...
Video
Before you get a complete weather picture at the Aviation Weather Center's revamped www.aviationweather.gov website, let the AOPA Air Safety Institute guide you through some of the excellent resources available. Weather Wise: The AWC Website is one installment in a video series focused on practical weather flying. Watch the video...
|
Advocacy
|
|
Advocacy
The legal community is taking note of AOPA's recent friend of the court filing asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case involving aviation product liability. Read more...
Advocacy
Aircraft owners who have already equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out are enjoying the benefits of the new technology—especially the optional ADS-B In benefits of in-cockpit traffic information and subscription-free weather, including Nexrad radar images. Almost all of the pilots responding to a recent AOPA request for ADS-B feedback equipped before the FAA rebate became available on Sept. 19, and also chose to add ADS-B In capabilities while equipping with ADS-B Out. Read more...
Advocacy
The FAA has granted more than 18,000 remote pilot certificates for the non-hobby operation of drones since Part 107 took effect Aug. 29. About 23,000 people have completed the FAA Safety Team online course designed for pilots who already have certificates and want to fly drones for non-hobby pursuits. Read more...
Advocacy
A bipartisan group of senators and representatives signed letters to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, pressing the agency head to ensure third class medical reform is implemented on time and according to the provisions signed into law in July. Read more...
Advocacy
Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) visited Elkhart Municipal Airport in Elkhart, Indiana, with an AOPA representative, pilots, and airport officials to highlight the role general aviation and local airports play in the state's economy. Read more...
|
Health
|
|
Pilot Protection Services
The carotid arteries are major vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the brain, so they are important conduits to keep open. AOPA Director of the Pilot Information Center's Medical Certification Section Gary Crump discusses how to prevent and treat carotid artery disease and the tests that the FAA will require to grant a special issuance authorization. Read more...
|
Technology
|
Article
Drones approaching sensitive facilities can be instantly identified and tracked; their operators located; and, if need be, the defense system developed by Sensofusion can even force the offending drone to land at a location designated in advance—all without need for human intervention. Read more...
|
Opinion
|
|
Blog
Aircraft limitations serve to help pilots safely operate within a known envelope, but once pilots exceed a limitation, "the margin of safety built into the aircraft by the designer is now gone," writes Opinion Leaders blogger Ron Rapp, noting that pushing beyond the limits in a "moment of carelessness" can ruin an otherwise safety-conscious aviation career. Read more...
|
Gear
|
Pilot magazine
The budding aviator in your family probably has no shortage of gadgets on his or her wish list. AOPA Pilot offers gift ideas for future pilots that are perfect for birthdays and holidays. Read more...
|
|
|
Travel
|
Flash-based; login required
If you plan to fly your aircraft across the U.S. border, remember to submit passenger and crew manifests electronically to U.S. Customs and Border Protection using the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS). Brush up on the process with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Understanding eAPIS: A Pilot's Guide to Online Customs Reporting course. Take the course...
|
|
|
Financial
|
Article
Flight Design GmbH is selling the rights to the market-leading CT series, as well as the four-seat C4 in development, as it works to emerge from receivership. AeroJones Aviation, the Taiwan company that inked an agreement with Flight Design in early 2016 to manufacture the CTLS, will own the designs and be the exclusive manufacturer of the aircraft. Read more...
Article
A September agreement between Pipistrel and Chinese company Sino GA Group to produce airplanes in China will be presented publicly during an airshow in China in November. Proceeds from the sale could be used to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells for aircraft. Read more...
|
News and Notes
|
Blog
Like most AOPA members, Brad Sunshine follows the AOPA Sweepstakes 172's restoration effort closely, but he has a different perspective: Sunshine, who now flies for a Fortune 50 corporate flight department, used to fly the airplane in the mid-1990s. "All these years later, the aircraft remains an enduring component of my flying passion and experiences," he said. "As an AOPA member, I take comfort knowing that I at least have a shot (albeit a very small one) at reuniting with N739HW." Read more...
Webinar
Want to know how to determine the most efficient route and save fuel as you plan your flight? Ever needed an easy way to determine whether departing just a few hours earlier or later could help you avoid adverse weather or flight restrictions? Join Leidos Flight Service and AOPA for a free webinar Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to learn about advanced flight planning capabilities available through www.1800wxbrief.com. Register today...
Article
AOPA will be enshrined in the San Diego Air and Space Museum's International Air and Space Hall of Fame along with an "exemplary" group of pilots, aeronautical pioneers, and aviation organizations in a Nov. 17 induction ceremony. Read more...
|
|
Article
The National Aviation Hall of Fame has announced the names of four individuals to be enshrined in 2017 for contributions dating "from the dawn of the jet age through the manned exploration of space." Read more...
Article
AOPA's Pilot Information Center offers an aviation podcast feed that covers popular subjects members have asked about, including unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft purchasing and upgrades, aviation finance, and insurance. Read more...
Time change means new time conversions
When most of the United States switches to standard time on Nov. 6, be sure to make the applicable time conversion changes to Coordinated Universal Time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a useful time conversion chart online.
|
Career Opportunities
|
|
AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a government affairs federal and state vice president, Central Southwest regional manager, Great Lakes regional manager, account executive, annual giving manager, donor relations director, high school aviation initiative manager, New York You Can Fly ambassador, aviation technical specialist, and UI/front-end developer. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
|
Question of the Week
|
Question
Where can I learn how to log PIC time when the autopilot is in use?
Answer
You can find the answer in the FAA Letters of Interpretation, in particular this letter, which states, "The FAA considers a pilot's use and management of the autopilot to be the equivalent of manipulating the controls, just as one manages other flight control systems, such as trim or a yaw dampener." According to this letter, the FAA considers management of the autopilot to be the same as hand flying as it relates to manipulation of the controls and logging PIC time.
Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Education and Seminars
|
Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Nov 12-13 - San Diego, California
Nov 19-20 - Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta, Georgia; and Austin, Texas
Dec 3-4 - Denver, Colorado; and Orlando, Florida
Jan 7-8 - Charlotte, North Carolina; Rockford, Tennessee; Santa Clara, California; and Ypsilanti, Michigan
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.
|
Rusty Pilots Seminars
Nov 5 - Austin, Texas; and Carlsbad, California
Nov 12 - Lakeland, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Lawrenceville, Georgia
Nov 19 - Loveland, Colorado; Henderson, Nevada; and Murrieta, California
Dec 3 - Tyler, Texas; and Scottsdale, Arizona
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ePilot Editors:
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
David Tulis
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
