October 14, 2016 - VOL 16, ISSUE 42

Flight Training News

Article

Aviation competition opens

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has opened the fifth annual GAMA/Build A Plane Aviation Design Challenge for all U.S. high schools. The competition is intended to promote science, technology, engineering, and math skills through aviation. Read more...  

Online resource

Dancing with drones

AOPA Air Safety Institute Chief Flight Instructor John Collins recently joined the ranks of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) remote pilots, and he shares memorable moments in the latest CFI to CFI newsletter. This issue also includes tips for lasting proficiency training, plus Rod Machado's technique to help student pilots anticipate the next steps during a flight. Read more...

You Can Fly

AOPA High School Aviation STEM Symposium approaching

Educators should make plans to join AOPA in Seattle Nov. 6 and 7 at the Museum of Flight and the adjacent Raisbeck Aviation High School to share best practices, resources, and strategies to inspire the next generation of aviators. The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) symposium brings together pioneers in aviation and education. Attendees will also learn about AOPA's partnership with Purdue University to create STEM curricula for grades 9-12. Check out the symposium's learning sessions and register to attend. Learn more...  

Article

Online, classroom learning blend

Flight review students have a new option for brushing up on federal aviation regulations, flight maneuvers, and other knowledge needed for the ground school portion of their logbook endorsement. WINGsReality EDU has designed a blended online and live classroom learning environment, co-founder Michael Lessard told AOPA. Lessard said the physical school, based in Maine, had simply outgrown its confines, so he spread the learning process out from a classroom to a student's own room—wherever that may be. Read more...  

Scholarships

Wipaire awards three seaplane rating scholarships

Wipaire, Inc., the South Saint Paul, Minnesota, family-owned aircraft float manufacturer and modification facility, announced three recipients of the 2016 Ben Wiplinger Memorial Seaplane Rating Scholarship program. Minnesota kindergarten teacher Dawn Cook, Canadian career pilot Colin Fink, and South Carolina marine scientist Kimberly Kanapeckas will each receive $1,500 to help fund their floatplane ratings. The scholarship is named for Ben Wiplinger, who founded the company in 1960. Read more...

Plane Spotter

Six of one

If you are a plane spotter who has wondered whether "out of production" means "hard to spot," find an airport where kit aircraft congregate. Then seek out a builder/flyer of a Van's RV-6 that was produced between 1986 and 2001 and likely is going strong, or perhaps is just getting airborne after the homebuilder's project. If you don't see one of the two-place, side-by-side taildraggers, make sure you haven't passed by an RV-6A, the RV-6's tricycle-geared "cousin." A sliding canopy became an option for both aircraft later in the production runs.

Training Products and Resources

ASA's remote pilot eKit

Pilots studying for an FAA Part 107 remote pilot exam can navigate to Aviation Supplies & Academics for an eKit that combines videos, e-books, FAA reference documents, and online software all in one digital package. Aeronautical charts, weather, rules, and regulations are covered with more than five hours of videos, online practice tests, and a seven-day study plan to keep pilots on track. ASA's Remote Pilot eKit is available online for $79.95.

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

Member benefit

Airplanes aren't the only valuable items in hangars

Pilots don't think twice about insuring their aircraft, but what about other items in the hangar—a small refrigerator, a golf cart to tow the aircraft, or a couch or recliner for lounging at the airport? Chances are those items are not covered. AOPA Insurance Services can help. Read more...  

Pilot Protection Services

Lessons learned at FL 370

While treating a fellow passenger on a commercial flight, Dr. Jonathan Sackier made several observations that apply to travelers in general, and pilots in particular: It is critical to address health issues promptly, disclose all pertinent information to your doctor, comply with directives, and make the right call in an emergency. Read more...  

Blogs

Long- and short-call reserves

Reserve pilots should be flexible, packed, rested, and ready to go when needed to fill in for originally scheduled pilots during sick leave, family emergency, weather disruption, or other factors, explains Flight Training blogger Chip Wright. Read more...  

Instrument Tip

Login required

Get to know the en route chart

Brush up on your IFR chart savvy with this quiz from the AOPA Air Safety Institute. For example, airports shown with a brown symbol don't have a published approach, but are all airports without published approaches depicted on en route charts? Why are some localizers shown while others are not? Take the quiz and find out...

Final Exam

Question

I'm a student pilot. Why do I have to carry my logbook with me, and do I have to carry it all the time?

Answer

You need to carry your logbook only on cross-country flights (see 14 CFR 61.51(i)(2)). According to 14 CFR 61.1, cross-country time refers to "time acquired during a flight...that includes a point of landing that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure." Your logbook and the endorsements it contains give you authority to fly the cross-country flight. For more information on logging cross-country time, see this AOPA 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 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, flying clubs initiative senior manager, New York You Can Fly ambassador, aviation technical specialist, product marketing specialist, advertising-marketing coordinator, and UI/front-end developer. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.