October 21, 2016 - VOL 16, ISSUE 43

Flight Training News

Article

Training in electric airplanes

A unique public-private collaboration is poised to prove electric airplanes can dramatically cut the cost of flight training, and venture beyond the traffic pattern. The players include two small towns in California's Central Valley, a flight school, a nonprofit energy consultant, a community college, and Slovenian aircraft maker Pipistrel, each with a role creating a network of electric airplane charging stations. Read more...  

American Flyers spreads wings to Arizona

American Flyers will open a new test preparation, flight training, and simulator instruction facility at Arizona's Scottsdale Airport Nov. 1, the company recently announced. Andrew Henley, the school's executive director, said an open house Nov. 12 will allow flight students to meet instructors, grab a free lunch, and tour the training center. The newest location joins six FAA-approved flight training centers including Santa Monica, California; Morristown, New Jersey; Pompano Beach, Florida; Houston; and two centers in suburban Dallas.

Article

Ballooning: A hot ticket

Aviation enthusiasts considering their flying options might be interested to learn that hot air ballooning could be their ticket to the sky. At the world's largest lighter-than-air event in Albuquerque, New Mexico, experienced balloonist Colin Graham was peppered with questions from a curious crowd that gathered around the basket of his specially shaped Bud E. Beaver balloon. "What's it like to fly?" "Do you need a license?" "Why haven't you launched yet?" Read more...  

Article

Winging It host tackles new challenge

Brittney Miculka, the host of Redbird Flight Simulations' popular Winging It video series, is confronting another test in addition to the challenges that she mastered in 2016 for a growing YouTube audience. Miculka will steer 200 flight instructors, educators, and flight school managers through the sixth annual Migration at Redbird headquarters in San Marcos, Texas, Oct. 24 to 26. Read more...  

Article

Captain Jepp Challenge offers new safety resources

The first of three trips for two to EAA AirVenture 2017 and two of six MyGoFlight gift cards have been awarded in the Captain Jepp Challenge, but there are still opportunities for you to enter to win by completing aviation safety programs. Read more...  

Delta joins 'First Job' initiative

Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian said the air carrier is committed to hiring 100 young workers for their first job in an effort to target some of the millions of people who have completed school but not yet landed a job. Bastian said in a video released Oct. 11 that he remembered his first job on a highway crew that taught him the "importance of working hard" with the ideal to "keep pushing yourself" toward a career goal. The initiative is backed by the White House and includes a social media campaign with the hashtag #FirstJob.

Video

Practical weather planning 101

What's your approach to preflight weather planning? Are you getting the right information at the right time? The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Weather Wise: Gathering Information video shares strategies to use the system that fits your needs. Know when to evaluate weather and make those critical decisions before flight. Watch the video...  

Plane Spotter

Protecting and serving

Whether airborne high above a conflict zone to protect friendly forces or penetrating severe weather to gather data, as it did recently during Hurricane Matthew, Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system combines high-resolution sensors and other advanced technologies with high-altitude capability and up to 32 hours of endurance. Experienced pilots operate control stations on the ground when this V-tailed drone—with a 7,600-pound-thrust jet engine mounted on the rear fuselage and a maximum takeoff weight of 32,350 pounds—conducts its operations at a "loiter" velocity of 310 knots true airspeed.

Training Products and Resources

'Balloon Flying Handbook' details regulations, skills

The FAA's Balloon Flying Handbook introduces the pilot knowledge, airmanship, and skills required to safely fly balloons. The free online handbook is divided into chapters that focus on safety and regulations, design, theory, airspace, weather, maneuvers, and more. An appendix completes the package with handy checklists, logbook endorsements, pibal-velocity-versus-balloon-size calculations, and a glossary.

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

Renting an aircraft? Four things you need to know

Before renting an aircraft, there are some things you should consider to make sure you are protected while flying it. Read more...  

AOPA Aviation Finance

A registration gotcha

Ready to sell your large piston single or twin and make the move to a turboprop? Time to do some homework. There's a lot to learn when it comes to such transactions. If you're buying a turboprop with any engine rated at more than 550 shaft horsepower, or with eight or more seats, you'll have to put your new airplane on the international registry. Read more...  

Pilot Protection Services

Moving violation

Pilots and aircraft owners have a regulatory responsibility to notify the FAA when their mailing address changes, according to 14 CFR 61.60 and 14 CFR 47.45. Both regulations impose a 30-day notification limit. Find out what happens if you miss this window. Read more...  

Instrument Tip

Flash-based; login required

Which mode are you in?

The scenario: You're on an IFR cross-country flight from Bozeman, Montana, to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The challenge: Do you know how to interpret the RNAV (GPS) X approach to Runway 1 at your destination? Fly the approach and get tips on programming the GPS with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's IFR Chart Challenge: RNAV Approach free online course. Test your knowledge...

Final Exam

Question

Can I log cross-country time in a single-engine airplane if my destination airport is only 23 nautical miles from my home airport?

Answer

The short answer to that question is yes, with comments. According to 14 CFR 61.1(b), if a flight is accomplished in an aircraft by an individual with a pilot certificate (including a student pilot certificate), includes a landing at a place other than the departure airport, and involves navigation, then it meets the basic logging requirements. However, most pilots log cross-country time to qualify for the next rating or for filling out insurance applications. For insurance needs, you should contact your carrier to see what is required. For the FAA requirements, the rules vary by certificate and type of aircraft. Consult the regulation for the specifics. For more information, 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.