April 7, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 19, ISSUE 14	April 7, 2017

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Sun 'n Fun

Article

Trio's Pro Pilot install kit approved

The ability to install equipment designed for experimental aircraft into certified airplanes continued to make progress at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida, as The STC Group announced that it had received a supplemental type certificate for the kit to install a Trio autopilot into Cessna 172s and 182s. (Photo courtesy of Trio Avionics.) Read more >

Advocacy

Just what the doctor ordered

A near-standing-room-only crowd filled the AOPA Program Pavilion at Sun 'n Fun April 4 to learn more about BasicMed, a new alternative to third class medical certification for many pilots, which becomes available May 1. Read more >

Slideshow

French connection

Sun 'n Fun hosted the Patrouille de France, the French national jet demonstration team, April 4 as the team made one of its final performances in its first U.S. tour since 1986. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Mustang close-up; From France, with precision

Get up close and personal during an air-to-air filming session with a flight of P-51 Mustangs, and celebrate Stallion 51's birthday at Sun 'n Fun. AOPA's cameras are at the heart of the action, bringing you sights and sounds including France's national jet demonstration team. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, April 6 >

Article

Stallion 51 celebrates 30 years

The premier training facility for North American P-51 Mustangs turns 30 this year, and founder Lee Lauderback decided to throw a party. Read more >

Article

Sweepstakes 172 arrives at Sun 'n Fun

On the opening day of Sun 'n Fun, AOPA members wanted to know one thing about the Sweepstakes 172: "Will you be giving it away with this design?" Read more >

Article

High school students build simulator

Students with Florida's Lakeland Aero Club showed off their skills at Sun 'n Fun by assembling a Redbird FMX full-motion flight simulator. Read more >

More Sun 'n Fun news

Baker dishes AOPA news with ice cream
Mooney celebrates Ultras, shelves M10 project
Lightspeed Aviation offers customers upgrade options
New Rotax nearing certification
SocialFlight releases version 6.0, launches challenge
TKM Avionics expands radio lineup

Technique and Safety

Video

Cleared for takeoff

On centerline, throttle forward, stick back, and off you go! Performing a normal takeoff sounds easy, but do you always give it your best effort? In the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Takeoffs and Landings: Normal Takeoffs video, flight instructors examine theory versus reality. Watch the video >

IFR Fix

How to stump a CFII

During an instrument proficiency check, your flight instructor gives you a tough scenario that includes holding at a clearance-limit fix that doesn't have a published holding pattern. As you work through that, you pose a question about holds that stumps your CFII. (Image courtesy of the FAA.) Read more >

More safety products

'Cross-Country Challenge' seminar April 8 at Sun 'n Fun
A localizer and glideslope approach is an ILS...or is it?
'Accident Case Study: Communication Breakdown'
Practical tips for GPS use under IFR

Advocacy

Baker testifies on GA airports, safety, pilot community

The nation's 2,950 federally funded general aviation airports boost local economies and can serve as a community's lifeline in a natural disaster or other emergency—but billions of dollars from the federal program that funds most GA airport projects has been reallocated to other projects in the past 10 years, AOPA President Mark Baker testified April 6 before a Senate subcommittee. (Photo courtesy of John Harrington.) Read more >

Advocacy

Switch to ICAO flight plan form takes effect June 5

The FAA has set June 5 as the date when use of the international flight plan format, also known as the International Civil Aviation Organization format, will be required for all civil flight plans filed with flight service for flights within the National Airspace System and to Canada. Read more >

Advocacy

Mandatory service bulletin raises concerns

AOPA has concerns about the recommendations of a mandatory service bulletin issued by Continental Motors for the replacement of certain camshaft gears on many Continental IO-520- and IO-550-series engines, and some Continental IO-470 engines. Read more >

Advocacy

EASA lines up certification reform

Europe will implement aircraft certification reforms on the same timeline as the FAA's Part 23 rewrite announced in December, officials said as Europe's largest general aviation show began April 5. Read more >

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Prostate procedures and medical certification wait periods

New procedures are available to help alleviate symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. Dr. Jonathan Sackier describes the procedures and the required wait period before returning to the cockpit. Read more >

Technology

Article

Tecnam adds power

Italian airplane maker Tecnam announced April 5 upgraded models including new powerplants for the P2002 Sierra light sport aircraft and the four-seat P2010, which also gets the latest Garmin glass along with the P2006T twin. (Photo courtesy of Tecnam.) Read more >

Opinion

Blog

The engine that could

From Spitfires to Gulfstreams, Opinion Leaders blogger Ron Rapp highlights some of the notable engines from history and today, including the Avon turbojet engine that was first run in 1946 and is still being produced. Read more >

Gear

Article

ForeFlight adds glide range and checklists

ForeFlight 9, the company's just-released software, introduces new features such as glide range and checklists while sticking to its current subscription prices of $99.99 and $199.99. Read more >

Article

Garmin flight planning apps get global components

Garmin announced that expanded features and global enhancements are now available for its Garmin Pilot app for Apple and Android mobile devices. (Images courtesy of Garmin.) Read more >

Financial

Article

Good timing: How to simplify an aircraft loan application

You've found the perfect aircraft. You and the seller have agreed on the price. You even agreed on the terms of the pre-purchase inspection. If you haven't already secured financing, now it's time to make sure you can pay for it. Read more >

Member benefit

Are your 'life' eggs all in one basket?

Married people who have children should have life insurance equaling five to 12 times their average salary, but life insurance provided through an employer might only pay up to twice your salary. This leaves a large gap in coverage that AOPA Insurance Services can help you fill. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

Mooney Mite travels by school bus for restoration

Alaska pilot and school maintenance worker Paul Carattini made plans to pluck a 1950s-era wooden aircraft project from the rafters of a Wasilla hangar and transport it by school bus to his tiny village more than 200 miles away for restoration. He recognized the quirky Mooney M18C Mite was a diamond in the rough that could become a valuable teaching tool. (Photo courtesy of Paul Carattini.) Read more >

Article

New electric records ratified

Walter Extra has further cemented his status as a legendary figure in aviation, setting a new world electric airplane speed record in March to go with the electric time-to-climb mark he set in November. (Photo courtesy of Siemens.) Read more >

Article

Philanthropist James C. Ray 'lived life fearlessly'

James C. Ray, a noted aviation philanthropist and World War II veteran who served on the AOPA President's Council, died April 1 in Naples, Florida, after a brief illness. He was 94. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Ahearn.) Read more >

Article

Icon A5 has hard water landing

An Icon A5 was damaged April 1 in a hard water landing off the coast of Miami, the first major mishap involving the high-profile amphibious light sport aircraft. Read more >

Article

Blue Origin lands rocket, Collier

Billionaire and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has spent $1 billion to date developing a reusable rocket to send tourists to space, and will collect the 2016 Robert J. Collier Trophy, the National Aeronautic Association announced March 28. Read more >

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 customer service representative, airports and state advocacy vice president, flight training business support senior director, flight training technology senior director, aviation insurance sales director, executive office manager, project manager, UI/front-end developer, legal services plan attorney, travel and destination products director, insurance program administration manager, donor relations director, and part-time administrative assistant. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Question of the Week

Question

You are about to start soloing in gliders. Your instructor stated that you must get a flight review before you can solo because you are rated in single-engine aircraft and are not current. Is this statement correct even if you plan to fly only gliders from now on?

Answer

Yes. Because you will be acting as pilot in command during your solo glider flights, and you already hold a pilot certificate, you are required to have a current flight review. According to 14 CFR 61.56, a flight review must be "given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated," which in this case does not allow a flight review in a glider. For a more detailed explanation, see this letter of interpretation.

Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Apr 8-9	Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; and San Diego, California
May 6-7	Albany, New York; Hollywood, Florida; and Pensacola, Florida
May 20-21	Conroe, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Sacramento, California
Jun 3-4	Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; and Tempe, Arizona

For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.

Safety Seminars

Apr 10	Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Lewisport, Kentucky
Apr 11	Rochester, Minnesota; West Des Moines, Iowa; and Williamsburg, Kentucky
Apr 12	Salt Lake City, Utah; Blaine, Minnesota; and Bellevue, Nebraska
Apr 13	Morris Plains, New Jersey; and Olathe, Kansas

Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Apr 8	Cleveland, Ohio; Valparaiso, Indiana; Pasco, Washington; Worcester, Massachusetts; Washington Court House, Ohio; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Reno, Nevada; San Angelo, Texas; Chesterfield, Missouri; and Big Bear City, California
Apr 12	Carlsbad, California
Apr 15	Beaumont, Texas; and Ballston Spa, New York
Apr 22	Oakland, California; Trenton, New Jersey; Melbourne, Florida; Morristown, Tennessee; Evansville, Indiana; Bessemer, Alabama; and Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania

For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.

Aviation Calendar

Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See AOPA's enhanced calendar of events. You can filter events by date range, airport ID, state, or region. Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.

To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA Airports. AOPA does not endorse or assume responsibility for the events submitted and listed in the calendar.

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ePilot Editors:
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Jim Moore
Dan Namowitz
David Tulis

Production Team:
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Sarah Deener
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Ian J. Twombly
Julie Summers Walker

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