April 7, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 14	April 7, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Limits for maneuvers

Flight-test day is approaching. As it draws nearer, your instructor is spending more time during ground preparation grilling you on elements of the tasks and maneuvers that you will work on in the air. Sometimes, the CFI tosses you a curveball. Read more >

Flight Training News

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 >

Flight Training magazine

Find your center

The next time you fly in smooth air, try this: At a safe altitude and cruising speed, say 100 knots indicated airspeed, ensure the airplane is trimmed and power is set. Now pull up smoothly on the yoke or stick, without overstressing or retrimming the airplane. Wait until the airplane slows down 10 to 20 knots in a new pitch attitude and then release the yoke. Hands off! Maintain heading and keep the wings level with the rudder pedals. Do not touch the ailerons or throttle. See what happens. Read more >

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 >

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 >

Scholarships

Reminder: Apply for AOPA's training scholarships

Are you working toward your private pilot certificate? Do you know an adult or a high school student who is dreaming of learning to fly or has started flight training? Apply for, and share information about, the AOPA Flight Training Scholarships and the 2017 High School Flight Training Scholarship Program. Scholarships in the two programs range from $2,500 to $5,000 and are made possible by donations to the AOPA Foundation. The deadlines to apply for the scholarships are coming up in May, so don't delay—find out how you can apply today!

AOPA Live

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 the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo. AOPA's cameras are at the heart of the action in Lakeland, Florida, bringing you sights and sounds including France's national jet demonstration team. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, April 6 >

Training Products and Resources

Video

Talk to ATC

As a student pilot, you may need extra time to sort out air traffic controllers' instructions. Should you tell ATC you're a student pilot upon first contact? In the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Ask ATC: Student Pilots video, an air traffic controller explains what to expect. Watch the video >

Stay in touch with inReach portable GPS

Garmin recently released two rugged handheld GPS devices that can track a pilot's progress and send subscription-based emergency text alerts to friends and family. The inReach SE+ and inReach Explorer+ models are useful in remote areas with no cell coverage, and bush pilots frequently rely on the texting service to update others on progress, changing weather conditions, and logistics. Both units utilize GPS map navigation, waypoints, and "breadcrumb" trails. The Explorer+ adds a color screen, topographic maps, a built-in compass, barometric altimeter, and accelerometer. The impact- and water-resistant devices are available online from Sporty's Pilot Shop starting at $399.99.

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

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 >

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 >

Instrument Tip

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 >

Plane Spotter

The mini-Mooney

The Mooney line of low-wing single-engine airplanes consists of quite an assortment of speedy aircraft of varying size and horsepower, as you would expect of a family that dates to the first M20 in 1955. But it all began in 1948, with a 65-horsepower, single-seat, wood-and-fabric, retractable-gear, 520-pound-empty-weight forerunner, the M18 Mite. Dave Rutherford's Mooney Mite Site credits a 1948 magazine article by Max Karant as first using the name "Mite." Karant founded AOPA Pilot magazine in 1958, and he served as its editor for 18 years. (Photo courtesy of Dave Rutherford.)

Final Exam

Question

A student pilot friend of mine told me he had 33 hours before he soloed. I was soloed by my instructor in only 12 hours. Is there a minimum number of hours to solo?

Answer

There is no minimum. When a student solos is at the sole discretion of the flight instructor. Competency and safety are the main concerns, not number of hours. Some people learn quickly and others take longer; it's human nature. Rest assured, your instructor would not have soloed you if he or she had any doubts as to your ability to fly the aircraft safely.

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 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, public affairs and executive communications manager, 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 >

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.

Get Back to Your Roots!

You already fly for a living, now fly just for fun! Have a friend who flies professionally and wants to get back into GA? Ask them to visit aopa.org/BTYR.

421 Aviation Way Frederick, MD 21701
800/872-2672
301/695-2375 Fax

ePilot Flight Training Editors:
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
Dan Namowitz
David Tulis

Production Team:
Elizabeth Linares
Melissa Whitehouse

Contributors:
Mike Collins
Sarah Deener
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Warren Morningstar
Jill W. Tallman
Ian J. Twombly
Julie Summers Walker

Advertise in ePilot:
Gary Brennan, 301/695-2052

Eastern and Central United States and International:
Jeff Rockwood, 301/695-2089

Western United States:
Tom Linton, 301/695-2055

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