August 25, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 34	August 25, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Surprised on a solo

A student pilot was soloing a Piper PA-28 in an airport traffic pattern when the tower threw him a curveball. Read more >

Flight Training News

Slideshow

Total solar eclipse draws thousands of aviators

Aviation took center stage as a total solar eclipse swept over the United States Aug. 21, plunging parts of 14 states into daytime darkness for the first time in 99 years. Pilots observed the once-in-a-lifetime event from more than 240 general aviation airfields within the 70-mile band of totality. Read more >

Article

Low accident rate maintained as GA activity grows

New general aviation safety data suggest that a key accident rate remained at historic lows even as activity increased, the AOPA Air Safety Institute said Aug. 23 in a news conference announcing findings of the just-released 26th Joseph T. Nall Report. In addition, the institute will be reaching out to aircraft type clubs and other members of the GA community in a joint bid to achieve even more improvement. Read more >

Article

Aviation Design Challenge registration opens

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association and Build A Plane observed National Aviation Day Aug. 19 by announcing the opening of registration for the 2018 Aviation Design Challenge, an annual team competition promoting science, technology, engineering, and math skills through aviation among U.S. high school students. Read more >

See and avoid

When you approach a nontowered airport and don't hear other aircraft on the common traffic advisory frequency, can you safely conclude no one is flying in the traffic pattern? The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Collision Avoidance quiz offers insights and tips to help you develop effective collision-avoidance techniques. Take the quiz >

Scholarships

Flying Musicians Association opens scholarship, internship applications

The Flying Musicians Association is accepting scholarship nominations from music directors for aspiring pilots who are juniors or seniors in high school and have a passion for music. The scholarship will take a student from "Day One through Solo," the association said. The group also is accepting applications for its internship program for the fall semester of 2017, and the winter and summer semesters of 2018.

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

Solar eclipse inspires awe; See where Cessnas are made

America raced to the middle (at least geographically) as the total solar eclipse crossed from Oregon to South Carolina Aug. 21, and general aviation proved to be the way to get to prime views. Also this week, the AOPA Fly-In at Norman, Oklahoma, Sept. 8 and 9 will include a fly-out to the Textron Aviation factory in Independence, Kansas, where Cessnas are manufactured; and AOPA's Air Safety Institute takes another deep dive into safety. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Aug. 24 >

Training Products and Resources

Slap-on sun visor blocks rays

Pilots tired of squinting into the sun can apply a sheet of shaded material to the inside of their windscreens to help block the rays and increase situational awareness. The dark green, reusable 8.5-inch-by-11-inch sun shade adheres with surface friction. The Slap On Sun Visor is available from Sporty's Pilot Shop for $7.95.

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

Video

Watch AOPA's Norman Fly-In procedures video

Expand your flying skills and deepen your aviation experience at the AOPA Fly-In at Norman, Oklahoma, Sept. 8 and 9. Before flying to the event at Oklahoma's University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, watch the arrival procedures video for an eagle's-eye view of what to expect, and download the Pilot Information Packet for in-depth details. Watch the video >

Article

Students, renters need insurance too

Students and renters often jump into the left seat of an aircraft expecting to be covered by the fixed-base operator's insurance policy in the event of an accident. That's not always the case. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

FAA re-examinations and pilot certificate deposits explained

The FAA seeks a pilot re-examination, often called a "709 ride," when it finds a reasonable basis to question a pilot's qualification to hold a certificate. If the pilot cannot promptly comply with an FAA re-examination (or if the pilot fails the first re-examination attempt), a certificate deposit might be an option. Read more >

Plane Spotter

Quickie quiz

If there were such a thing as a Plane Spotter's knowledge exam, extra credit would surely be given to any test-taker who could identify at a quick glance a two-place composite airplane with a low forward wing with elevators attached and the main landing gear concealed inside the tips, a high rear wing, and a tailwheel. "Sort of a negative stagger biplane to stretch a point," says one description of the Quickie Q2, a homebuilt aircraft derived from the Quickie, a one-seat design from the drawing board of Burt Rutan.

Final Exam

Question

A pilot friend was bragging about logging night time during the day by flying over Madras, Oregon, during the total solar eclipse. Can such a flight be logged as night flight time?

Answer

No. "Night" is defined in 14 CFR 1.1 as "the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight." That means the sun must be below the horizon for some period of time. Because that was not the case during the total solar eclipse, no night time could have been logged.

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

Aviation job board

Job of the week: CFI/CFII, Sky Safety

Sky Safety, an FAA Part 141 flight school, is seeking CFIs and CFIIs for immediate hire. These positions have an average billing of 100 to 140 hours per month, and the school's location in San Antonio allows for year-round training. Sky Safety instructors have the opportunity to progress in their careers while providing quality training among a goal-oriented team. Read the full description and apply today >

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a research and analysis director, operations clerk, copy editor, marketing project coordinator, legislative affairs vice president, airports and state advocacy vice president, flight training business support senior director, legal services plan attorney, and part-time administrative assistant. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Sep 9-10	Elkridge, Maryland; and Sacramento, California
Sep 16-17	Sandston, Virginia
Sep 23-24	Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Tempe, Arizona
Oct 7-8	Indianapolis, Indiana

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

Sep 9	Norman, Oklahoma
Sep 11	Houston, Texas; Butler, Pennsylvania; Seattle, Washington; and Jacksonville, Florida
Sep 12	Daytona Beach, Florida; Wichita, Kansas; Houston, Texas; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Washington
Sep 13	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; and Melbourne, Florida

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Aug 26	Jacksonville, Florida; Albany, Oregon; Lawrenceville, Georgia; Muskegon, Michigan; and Allentown, Pennsylvania
Sep 8	Norman, Oklahoma
Sep 9	Millville, New Jersey; Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin; Boulder, Colorado; Blaine, Minnesota; Norman, Oklahoma; Nashville, Tennessee; Washington, Pennsylvania; Downers Grove, Illinois; and Cleburne, Texas
Sep 16	Lakeland, Florida; Gilford, New Hampshire; Chamblee, Georgia; San Diego, California; Burnet, Texas; and Pittsfield, Massachusetts

AOPA Rusty Pilots Seminars are sponsored by Sporty's. For a complete schedule, visit the AOPA Hangar. (Log in to the AOPA Hangar using your AOPA website username and password to view these events.)

Aviation Calendar

Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See AOPA's enhanced calendar of events. You can filter events, add an event, or search all events in the calendar. (Log in to the AOPA Hangar using your AOPA website username and password to search the events or to add an event.) Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.

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 Flight Training Editors:
Alyssa J. Cobb
Jim Moore
Dan Namowitz
David Tulis

Production Team:
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Melissa Whitehouse

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

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