December 1, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 48	December 1, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Two airports are better than one

It's a quiet morning as an early-bird student pilot receives takeoff clearance for a short flight to a nearby airport for some solo takeoffs and landings. Why not just practice at the home airport? Read more >

Flight Training News

Article

UND designs headset to enhance pilot safety

University of North Dakota researchers developed Smartsealz, a wearable technology that attaches to a headset and vibrates during deviations from course or altitude to get the pilot's attention. Read more >

Article

PilotWorkshops debuts 'VFR Communications' manual

Cessna Six Papa Whiskey is in trouble. The engine is making strange noises, and it's dark outside. The pilot requests a vector from air traffic control to any airport with pavement and lights. See how the scenario ends in PilotWorkshops' new VFR Communications manual. Read more >

ERAU sends pilots to NATO training

Five Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University U.S. Air Force ROTC cadets were selected for the NATO fighter pilot training program. The group is part of an elite field of 60 young pilots participating in 55 weeks of realistic combat training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas during the Euro-Nation Joint Jet Pilot Training program. Ian Mehl, Ryan Pieton, David Poe, Jake Sonzogni, and Chadwick Woolford were chosen for the initiative. Fellow students Noel Castro and Lawrence Duncan will participate in other strategic U.S. Air Force training.

Video

Beware when to flare

Want to nail the perfect landing? The AOPA Air Safety Institute shares an easy technique in its new Safety Tip: Greasing the Landing video. See why timing is everything. Watch the video >

Scholarships

Spaatz flight scholarship for Civil Air Patrol cadets

Civil Air Patrol cadets who have soloed may apply for the Spaatz Aerospace Leadership Scholarship to complete their private, recreational, or sport pilot certificates. Part of the scholarship also may be used to attend one of the group's leadership activities or to serve in a leadership role. Applications are available year-round, but the deadline to apply is Dec. 31. Scholarships will be awarded in February.

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

Rain, rain, that's OK; Vision transition

The Fairview, Oklahoma, Fly-In and Airshow marked its sixty-sixth year on a rainy day. That didn't stop the community from coming out and supporting their local airfield, albeit indoors. Speaking of IFR, the FAA is testing an app that would allow you to request your instrument clearance and release from your phone or tablet. Also this week, we fly the Cirrus Vision Jet to see how easy the transition from piston can be. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Nov. 30 >

Training Products and Resources

Preflighting a wintry mix

Would you take off with snow, frost, or ice clinging to your aircraft? The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Wing Contamination quiz explores cold weather flying issues and options for staying safe. Take the quiz >

GrypMat trio available soon

GrypMats allow aircraft and auto mechanics to place flexible, non-marking tool trays on just about any surface to keep tools, screws, nuts, and bolts within easy reach. The molded trays were designed by U.S. Air Force weapons mechanic Tom Burden and are recognized for their sticky grip. A three-pack of various-sized GrypMats will be available online from Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. for $129.99 starting Dec. 22.

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

Online contest

Check out the ultimate holiday aviation wish list

AOPA's editors have hand-selected some of their favorite aviation-themed items. All of them would make perfect gifts. Choose your favorite item for the chance to win them all! A winner will be announced Dec. 17. Enter now >

Article

2018 Bahamas, Caribbean guides available

AOPA has redesigned its comprehensive AOPA Pilot Guides: Bahamas and Caribbean editions for 2018. The guides, on sale now, have been a trusted source of flight planning information for the islands for more than 35 years. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

Getting new medications to market and the cost to pilots

Pilots have two agencies looking out for them to ensure medications are safe to take while flying: the Food and Drug Administration and the FAA. The big questions for aviators are will a new medication be on the "safe to use medication list," will it be affordable, and will your insurance company pay for it? Read more >

Blogs

Moving up

Progression in the airlines is typically based on seniority, but airline pilot and Flight Training blogger Chip Wright explains that "when a number of freezes are holding senior pilots back, junior pilots can sneak in the back door to get a seat they may not have otherwise been able to hold." Read more >

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

Sidestepping the question

The snow has stopped, and the approach controller is advising that the destination's precision-approach runway is temporarily closed for plowing. The cleanup should be completed before you arrive—but what happens if it isn't? Read more >

Plane Spotter

Returned to sender

What model of four-engine commercial aircraft dazzled with speed, owns the boast that Elvis Presley acquired one and named it after his daughter, yet never quite met expectations as a narrow-body, medium-range airliner? The Convair 880 set a commercial speed record for a 1962 coast-to-coast flight, yet only briefly filled an airline-service niche. Delta Airlines refurbished the prototype's cockpit, and displays it at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta. Elvis's luxuriously customized Convair 880 Lisa Marie is on display at Graceland, along with Hound Dog II, his Lockheed JetStar. (Photo courtesy of Delta Flight Museum.)

Final Exam

Question

I have a seasonal address in Florida from December through March. Am I required to notify the FAA of this temporary change of address?

Answer

No. The FAA requires that you notify the Airman Certification Branch only if you change your permanent mailing address. Even if you notify the U.S. Postal Service of your seasonal change and have your mail forwarded, you are not required to notify the FAA unless your permanent mailing address changes (see 14 CFR 61.60).

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 medical certification specialist, aviation safety analysis manager, insurance account executive, High School Aviation Initiative coordinator, customer service representative, accounting clerk, administrative clerk, survey analyst/survey researcher, legislative affairs vice president, and airports and state advocacy vice president. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Dec 2-3	Denver, Colorado; and Northbrook, Illinois
Dec 9-10	Lake Mary, Florida
Jan 6-7	Charlotte, North Carolina; and Santa Clara, California
Jan 13-14	Portland, Oregon; Costa Mesa, California; Alcoa, Tennessee; and Renton, Washington

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

Safety Seminars

Jan 10	Fairfax, Virginia
Jan 15	Reno, Nevada; and Houston, Texas
Jan 16	Sacramento, California; and Houston, Texas
Jan 17	Milpitas, California; and San Antonio, Texas

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Dec 2	Winter Haven, Florida; Martell, California; Independence, Oregon; and Panama City, Florida
Dec 9	Murrieta, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; West Chicago, Illinois; Mineola, Texas; New Cumberland, Pennsylvania; and San Diego, California
Dec 16	Oxford, Iowa; and Middleton, Wisconsin

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:
Elizabeth Linares
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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