December 15, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 50	December 15, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

'No unnecessary risk'

A warm front is advancing toward the area with its first effects expected during the time period of a proposed VFR cross-country flight to visit family for the holidays. What factors should the pilot keep in mind when making the go/no-go decision? Read more >

Flight Training News

Article

Enrollment up at many aviation colleges

Enrollment at aviation colleges and universities is on the rise, and the trend signals the beginning of a long-awaited boost in the number of young people pursuing aviation careers, according to educators and industry professionals. Read more >

Article

Southern Illinois University alumni fund ADS-B for fleet

Alumni of the aviation program at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale pledged $250,000 to help install Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast equipment in the university's fleet. Read more >

Podcast

Kenny G shares Beaver adventures

Saxophonist Kenny G recalls the adventures he's had during more than 22 years of flying his de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver across the country in this episode of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's There I was... podcast. Listen to the podcast >

Test your cross-country know-how

How sharp are your VFR flight planning skills? The AOPA Air Safety Institute's "VFR: Fond du Lac to Festus" quiz presents plenty of challenges. Test your knowledge on the 350-nautical-mile cross-country flight from Wisconsin to Missouri. Take the quiz >

Advocacy

FAA seeks members for certification working group

The FAA has published a notice seeking additional members and describing new tasks for the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Airman Certification System Working Group as it proceeds with development of the integrated airman certification standards for the FAA written and practical tests for pilots and aviation mechanics. Read more >

ATP Flight School adds three King Schools courses to program

Students at ATP Flight School will have access to three King Schools online courses—Private Pilot Ground School and Test Prep, Private Pilot Practical Test, and Garmin 430 Online Video—as part of ATP's Airline Career Pilot Program, King Schools announced Dec. 8.

Scholarships

Aviation safety management scholarship

Northwest Data Solutions offers an Aviation Safety Management Scholarship "to help young leaders drive the aviation safety future" by adopting a formal safety management system. Current enrollment in an aviation program for a career path as a pilot, maintenance technician, safety manager, air traffic controller, or in another aviation-related profession is encouraged. The winter application deadline is Dec. 31.

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

Best aviation videos of the year

Only five of the rare Beech Starships are flying today—take a ride with one man who has two of them. And, go behind the scenes to see what it took to bring Doc, the Boeing B–29 Superfortress, back to life. Find out what other stories and flying adventures made the final list in the AOPA Live This Week® Director's Cut episode. Watch the show >

Training Products and Resources

Online contest

Last chance: Enter to win AOPA's ultimate aviation wish list

AOPA editors selected some of their favorite aviation-themed items for a gear guide in the December issue of AOPA Pilot. Six great gifts have been added to the AOPA ultimate holiday aviation wish list contest. Choose your favorite item for the chance to win them all! A winner will be announced Dec. 17. Enter today >

Sporty's classic kneeboard revisited

The simple, no-frills design of the Sporty's Pilot Shop classic kneeboard continues to be a favorite among pilots, according to John Zimmerman, an active pilot and the company's vice president. The flat-plate kneeboard is secured with a hook-and-loop band and displays key information on a handy information placard. The kneeboard is available online for $12.95.

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

AOPA Foundation focus

Donations to AOPA Foundation make a tangible difference

Thanks to AOPA Foundation donors, the You Can Fly and AOPA Air Safety Institute teams, which are completely funded by donations, developed programs that are making pilots safer, providing more affordable access to flying, getting more pilots back in the air, and teaching high school students about aviation. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

Do's and don'ts of traveling with a drone

If you plan to travel with a drone on a commercial airline, consider whether the drone and its spare batteries will comply with Transportation Security Administration regulations, airline policies, and FAA hazardous material regulations. Read more >

Member benefit

Insurance coverage: Little words make a big difference

Pilots know that the meaning of key words can have a significant impact on flight operations. The same goes for aviation insurance. Find out what two words can mean the difference between $100,000 and $1 million. Read more >

Blogs

Medical events

Medical events on airline flights are common. When a passenger becomes ill, pilots can contact MedLink, a service provided by contracted medical professionals for the airlines. The doctors at MedLink will talk to the pilots, collect the information they need, and make a recommendation about diverting or continuing to the destination. Read more >

Plane Spotter

SkyCourier is coming

Plane spotters who watch for the newest models should mark their calendars for the year 2020 for making early sightings of a high-wing, twin turboprop utility airplane that's likely to become spottable on an almost everyday basis soon after it debuts. The airplane of note is the newly announced Cessna SkyCourier, a 200-knot workhorse designed to carry a 6,000-pound payload, or up to 19 passengers. Designated SkyCourier 408, the new model in Cessna's lineup may first appear in the FedEx Express fleet, which plans to acquire up to 100 SkyCouriers. (Image courtesy of Cessna/Textron Aviation.)

Final Exam

Question

I just started working on my instrument proficiency check in my airplane, but it is not currently IFR certified. Is that required for this training, and to receive an IPC endorsement?

Answer

No. An airplane must be IFR certified only to fly on an IFR flight plan. As long as you train in visual meteorological conditions and under VFR, you can make the flight(s) and receive the IPC endorsement flying your airplane.

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: Certificated flight instructor, Lewis University

Lewis University in Illinois is seeking a full-time certificated flight instructor. The CFI will be responsible for modeling the university's mission through dedicated job performance and teaching aviation ground school. 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 medical certification specialist, aviation safety analysis manager, insurance account executive, High School Aviation Initiative manager, High School Aviation Initiative coordinator, customer service representative, accounting clerk, administrative clerk, legislative affairs vice president, airports and state advocacy vice president, aviation program operations coordinator, and Salesforce developer. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Jan 6-7	Charlotte, North Carolina; and Santa Clara, California
Jan 13-14	Portland, Oregon; Costa Mesa, California; Alcoa, Tennessee; and Renton, Washington
Jan 20-21	Jackson, Mississippi; Frederick, Maryland; and Romulus, Michigan
Jan 27-28	San Antonio, Texas

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 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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301/695-2375 Fax

ePilot Flight Training Editors:
Alyssa J. Cobb
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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