July 14, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 28	July 14, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

What's so special

An airport's symbol on a sectional chart tells you a great deal about the nature of the facility—but sometimes there is more to arriving, departing, or transitioning the area than meets the eye. Read more >

Flight Training News

Video

Behind the Logbook series debuts

Follow along as two student pilots and AOPA employees, Emily Ramsay and Brittany Krop, make their first flights. With no aviation background, the two are learning how to fly and working toward their first solos with AOPA documenting the process in a new Behind the Logbook video series, supported by Sporty's. Watch the video >

You Can Fly

Top three reasons to take the Flight Training Experience Survey

If you have received any kind of flight instruction during the past 12 months, share your thoughts in the AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey. Read more >

You Can Fly

Liberty launches high school private pilot course

Six high school students took turns strapping themselves into the left seat of Cessna 150s at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, with their minds set on acquiring a private pilot certificate in about 30 days. Read more >

Article

FAA engages young adults with drones

A senior official on the FAA team handling drone regulation and authorizations has lined up Connecticut flight instructors to help create the agency's first Aviation Career Education Academy that's all about drones. Read more >

Article

CAU students 'live, sleep, and breathe aviation'

California Aeronautical University, the presenting sponsor of AOPA's Camarillo Fly-In earlier this year and the newest AOPA Supporting Sponsor, traces its roots to the Santa Barbara Business College established in 1888. Read more >

Article

Able Flight gets donated Ercoupe

U.S. Navy veteran Dennis Sommers wanted to learn to fly. He bought an Ercoupe 415-C and had soloed before cancer ended his life in March 2017. The Ercoupe, which Sommers named Little Bird, will help people with disabilities earn their wings. Read more >

Video

The trouble with convective turbulence

Living on the edge is not without its perils. Some are minor, but others, such as thunderstorms, can be downright dangerous. The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Pilot Safety Announcement: Living on the Edge serves as a reminder that venturing too close to a thunderstorm can ruin a pilot's day quickly. Watch the video >

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

The bill that could kill GA; New sweepstakes revealed

Pilots at a Missouri fly-in had plenty to say about a bill that could kill general aviation by privatizing air traffic control. Also this week, hear the first word on the next AOPA sweepstakes airplane, and learn about taking maintenance into your own hands: Mike Busch and a panel of experts are lined up and waiting for the next AOPA Fly-In. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, July 13 >

Training Products and Resources

No tower, no problem

True or false: Approaching a nontowered airport, your initial call on the common traffic advisory frequency should request, "All traffic in the area, please advise." Review the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Nontowered Operations quiz for the answer and discover more nontowered airport etiquette. Take the quiz >

GoCheck preflight tool lights the way

A multipurpose preflight tool can help pilots check the oil, drain fuel sumps, test stall horns, and bathe a dark cockpit with a white or red LED. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. says the clear plastic device also has built-in Phillips-head and flat-blade screwdrivers and a checklist reminder card. The innovative cockpit tool is available online for $49.95.

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

Pilot Protection Services

Advice for BasicMed success

If you are reporting a medical condition or treatment on the BasicMed exam form that might be questioned by the doctor administering the exam, it would be helpful to have a report from your treating physician to explain the situation. Read more >

Member benefit

AOPA Insurance helps member whose avionics were stolen

After filing one claim for a nose gear collapse on his Piper Lance during taxiing and another after his avionics and most of his instruments were stolen from the aircraft on an overnight trip, John Johnson worked with AOPA Insurance and said he couldn't have "expected better service on a disheartening problem." Read more >

Blogs

Vacationing as an airline employee

One of the best perks of working for an airline also can be the most frustrating: free travel. Flight Training blogger and airline pilot Chip Wright explains. Read more >

Plane Spotter

One for the shows

Plane spotters can always look to the summer aviation-event season for a glimpse of new designs that may soon be making their first appearances on airport ramps. One aircraft under development that is scheduled for some select public appearances this year is the Stratos 714, a single-pilot, single-engine very light personal jet that first flew in November 2016, and has moved on to advanced testing. The 400-knot airplane from Stratos Aircraft of Redmond, Oregon, is expected to have a range of 1,500 nautical miles with four people and baggage aboard. (Photo courtesy of Stratos Aircraft.)

Final Exam

Question

I am planning a flight through airspace around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There is an area outlined in gray marked "TRSA" around Harrisburg's two airports. What type of airspace is that?

Answer

The outlined area indicates a terminal radar service area (TRSA), which is an area in which you can receive radar services. TRSAs do not fit into any class of U.S. airspace, and have no Part 91 operating rules. Participation with air traffic control is encouraged, but is voluntary for pilots flying VFR, except within the primary airport areas. Those areas are Class D airspace and are charted with the standard blue segmented line and top altitude noted. For more information, see the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Airspace For Everyone Safety Advisor.

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: Chief instructor, BSU Aviation Training Center

The Bridgewater State University Aviation Training Center located at New Bedford Regional Airport in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is seeking a chief instructor to serve as the central point of contact for development and delivery of flight and ground training content. This position provides critical leadership and supervision and works cooperatively with a variety of internal and external agents to provide the highest level of safe, efficient service. 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 video producer, research and analysis director, operations clerk, copy editor, marketing project coordinator, legislative affairs vice president, customer service representative, airports and state advocacy vice president, flight training business support senior director, and legal services plan attorney. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Jul 15-16	Englewood, New Jersey; and Jacksonville, Florida
Jul 22-23	Memphis, Tennessee; and Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Aug 5-6	Fort Worth, Texas; and Reno, Nevada
Aug 12-13	Atlanta, Georgia; and Costa Mesa, California

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

Jul 25-29

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Jul 15	Perkasie, Pennsylvania; Vidalia, Georgia; and Lincoln, California
Jul 22	Apopka, Florida
Jul 26	Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Jul 29	Snohomish, Washington

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

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

Western United States:
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