After the Checkride: ‘X’ marks the spot

Test your accuracy

June 1, 2017

TIPS FROM THE PIC: GET AWAY

When you want to fly internationally, we’re here to help

Q. How can I get tips on flying outside the United States?

A. AOPA maintains international trip planning information online under the website’s Go Fly and Destinations tabs. AOPA keeps current trip planning information for North America, specifically Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas.

Here is some of the more sought-after information covered in the pages:

Electronic Advance Passenger Information Service (eAPIS) is required to be filed both for your departure from the United States and for your return: two filings for any international flight.

Flight plans are required to be filed both ways.

The Federal Communications Commission radio station license and restricted radiotelephone operators permit both are required documents—for the aircraft and pilot, respectively.

Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) penetration notifications to ATC (Mexico and the Bahamas primarily) are required.

Foreign entities also require notification from you before you leave the United States, and requirements differ. Canada must be notified of your arrival via a phone call. Mexico has its own APIS, which requires two filings prior to your departure from the United States. The Bahamas notification requirement is satisfied with your flight plan.

Passports are required of all travelers, and must be the book version; the passport card is not acceptable for air travel.

Fees, or taxes, for arrival, departure, airspace use, and ATC services should be anticipated.

Companies such as Caribbean Sky Tours, Colt International, and Universal Weather and Aviation are trip handlers and can be hired to plan your itinerary and obtain any clearances or overflight permits. AOPA does not offer this type of service.

Questions? Call 800-872-2672

By Jill Tallman

A spot landing contest rewards the pilot who knows how to manage energy and airspeed. The concept is stone simple: Plant the airplane on a designated spot on the runway. If you were that student who put the airplane right where the CFI told you to, here’s your chance to shine. Even if you weren’t that student, you can practice to become proficient before heading out to a competition. Spot landing contests are crowd pleasers at fly-ins, often held to raise money for a worthy cause. To find one, check local airport events or type club get-togethers.

How

• Keep an eye out for events near your airport through postings at the FBO or flight school.

• Brush up on your technique by practicing short-field landings, which emphasize hitting a spot.

• Remember to aim well short of your intended touchdown point.

Resources

The late Sparky Imeson, a renowned mountain flier, knew about the importance of landing on the exact spot at airports where a go-around isn’t possible. This page from his website describes a spot landing technique.

JARGON: ‘Outer marker’

A pilot is coming in for a landing and says he is at the “outer marker.” Where is he? Approximately four to seven miles from the runway threshold, and on the runway’s extended centerline.

On an ILS (instrument landing system) approach, the pilot is flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) and the outer marker usually is the final approach fix. The outer marker is a radio beacon that intersects the glideslope approximately 1,400 feet above the runway. The signal is in Morse code—a group of two dots per second. On the aircraft, the pilot hears a tone and a blue indicative bulb lights up. At locations where terrain prohibits placement of an outer marker, a distance measuring equipment (DME) unit can be used as a part of the ILS to secure the right fix on the localizer.