March 3, 2017 - VOL 17, ISSUE 9

Flight Training News

You Can Fly

AOPA scholarships open

AOPA has announced the opening of two scholarship programs for 2017 that in recent years have helped fund flight training for dozens of recipients from teenagers in high school to adults who never gave up on pursuing their dream of flight. Funded by generous donations to the AOPA Foundation, the AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarships and the AOPA Flight Training Scholarships have been opening pathways to a life in aviation. Read more....  

Article

Sporty's 'reinvents' intro flight

Sporty's Academy, the flight school arm of the online and brick-and-mortar pilot shop, announced a new program for aspiring pilots to experience the joys of an introductory flight. Sporty's Flight Experience bundles three flight simulator lessons, a Learn to Fly online course, and one hour of dual instruction in an airplane for $549. Read more...  

Simhawk matches sim buyers, sellers

Flight training schools and facilities with simulator time to spare can pair up with pilots looking to book simulator time through Simhawk Inc.'s global flight simulator marketplace. CEO Chris Weinberg said in a news release that the time management concept for simulators brings one-stop shopping to buyers participating in initial, recurrent, or special certification courses, and helps fill the void left by last-minute cancellations.

Article

GoldMethod challenges, motivates

A new instrument pilot test prep system called GoldMethod uses a "dynamic persistence factor" to tailor questions to students, and contains a gaming aspect to motivate them, said master flight instructor Russ Still of Georgia-based Gold Seal. Read more...  

Online resource

Is maneuvering flight hazardous?

The AOPA Air Safety Institute's popular Maneuvering Flight: Hazardous to Your Health? Safety Advisor examines realities and risks of maneuvers common in flying. Some maneuvers are inherently unsafe and can end in an unrecoverable stall/spin or controlled flight into terrain. The updated safety advisor, optimized for mobile applications, explains the details. Read more...  

Scholarships

Flying Musicians expands solo scholarships

After just two years, the Flying Musicians Association is expanding its flight training solo scholarships from one annual award to four, association president and Van's Aircraft RV-6A pilot John Zapp told AOPA. The FMA Solo Scholarships support musically talented, aviation-minded high school juniors and seniors building pre-solo flight training experience. Winners will be announced May 1.

Plane Spotter

Temco's Buckaroo

Some airplanes occupy a special place in the hearts of pilots and aviation historians for rarity, "ramp appeal," or a niche in aeronautical design. They may be celebrated with an annual fly-in where remarkable examples are admired and photographed, or have an organization or museum uniquely dedicated to their preservation and display. The post-World War II Globe Swift, a two-seat, low-winged taildragger with a striking profile and devoted fan base, has all that. A tandem trainer variant manufactured by Temco Aircraft, purchaser of Globe Aircraft Co., was the T-35 Buckaroo.

Training Products and Resources

Lightspeed Aviation launches new flight bag

Headset manufacturer Lightspeed Aviation entered the digital-friendly flight bag field with the leather DeLaurentis Adventure Flight Bag named for aviation adventure author Robert DeLaurentis. Interior features include a drawstring headset bag, sewn-in pockets, elastic loops for drink bottles, and a front organizer for phones, chargers, and other small items. The DeLaurentis Adventure Flight Bag is available online for $199.

Video

Discovering datalink's depth

Bringing up-to-the-minute weather into the cockpit has made weather flying safer and easier. The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Datalink Weather: From Concept to Cockpit video provides the perspective of those who brought it about. The video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and tells a story of individual initiative, entrepreneurial spirit, and the power of an idea. Watch the video...  

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

Contest

Hidden Gem contest launches

Tell AOPA about your favorite hidden gem and why other pilots would love to visit that destination, and submit some photos to show off what makes that location so enticing to enter AOPA's Hidden Gem contest, sponsored by Aviat Aircraft. You could win a backcountry flying experience in Idaho. Enter now.

Article

Top reasons pilots volunteer at fly-ins

AOPA Fly-In volunteers are an energetic, enthusiastic bunch who help the event run smoothly. But what compels pilots and guests to volunteer to work part of a fly-in instead of taking it all in as an attendee? They want an extra helping of fun. Read more...  

Pilot Protection Services

Reporting requirements for unmanned aircraft accidents

The FAA and NTSB each have different rules to ensure proper oversight of certain unmanned aircraft operations, and different rules mean that some events may have to be reported to one agency but not the other. Read more...  

Blogs

When tech fails

Reservations, maintenance, mergers, and crew are all connected through various systems in the airline industry, and a break in any of one of these can cause widespread delays, according to airline pilot and Flight Training blogger Chip Wright. Read more...  

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

No deviation, just confusion

A Boeing 737 Next Generation airliner was flying an RNAV arrival to San Francisco International Airport at 250 knots when an approach controller informed the crew that the aircraft had flown out of Class B airspace for about a mile, and then flown back in. Read more...  

Final Exam

Question

On my last training flight, the airport ATIS at the destination was reporting visibility as 2.5 miles in haze. My instructor requested and received a special VFR clearance. Does that one-time experience qualify me to request the same while flying solo?

Answer

No. According to 14 CFR 61.89, a student pilot cannot fly as pilot in command in conditions where the flight or surface visibility is less than three statute miles during the day or five statute miles at night. Your instructor also may apply higher limitations on your solo flights, under that same regulation, that you must observe.

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: Turbine jump pilot

Desert Sand Aircraft Leasing is hiring pilots to fly turbine skydiving aircraft in the Atlanta area (Rockmart, Georgia); Connecticut; and Sussex, New Jersey. Pilots will fly a de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, a Cessna 208 with 114A engine, or a Cessna 208B with a 900-horsepower engine modification. Work schedule is somewhat flexible but is generally 5 to 6 days per week during the busy season. The company will provide training to successful candidates. Basic housing will be provided for transplants, if needed. 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 an aviation insurance sales director, graphic design intern, executive office manager, IT project manager, UI/front-end developer, public affairs and executive communications manager, communications coordinator, legal services plan attorney, digital asset manager and graphic designer, aviation event operations senior manager, travel and destination products director, insurance program administration manager, donor relations director, aviation technical specialist, flying clubs initiative director, and part-time administrative assistant. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.