May 26, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 19, ISSUE 21	May 26, 2017

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Top Stories

Slideshow

Cirrus defines the personal jet

Call it what you want—The-Jet, the SJ50, the SF50, the Vision Jet—but the first single-engine general aviation jet is ready for prime time after a decade of development. AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines recently flew the Cirrus Vision Jet and reports on its handling and safety characteristics. Read more and watch the video >

Slideshow

Early US Air Force vet returns to B-25 after six decades

With nimbleness more akin to a 24-year-old than an 84-year-old, Sid Ellner maneuvered his way from the North American B-25 Mitchell's jump seat to the left seat, taking the controls of the bomber for the first time in 61 years. Read more >

You Can Fly

Flight Training Experience Survey opens

Have you flown with a flight instructor in the past 12 months? If so, was it the kind of experience that met your every expectation, or did it leave you with ideas about how the process might be improved? Share your thoughts in the AOPA 2017 Flight Training Experience Survey. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

BasicMed milestones; B-25 reunion

More than 5,000 pilots have qualified under BasicMed, and the Bahamian government has recognized the new alternative to medical certification for flight to the islands. Also, a veteran reunites with a North American B-25 Mitchell, and an airshow in the Bahamas not only delights but also promotes careers in aviation. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, May 25 >

Technique and Safety

Online resource

Aircraft data in a flash

The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Aircraft Flash Cards now include three new cards that cover engine failure procedures during the takeoff roll, immediately after takeoff, and in flight. The back of each card contains space where you can write down your aircraft's operating procedures. Download the cards >

AOPA Premier Partner created content

Lost comm in IMC

IFR lost-communications procedures are well-defined, but they are easy to get wrong if you haven't reviewed them in a while. And getting them wrong can put you at immediate risk. This 15-minute video by AOPA Premier Partner PilotWorkshops provides a solid refresher. Watch the video >

Accident analysis

Watching isn't seeing

Watching or even helping with aircraft refueling doesn't prevent misfueling, so pilots should check the fuel before starting up, perhaps preventing tragedy. Read more in this special report from the AOPA Air Safety Institute >

More safety products

Wise up on thunderstorms and ATC
'Real Pilot Story: Vacuum Failure in IMC'
Charity fundraising flight necessities

Advocacy

Bahamas welcomes BasicMed pilots

Responding to a request from AOPA President Mark Baker, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority announced that pilots can fly to the islands under the new FAA medical certification known as BasicMed. Read more >

Advocacy

Over 5,000 BasicMed pilots and counting

It's been less than one month since BasicMed went into effect, and more than 5,000 pilots already have taken advantage of the new rule. Read more >

Advocacy

California county fights 'crippling and excessive' FBO prices

AOPA President Mark Baker sent a letter to California's Orange County Board of Supervisors May 19 praising their recent actions to "guard against crippling and excessive pricing by a fixed-base operator." Read more >

Advocacy

Trump budget proposes user-fee-funded ATC spinoff

President Donald Trump released his first full budget proposal May 23, calling for the FAA to turn over air traffic control to a nonprofit, nongovernmental, user-fee-funded corporation in 2021. Read more >

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Evaluate your mental health

With any medical condition, the most important step is to recognize the problem. Then seek treatment. Read more >

Technology

Article

Write your way to JetPack training

The company seeking to make real the science-fiction fantasy of flying a jet pack has launched an essay contest to choose pilot trainees. The right 300 words (or fewer) could be your ticket to a vertical takeoff without wings or rotors. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Fortunate pilots

After giving a family a ride in his Mooney, Tom Sullivan told Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas that the flight reminded him how fortunate he is to be a pilot. Read more >

Gear

Article

BendixKing legacy repairs to be factory-driven

Aircraft owners flying with legacy BendixKing communication or navigation components and the avionics shops that work on them will soon be required to send nearly all of the units to the factory for exchange or repair. Read more >

Article

RocketRoute expands access, services

Aviation services company RocketRoute announced two new initiatives at this year's European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition. The company provides a wide range of flight planning, ground handling, and fueling services for its 120,000 users around the world. Read more >

Travel

Slideshow

Fly to presidential libraries

Completing a "collection" of places to see could be one way to organize your travel, such as visiting all 14 U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Presidential Libraries. Convenient for general aviation pilots, the presidential libraries are located near airports. Read more >

Article

Oregon expecting big crowds for solar eclipse

According to astronomers and local pilots, aviators seeking an advantageous vantage point for the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse should begin planning for it now. Due to prevailing weather patterns, Madras, Oregon, has emerged as one of the most favorable locations in the West. Read more >

News and Notes

Slideshow

AeroShell over the beach

A flight of four AT-6 Texans flew gracefully overhead in impeccable formation, working as one to draw familiar shapes—hearts, arcs, and circles—in airshow smoke. The orange-and-white AeroShell livery is well known on the U.S. show circuit, but this setting was a little more exotic than most. Read more >

Article

NTSB issues preliminary report on fatal Icon A5 accident

The first fatal accident involving an Icon A5 amphibious light sport aircraft occurred during a familiarization flight for a new Icon Aircraft employee, the NTSB said in a preliminary report of the May 8 accident that killed the aircraft's pilot and passenger near Lake Berryessa, California. Read more >

Article

Nextant launches Pro Line Fusion for Challenger 604 aircraft

Nextant Aerospace, known for its 400XTi Beechjet and G90XT King Air remanufacturing projects, has branched out into the large-cabin market with the Challenger 604XT. Read more >

Article

Rep. Steve Pearce honored for circumnavigation

The National Aeronautic Association honored Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) May 18 with the circumnavigator diploma for his solo flight around the world. Read more >

Article

New US Air Force secretary is Cessna 152 pilot

The new U.S. Air Force secretary is a Cessna 152 pilot. Reuters reported that Heather Wilson, 56, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a former Rhodes Scholar. Read more >

Blog

Last chance for automatic entry to win the Sweepstakes 172

The AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 172 will soon get its new accent colors in preparation for the big giveaway. Anyone whose AOPA membership is current as of May 31 will automatically be entered for a chance to win the refurbished aircraft. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Slipstream Aviation flight instructor

Slipstream Aviation, a small Part 61 flight school in Dallas, Texas, is looking for a flight instructor who has a strong desire to provide not only top-notch instruction, but also outstanding customer service. Candidates should be flexible in their approach to flying, with the ability to adopt new techniques while striving to find the safest, easiest, and best method to teach flying to the next generation of pilots. 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 copy editor, IT systems administrator, product marketing specialist, accounting clerk, legislative affairs vice president, customer service representative, airports and state advocacy vice president, flight training business support senior director, flight training technology senior director, project manager, UI/front-end developer, and legal services plan attorney. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Question of the Week

Question

What is the difference between declaring minimum fuel and declaring a fuel emergency? How does air traffic control treat pilots differently in each case?

Answer

The definition of minimum fuel can be found in Section 2-1-8 of FAA order 7110.65W. Minimum fuel is not an emergency—the pilot is advising ATC that an emergency is possible should there be any undue delays. Declaring a fuel emergency is just that—an emergency—and ATC will give the pilot priority. For more information, watch this AOPA Air Safety Institute Ask ATC video or see the institute's Fuel Management Safety Spotlight.

Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Jun 3-4	Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; and Tempe, Arizona
Jun 10-11	Lake Mary, Florida; and Santa Clara, California
Jun 24-25	Ashburn, Virginia; and Bloomington, Minnesota
Jul 15-16	Englewood, New Jersey; and Jacksonville, Florida

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

May 27	Lago Vista, Texas; and Aurora, Oregon
Jun 3	Red Lodge, Montana; Fort Worth, Texas; Englewood, Colorado; Truckee, California; Selkirk, New York; Akron, Ohio; Brainerd, Minnesota; Thermal, California; and Seattle, Washington
Jun 10	Jacksonville, Florida; Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania; Basye, Virginia; Madison, Wisconsin; Meridianville, Alabama; Torrance, California; Rochester, New York; West Chicago, Illinois; and Henderson, Nevada
Jun 11	Farmingdale, New York

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 Editors:
Alyssa Miller
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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