May 26, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 21	May 26, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

The image is everything

You're getting ready for that first solo cross-country flight—a major milestone on the way to earning your private pilot certificate. Planning the trip has been a good exercise in applying theoretical knowledge to the real-world task of selecting a route, making decisions about altitudes, examining airspace, noting radio frequencies, and researching facts about the destination airport. How do these facts give you the big picture for your flight? Read more >

Flight Training News

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 >

Online resource

Aircraft data in a flash

The AOPA Air Safety Institute recently revised its Aircraft Flash Cards. Three new cards cover engine failure procedures during the takeoff roll, immediately after takeoff, and in flight. Use the fill-in-the-blank space on the back of each card to write in your aircraft's operating procedures. Download the cards >

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 >

Article

Texas high school team wins design competition

A team from a Texas high school has won the fifth annual GAMA/Build A Plane Design Challenge in a competition of 93 high schools from 31 states and Washington, D.C. Read more >

Scholarships

AOPA Flight Training scholarship applications due

AOPA members who are student pilots have until noon Eastern Daylight Time on May 31 to submit applications to the AOPA Foundation's Flight Training Scholarship Program. Scholarships range from $2,500 to $5,000. Learn more about the scholarship program, tips for applying, and eligibility requirements.

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

BasicMed milestones; B-25 reunion

Less than a month after BasicMed went into effect, more than 5,000 pilots have qualified under the new rule, and the Bahamian government has recognized BasicMed for flight to the islands. Also this week, an 84-year-old reunites with a North American B-25 Mitchell after 61 years, and an airshow in the Bahamas delights and promotes careers in aviation. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, May 25 >

Training Products and Resources

Video

Crosswind counsel

What's your preferred technique for landing in a crosswind? Pilots may favor one technique to another, but only practice and experience will help when the winds kick up. The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Takeoffs and Landings: Crosswind Landings video offers sound advice. Watch the video >

X-naut Active Cooling Mount fits iPads

Four fans shed heat from an iPad's main hot spots and are integrated into the X-naut Active Cooling Mount to keep the device cool in demanding aviation environments. A built-in strap secures the device to a pilot's thigh, and a rotating turntable allows horizontal or vertical viewing. The X-naut is available online.

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

Evaluate your mental health

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

Blogs

What makes a good first officer?

Airline pilot and Flight Training blogger Chip Wright offers seven tips to help you become a good first officer. Read more >

Plane Spotter

What's the buzz?

A plane spotter can get a workout just identifying a single type of aircraft, considering the array of options available to buyers and builders. Take Kitfox Aircraft's top-of-the-line Super Sport S7. The folding-wing, two-place light sport airplane can be configured with conventional gear, tricycle gear, or floats. Memorizing the specs isn't recommended—powerplant options alone are extensive, including a radial-engine version for tailwheel-equipped airplanes. Always pushing for performance, Kitfox created a big buzz when it began testing an S7 powered by a 180-horsepower Titan X340 engine.

Final Exam

Question

My flight instructor has been teaching on and off for 40 years. Yesterday, he told me flight reviews used to be done on the ground in a matter of minutes, in some cases. Is that true, or just an old hangar flying tale?

Answer

Currently, 14 CFR 61.56 requires a minimum of one hour of ground and one hour of flight to complete a flight review, but many years ago, the specific time requirements didn't exist. So, yes, it may very well be true.

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: 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 >

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.

421 Aviation Way Frederick, MD 21701
800/872-2672
301/695-2375 Fax

ePilot Flight Training Editors:
Alyssa Miller
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

AOPA Advertising website