November 3, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 19, ISSUE 44	November 3, 2017

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Top Stories

Advocacy

Wyoming airport to take over Jackson Hole FBO

The Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming will buy the assets of its private fixed-base operator for $26 million after the airport's governing board unanimously approved the deal Nov. 1. AOPA and other organizations pressed the board to open the airport to competition after customers complained about high prices. The board set aside another option it had considered earlier this year to allow a second FBO to operate on the field. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Tampa highlights; Historic leaf-peeper

Check out the highlights from a spectacular finish of the 2017 AOPA Fly-In season in Tampa, Florida, and view fall foliage from a Douglas C-47 Skytrain that served on D-Day. Also, with the Nov. 5 switch to standard time just ahead, watch tips on night flying and preview the new AOPA Air Safety Institute seminar on the topic. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Nov. 2 >

AOPA Fly-Ins

Slideshow

Touchdown in Tampa

A just-right 78-degree-Fahrenheit temperature, 59-percent humidity, and four-knot wind greeted 5,478 attendees at the AOPA Fly-In at Tampa, Florida, presented by Peter O. Knight Airport. Read more >

Technique and Safety

Article

Award-winning instructor offers night-flying tips

Find out why Zoan Harclerode, the AOPA Flight Training Experience Award National Best Flight Instructor for 2017, recommends pilots learn to "see in a different way at night" to increase situational awareness. Read more >

IFR Fix

Seize the night

The diminished daylight of fall and winter poses challenges for pilots trying to keep an active flight schedule, but instrument pilots and instrument-rating trainees shouldn't let the darkness dim their determination. Read more >

Video animation

Dark outside? Be vigilant at night

On a dark, foggy night in Providence, Rhode Island, one wrong turn on a taxiway set off a series of dangerous, mistaken assumptions by an airline crew and the tower controller. Learn how a serious accident was averted in this AOPA Air Safety Institute animation. Watch the animation >

Food for thought

You're taking friends up for a night sightseeing flight. During preflight you discover that the landing light no longer works. Can you fly at night without the light? The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Hamburger Hop at Night quiz has the answer. Take the quiz >

Seminar

Fly safely after sundown

Night flight offers smooth air, better aircraft performance, and stunning views—but also trickier landings, invisible terrain, and limited emergency options. The AOPA Air Safety Institute's new Fly By Night seminar reviews flying after dark from a risk-management perspective. Find a seminar near you >

Video

Obscured by darkness

The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Accident Case Study: Unintended Consequences looks at why a twin-engine airplane impacted a mountain at night on what should have been a routine flight. Watch the video >

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Aircraft Maintenance: Lighting options

With darkness falling earlier, flying at night becomes a fact of life, which necessitates relying on the aircraft's lighting systems. Pilot and A&P Jeff Simon details lighting options for inside and outside the cockpit. Read more >

Advocacy

NextGen progressing

A U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General report highlights the accomplishments the FAA has made moving NextGen air traffic control modernization forward under the leadership of the NextGen Advisory Committee. Read more >

Advocacy

VOR navigation will remain under NexGen

As the FAA's NextGen project transforms the National Airspace System, unplugging much of its ground-based navigation infrastructure and replacing it with GPS routings and approach procedures, one program is working to provide pilots with a way out—and a way down—in the event of GPS signal outages. Read more >

Advocacy

FAA Safety Summit recognizes progress

General aviation beat a key safety target for 2017, based on preliminary estimates, and appears headed for its safest year yet, said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta in remarks at a government/industry conference. Read more >

Technology

Article

Automated airspace authorization for drone ops launches

The FAA is issuing airspace authorizations for drone flights near airports through a new, automated system that allows such operations to be approved without human intervention, provided they comply with predefined limits. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Stupid pilot tricks

Opinion Leaders blogger Ron Rapp details a photo sequence of a Hawker jet departing the National Business Aviation Association's recent convention in Las Vegas. Find out why he says "the pilot was showing off" and why "hairbrained stunts" are unacceptable. Read more >

Gear

Article

Sporty's redesigns 'Learn to Fly' course

Until now, if you purchased Sporty's Pilot Shop's Learn to Fly course, you were required to choose whether you wanted the course online or in tablet form. Not anymore. Read more >

Travel

Slideshow

Artsy hideaway along a beautiful coastline

If you've ever flown along the Oregon coast, you won't be surprised that National Geographic named Cannon Beach one of "The World's 100 Most Beautiful Places." Read more >

Slideshow

Warplanes and a mighty missile laid to rest

Where can you find dozens of gigantic B-52 bombers; B-1 bombers; C-130s; Galaxies; AWACs; and squadron after squadron of F-4s, F-14s, and other fighters sitting in broad daylight? Welcome to Tucson, Arizona. Read more >

Slideshow

Crab cakes, anyone?

If you've flown over Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge, you've also overflown Kent Island. If you love good seafood and especially crab cakes but haven't landed there, you've been missing out! Read more >

Financial

Article

Icon hikes A5 price

Icon Aircraft told customers who have placed a deposit on the amphibious light sport A5 that the price for aircraft to be delivered in 2018 has increased 50 percent, to $389,000, for a "fully loaded" version. Read more >

Article

FAA proposes nearly $3.7 million NavWorx fine

NavWorx Inc. faces a proposed $3,685,000 civil penalty for allegedly producing and selling Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast transceivers that did not meet FAA requirements, and for allegedly misleading customers. Read more >

News and Notes

Slideshow

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta wows crowds

The largest gathering of hot air balloons in the world created a stately spectacle over Albuquerque, New Mexico, Oct. 7 through 15. The forty-sixth Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta drew more than 600 balloons and their crews from the United States and 21 other countries for launches from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

Inoperative equipment shouldn't stay inoperative indefinitely

The FAA's Office of the Chief Counsel recently issued a legal interpretation making it clear that aircraft operated under Part 91 cannot be operated indefinitely "with inoperative equipment installed." Read more >

Podcast

Hangar Talk: Award-winning instructor's night-flying tips

AOPA Flight Training Experience Award National Best Flight Instructor of 2017 Zoan Harclerode explains how flying at night can be a "delightful experience" if pilots are prepared for it; and catch up on the latest aviation news in this week's Hangar Talk podcast. Listen to the podcast >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Chief pilot, West Coast Aviation Services

West Coast Charters is an "on demand" aircraft charter and management company seeking a chief pilot for its Santa Ana, California, location. This position will report to the director of operations and requires chief pilot experience. 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 account executive, High School Aviation Initiative coordinator, customer service representative, operations clerk, administrative clerk, survey analyst/survey researcher, legislative affairs vice president, airports and state advocacy vice president, and part-time administrative assistant. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Question of the Week

Question

You expect to do a good deal of night flying in the coming months. Where can you find the applicable regulations and review some of the other aspects of night flying?

Answer

Start with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Spatial Disorientation Safety Advisor, as well as this subject report and safety quiz. You also could take a night flight with an instructor.

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

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Nov 4-5	Austin, Texas
Nov 11-12	Albuquerque, New Mexico; Anchorage, Alaska; and Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 18-19	Ashburn, Virginia; and San Diego, California
Dec 2-3	Denver, Colorado; and Northbrook, Illinois

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

Safety Seminars

Nov 8

Fresno, California

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Nov 4	Frederick, Maryland; Albert Lea, Minnesota; Richmond, Virginia; Punta Gorda, Florida; Midlothian, Texas; Fullerton, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Lakeland, Florida
Nov 11	Costa Mesa, California; Berwyn, Illinois; Lawton, Oklahoma; and Batavia, Ohio
Nov 18	Cheyenne, Wyoming
Dec 2	Winter Haven, Florida; Jackson, California; Independence, Oregon; and Panama City, Florida

AOPA Rusty Pilots Seminars are sponsored by Sporty's. 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 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

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