November 3, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 44	November 3, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

The night-flight environment

For many people, the full impact of the switch to standard time Nov. 5 won't register until they step outside at the end of a workday to find the sky dark and street lights blazing. For student pilots, there's an upside to this jarring change. Read more >

Flight Training News

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 >

Article

Night flight delights

The paradox of night flying—serene yet challenging—allures pilots and produces many fond memories. AOPA editors share their favorite night flights. Read more >

Article

Master the night

Being prepared for the aeronautical challenges that night flying poses will make the experience more rewarding, enjoyable, and safe. Read more >

Article

Absolutely the best worst night landing ever

After the lone radio in a Cessna 172 failed in flight, a flight instructor and student faced an unnerving choice—a no-radio arrival at a towered airport, or a return to a nontowered airport with no runway lights. 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 >

Online resource

Night flying 101

With the Nov. 5 time change coming up for many in the United States, darkness will fall earlier. Get a primer on night flying with AOPA's subject report, which covers aeromedical factors, terrain avoidance, regulations, weather minimums, recency of experience, and more for night operations. Don't forget to make the applicable time conversion changes to Coordinated Universal Time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a useful time conversion chart online.

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 >

Scholarships

Six International Society of Women Airline Pilots scholarships available

The International Society of Women Airline Pilots will award six scholarships from $5,000 to $10,000 to assist women seeking CFI, CFII, or MEI certificates; or B737/A320 advanced airline type ratings. The scholarship deadline is Nov. 13.

AOPA Live

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 the foliage from a C-47 that served on D-Day. Also this week, we deliver tips on night flying, and preview the new AOPA Air Safety Institute seminar on the topic. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Nov. 2 >

Training Products and Resources

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 >

Kneeboard light illuminates pilot clipboard

The Night Vision Clip light attaches to popular kneeboard clipboards and helps illuminate charts and checklists without adversely affecting night vision. The bracket-mounted green light from MyGoFlight.com slides into a slot atop most clipboards, with a swiveling and adjustable head that shines light where it's needed most. The device was designed as a companion for the company's kneeboards, but it can be used with other clipboards. It is available online for $19.99.

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

AOPA Premier Partner created content

Caught on camera: Scary, black hole approach

Sometimes the most powerful learning experiences are the ones you wish never happened. On this short flight, two experienced pilots nearly ended up becoming a statistic. It was only by chance that the cameras were running and caught it all for later analysis. Here's the behind-the-scenes story of the accident that almost—but didn't—happen. Watch this powerful eight-minute video from AOPA Premier Partner PilotWorkshops >

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 >

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

Seize the night

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

Plane Spotter

An aviation luminary

Plane spotting is mostly a daylight activity, but there is a shining exception: the Grimes Flying Lab, a twin-engine Beech 18 that formerly flew to test aircraft-lighting products of Grimes Manufacturing Co. in Urbana, Ohio. After the business was sold, the idled aircraft—which is outfitted with 56 exterior lights of all types—underwent restoration, and now dazzles spectators at airshows, and wherever it appears. The lab has been mistaken for a UFO, but before you raise a false alarm, listen for the rumbling of two 450-horsepower radial engines.

Final Exam

Question

Do the three takeoffs and full-stop landings at night required for passenger-carrying privileges double for day currency?

Answer

Yes. There is no specific "day" takeoff and landing requirement—just three takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days. The regulations do require three night takeoffs and landings to a full stop for night passenger-carrying currency. These takeoffs and landings can count as the three takeoffs and landings for day currency as well, according to 14 CFR 61.57.

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: 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 >

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 Flight Training 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

Advertise in ePilot:
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Western United States:
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