April 6, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 20, ISSUE 14	April 6, 2018

Click here for this week's custom content.

Top Stories

Article

Cirrus lands the Collier

Cirrus Aircraft was awarded the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for 2017 for its pioneering SF50 Vision Jet, the National Aeronautic Association announced. Read more >

Member Benefit

AOPA World Mastercard rewards pilots

AOPA and Commerce Bank are offering an exclusive AOPA credit card that supports your interest in and passion for aviation while providing rewards that matter to you. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Flying New Zealand; The ideal helicopter trainer

Our aviation journey through New Zealand continues with an overhead view of a volcano. Also this week, we look at what makes an ideal training helicopter. Hélicoptères Guimbal of France may have found the formula with the two-seat Guimbal Cabri G2. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, April 5 >

Technique and Safety

IFR Fix

Sketchy safety pilot scenarios

A pilot was taxiing a Cessna Cardinal RG out to practice instrument approaches with a safety pilot aboard when they noticed "a very brief, slight shudder" coming from the nosewheel. What was the culprit? Read more >

Video

Wise up to cockpit weather

The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Datalink weather: Choices and capabilities video, brought to you by SiriusXM Aviation, compares SiriusXM and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In weather products, delivery modes, and pros and cons. Watch the video >

Video

Call the tower

Distractions during taxiing can have devastating consequences, as the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Rundown feeling Pilot Safety Announcement demonstrates. Watch the video >

Online resource

What happened?

Interactive accident maps from the AOPA Air Safety Institute show common patterns in takeoff, landing, fuel-management, VFR-into-IMC, and stall/spin accidents. Learn what trapped these pilots >

Advocacy

'Flying' magazine rushes to defend advertiser

Flying magazine Editor in Chief Stephen Pope penned an April 3 editorial criticizing AOPA's efforts to fight unreasonable fees at certain fixed-base operators, despite evidence and recent comments. Read more >

Article

Special traffic procedures set for Masters golf tournament

Special air traffic procedures in connection with the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, will remain in effect through April 9. Read more >

Advocacy

AOPA, NORAD touch base on TFRs

Better cockpit technology and increased pilot awareness have reduced temporary flight restriction incursions, and cooperation continues to drive improvements, AOPA said in a presentation at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. Read more >

Advocacy

FAA allows pilots to conduct PA–28 fuel selector inspections

The FAA has published a final rule that will allow owners of many Piper PA–28-series airplanes who hold at least a private pilot certificate to inspect their aircraft fuel-tank selector cover placards for proper positioning. Read more >

Advocacy

IAOPA World Assembly meets in New Zealand

Leaders of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations convened in New Zealand to discuss challenges facing the general aviation community around the world. Read more >

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Understanding 'the silent killer'

There's a difference between having high blood pressure and experiencing "white coat syndrome" in your aviation medical examiner's office. Pilots should take note if they have high blood pressure, called "the silent killer," and take steps to get it under control. Read more >

Technology

Article

Lockheed to build NASA X-plane

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to build a supersonic X-plane that will test public tolerance of a much quieter sonic signature that is more "thump" than "boom," officials said. Read more >

Article

Subscale Super Cub advances drone integration

NASA is flying a subscale Piper Super Cub on a mission to help make drone flights beyond visual line of sight safe and routine. Read more >

Gear

Article

More STCs issued for Garmin GFC 500 autopilot

Garmin announced the addition of numerous Beechcraft and Piper single-engine airplane models to the list of aircraft approved to use the GFC 500 autopilot. Read more >

Travel

Slideshow

Where Boeings are born

Tour the mind-boggling Boeing factory in Everett, Washington, and see where the biggest Boeings are born. Plus, explore three fantastic aircraft collections and meet the experts who restore them, learn how to blow glass, or cuddle a baby kangaroo. Read more >

Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.

Financial

Member benefit

AOPA Travel Discount Program launches

AOPA is introducing a wide array of members-only travel discounts and booking services for car rentals, hotels, and airfare. Read more >

Member Benefit

Movin' on up: Jet ready

Find out what it takes to move up from a turboprop to a jet. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

In the blind

The last transmission Dr. Peter Edenhoffer recalls hearing as he descended through clouds approaching his home airport in Paris, Texas, on Super Bowl Sunday in 2017 was a snippet of chatter about the game heading into overtime. Then the lights went out. Read more >

AOPA Super Cub Sweepstakes

'You can look but don't touch anything'

A few lucky pilots based in Baker, Montana, have had an advantage over the rest of us—they've watched the AOPA Sweepstakes Super Cub's dramatic restoration unfold before their eyes inside Baker Air Service's fixed-base operation. They're free to look and chat, but that's it. Read more >

Article

Calling women pilots: Build your skills in the Idaho backcountry

Women of all piloting skill levels are invited to spend a few days in the Idaho backcountry and explore new flying adventures. Read more >

Article

Canada ADS-B mandate moves closer

With the fifth successful launch and deployment of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites on March 30—bringing the total number in orbit to 50—Canada moved closer to an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out mandate. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Chief flight instructor at LeMay Aero Club/Flight Training Center

LeMay Aero Club/Flight Training Center in Nebraska is seeking a full-time chief flight instructor. The school wants to offer single-engine private, commercial, instrument, CFI, CFII, and ATP training to active-duty and retired military personnel, reserve and National Guard members, as well as their dependents, and Department of Defense civilians. Candidates must meet chief flight instructor requirements. 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 High School Aviation Initiative manager, Air Safety Institute assistant editor, Salesforce developer, Web project manager, marketing coordinator, business analyst, member services representative, and several interns. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Question of the Week

Question

I would like to get a high-altitude endorsement. Do I need to receive and log training in a pressurized aircraft, or is only ground training required?

Answer

A high-altitude endorsement requires both ground instruction and instruction in a pressurized aircraft or a simulator/flight training device that is representative of a pressurized aircraft. For the requirements for this and other operating privilege endorsements, see 14 CFR 61.31.

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

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Apr 7-8	Atlanta, Georgia; Salt Lake City, Utah; and San Diego, California
Apr 14-15	Indianapolis, Indiana; and Dedham, Massachusetts
Apr 21-22	Aurora, Colorado; Dulles, Virginia; and Tampa, Florida
May 5-6	Hollywood, Florida; Albany, New York; and Conroe, Texas

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

Apr 9	West Des Moines, Iowa; and Burlington, Washington
Apr 10	Seattle, Washington; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Morris Plains, New Jersey
Apr 11	Bellevue, Nebraska; and Portland, Oregon
Apr 12	Olathe, Kansas

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Apr 7	Renton, Washington; Fort Myers, Florida; Truckee, California; and Saint Marys, Pennsylvania
Apr 11	Lakeland, Florida
Apr 14	Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania; Henderson, Nevada; Mansfield, Massachusetts; Chesterfield, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; and Redding, California
Apr 21	San Jose, California; Lima, Ohio; Montgomery, Alabama; Greeley, Colorado; Moody, Texas; Williamstown, West Virginia; and Live Oak, 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
Kristy O'Malley
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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