April 27, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 18, ISSUE 17	April 27, 2018

Editor's note: During flight training, all of your focus is on learning to fly. But what will you do after the checkride? In this special issue, AOPA's editors, all pilots or flight instructors, share advice to help you break out of the pattern and enjoy your pilot certificate to the fullest.

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Flying with passengers

Becoming a great pilot is art built on skill. Earning a pilot certificate gives you many opportunities to discover this for yourself as you pursue a prized goal of flight training: the art of flying passengers. Read more >

Flight Training News

Advocacy

FAA drops complex aircraft requirement for some flight tests

The FAA has discontinued the requirement that applicants for a commercial pilot or flight instructor certificate with an airplane-single engine rating provide a complex airplane for their practical tests. Read more >

Article

Expand your horizons, and your skills

Give your passion for flying a shot of adrenaline; improve your stick-and-rudder skills; boost your confidence; and have a blast learning to fly seaplanes, gliders, and taildraggers. Read more >

Article

Tips for saving money while flying

Find out how you can fly more, even on a tight budget, by riding backseat on another student's lesson, being a safety pilot (once you earn your certificate), joining a flying club, entering a partnership, or buying an airplane and renting it out. Read more >

You Can Fly

Sticking with it

A pilot certificate represents more than a coveted privilege; it also is the fruit of a significant investment of money, time, and effort. You might be surprised how many of us set that aside, then return to aviation after a years-long absence. Read more >

Article

Code of the courtesy car

Getting around on the ground is a challenging aspect of general aviation travel. Here are a few things to know about courtesy cars. Read more >

Article

Buddy system

Surround yourself with a strong community of aviators, at your local airfield and online, to help maintain your motivation to fly. Read more >

Article

Memorable flights with passengers

Planting a seed, curing airsickness, flying total strangers around a Caribbean island, or lifting the Iron Curtain with a lap around the pattern: These are the memories AOPA editors recounted about some of their flights with passengers. Read more >

Article

Oreo was perfect passenger

A border collie pup and a private pilot who shared a couple of hours in a Mooney also gained a new lease on life and a new perspective on using aircraft to help others in need. Read more >

Spring season's mood swings

Why should you update your altimeter setting regularly when crossing a frontal boundary? This AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz explains. Take the quiz >

Scholarships

AOPA scholarship deadline nears

Applications are due May 2 for AOPA's three scholarship programs that offer funds for high school students pursuing a primary pilot certificate, for aviation enthusiasts ages 16 and older pursing primary certification, and for certificated pilots seeking advanced ratings.

ATC scholarships for students, family members, employees

The Air Traffic Control Association makes a variety of scholarships available for aviation students, children of full-time ATC employees, and current employees pursuing aviation or advancing their careers. The application deadline is May 1.

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

Heart of Colombia; Skyhawk, JT-A put to test

Join a humanitarian mission that crosses Colombia's Andes mountains and touches down in a remote coastal town, bringing doctors and other volunteers who create a hospital on the spot. Also, AOPA editors pit the venerable Cessna Skyhawk against a Jet A-powered variant. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, April 26 >

Training Products and Resources

'Aerial adventures: 99 ways to fly'

The best thing you can do with your pilot certificate is use it. In the e-book Aerial adventures: 99 ways to fly, AOPA's editors share some of our favorite getaways, routes, and airborne challenges. Will you try all 99? Get the e-book >

'AOPA Travel Pilot' highlights GA destinations

AOPA Travel Pilot, a free biweekly newsletter, will give you the inspiration and tools you need to use your pilot certificate to embark on epic adventures, weekend getaways, or day trips, flying solo or with family and friends. Subscribe >

Online resource

'I'm ready to go!'

Flight instructor William Woodbury contemplates pilots' self-assessment skills in the latest issue of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's CFItoCFI newsletter. Sign up for the free quarterly publication. Read more >

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

Member benefit

AOPA Insurance Agency celebrates 25 years

After 25 years of service, the AOPA Insurance Agency keeps striving to live up to the legacy of Don Flowers, one of the most-respected names in the aviation insurance industry. His insurance agency eventually became the AOPA Insurance Agency. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

What is a quiet title action?

If it's not possible to clear a "clouded" title by working with the person or entity who has a lien or encumbrance against an aircraft you are trying to sell, a quiet title action might be necessary. Read more >

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix

Should you get an instrument rating?

There are so many reasons to get your instrument rating, it's hard to know where to begin. Read more >

Plane Spotter

Attitude for everyone

Let's face it, there are certain airplanes that are just as likely to be photographed steeply banked or even upside down as when flying—dare we say it?—normally. Zlin Aircraft, the Czech Republic manufacturer of the low-wing, single-engine Z 242L, selected photos of the airplane at all three angles to show on its website, to present the 200-horsepower, Lycoming-powered two-seater as an aircraft designed for civilian and military basic and advanced training, glider and banner towing, instrument training, "and above all for acrobatic flying and acrobatic training."

Final Exam

Question

Are drone instructors subject to the same Transportation Security Administration security awareness training as manned-aircraft flight instructors?

Answer

No. There is no TSA regulatory support for such training. There also is no certification for drone instructors. Those who teach people to fly drones may call themselves instructors, but no FAA certification is required or available. The only certification currently available is the remote pilot certificate with a small unmanned aircraft systems rating, issued under 14 CFR Part 107.

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: Flight instructors, Treasure Coast Flight Training

Treasure Coast Flight Training, a Part 141 flight school located in Stuart, Florida, has immediate openings for certificated flight instructors, CFIIs, and MEIs. Perfect weather means year-round flying and fast time building. Enjoy a fun atmosphere and fly impeccably maintained aircraft. 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, Salesforce developer, marketing coordinator, Web project manager, UI front-end developer, business analyst, and several interns. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

May 5-6	Hollywood, Florida; Albany, New York; and Conroe, Texas
May 19-20	Sacramento, California
Jun 2-3	Columbus, Ohio
Jun 9-10	Santa Clara, California; and Tempe, Arizona

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

May 1	Tampa, Florida; and Stevensville, Maryland
May 2	Frederick, Maryland; and Fort Myers, Florida
May 3	Hollywood, Florida
May 7	Garden City, New York; and Green Bay, Wisconsin

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Apr 28	McKinney, Texas; Montgomery, New York; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Blaine, Minnesota; Roanoke, Virginia; and Statesboro, Georgia
May 5	Conroe, Texas; and Boise, Idaho
May 6	Anchorage, Alaska
May 12	Winter Haven, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Zionsville, Indiana; McPherson, Kansas; Frederick, Maryland; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Lincoln, California

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.

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

ePilot Flight Training 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

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