December 21, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 18, ISSUE 51	December 21, 2018

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Weathering winter

It's officially winter, with a Dec. 21 solstice, frosty mornings, and scarce daylight. Check out our tips to make the most of flying on cold winter days. Read more >

Flight Training News

Slideshow

Sugarbush Soaring summer camps for youth

Sugarbush Youth Soaring Camps give young people stick time in gliders, which can boost their self-esteem and spark their interest in aviation careers. Read more >

You Can Fly

You Can Fly programs making a difference

The general aviation community is on the move, with 100 new flying clubs and 25,000 pilots coming off the sidelines to prepare to fly again. Read more >

You Can Fly

AOPA's STEM curriculum featured on 'PBS NewsHour'

AOPA’s high school aviation science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum is attracting attention and was recently featured on PBS NewsHour. Read more >

AOPA Foundation Focus

Foundation donations help boost GA community

Generous donations to the AOPA Foundation are helping to create a stronger, safer aviation community. Your tax-deductible donation can help. Read more >

Scholarships

Multiple scholarships open for future aerospace professionals

The Reston, Virginia-based American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics makes 12 undergraduate and graduate scholarships available for science and engineering students. The awards range from $500 to $10,000, and the application deadline is Jan. 31.

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

Best of 2018

Relive the highlights of 2018, including canyon flying in the Utah backcountry, a homebuilt turboprop with Mustang pace, and a fire-breathing monster named Draco. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Director's Cut >

Training Products and Resources

Video

Flying the family for the holidays?

Giving your passengers—even if they're your family—a pre-departure safety briefing is extremely important. Check out the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Critical Information: The Passenger Safety Briefing video for tips on what a briefing should include.

Sporty's rolls out flyGIRL apparel

Sporty's Pilot Shop has introduced flyGIRL apparel for female aviation enthusiasts. A portion of each sale helps support flyGIRL's scholarship fund. The apparel and accessories are available online starting at $14.95.

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

The oldest 'wonder drug' in the world

Aspirin has eased aches and pains for decades. Find out just how powerful this FAA-approved medication is. Read more >

Article

New tax law benefits GA

Adam Meredith, president of AOPA Aviation Finance, spoke with the Atlanta Business Chronicle regarding the effect the new tax law has had on business aircraft ownership and what it means for those looking to buy. Read more >

The story of GA, on sale now

It started with five guys around a table at Wings Field in Pennsylvania. Today it's the largest general aviation community in the world. Learn about AOPA and the growth of GA in Freedom to Fly, on sale now. Order today >

Blogs

The minutiae of seniority

According to Flight Training blogger and airline pilot Chip Wright, "Seniority is the way of life at the airlines... Some pilots will study the minutiae of seniority until they can't see straight." Read more >

Instrument Tip

Don't believe your eyes

Flying an approach to minimums can be a challenge; throw in optical illusions and you can get in over your head. Take this quiz from the AOPA Air Safety Institute to test your knowledge of some of these illusions.

Plane Spotter

Working in a winter wonderland

What comes to mind when you think of a gentleman named Claus operating a special flying machine from an icy base way up north? For many Alaskans, that describes Paul Claus of Ultima Thule Lodge, whose turboprop-converted de Havilland DHC–3 Otter serves on key missions including helping scientists gather data about glacier ice. Piston-powered Otters have been long renowned for their short-takeoff-and-landing capability. This 1957 example goes beyond—its elongated nose houses a 1,000-shaft-horsepower Garrett turboprop engine driving a four-blade propeller to deliver the extreme performance Alaska's severe flight environment demands. (Photo courtesy of Paul Claus.)

Final Exam

Question

I just passed my private pilot flight test. How long will it take for me to receive my pilot certificate from the FAA?

Answer

Congratulations on your achievement! Times vary throughout the year, but currently the FAA is taking five weeks to process airman applications. Allowing a week for mailing, that would be about six weeks for you to receive yours. You can check what application date the agency is currently processing at this website.

This question and answer were provided by the aviation experts in AOPA's Pilot Information Center. 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, Ocean Aviation

Ocean Aviation Flight Academy, an FAA-approved Part 141 flight school in beautiful Ocean City, Maryland, has an immediate need for great flight instructors. Full-time positions are available, and the school is busy year-round. 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 social media marketer, development marketing and communications manager, digital marketing coordinator, Air Safety Institute video producer, marketing customer acquisitions director, development operations director, curriculum development director, aviation finance sales manager/senior account executive, publications senior director, regulatory affairs director, and aviation finance account executive. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Jan. 5-6	Bellevue, Washington; and Costa Mesa, California
Jan. 12-13	Charlotte, North Carolina; Jackson, Mississippi; Portland, Oregon; and San Antonio, Texas
Jan. 19-20	Alcoa, Tennessee; Romulus, Michigan; and Santa Clara, California
Jan. 26-27	Frederick, Maryland

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

Jan. 14	Reno, Nevada; and Houston, Texas
Jan. 15	McClellan, California; and Houston, Texas
Jan. 16	Milpitas, California; and San Antonio, Texas
Jan. 17	Austin, Texas

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Jan. 5	Stevensville, Maryland
Jan. 12	Fort Worth, Texas
Jan. 25	Sebring, Florida
Feb. 9	Bethany, Oklahoma; and Terre Haute, Indiana

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