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News & Media December 28, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'

December 28, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'

AOPA
VOL 18, ISSUE 52 December 28, 2018
Training Tips
AOPA
Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce
The sole occupant
A holiday break makes a good time to nail down a flight training requirement that if postponed too many times can slow your training program to a crawl. Read more >
Flight Training News
Online resource
2019 'Flight Training' College Aviation Directory released
The 2019 Flight Training College Aviation Directory lists the colleges and universities in the United States that offer aviation-related graduate and undergraduate degrees. Learn more >
Article
New AOPA Fly-In locations revealed
In celebration of its eightieth anniversary, AOPA will host three grand, two-day fly-ins for the 2019 season. Read more >
Flight Training magazine
Shake off stall aversion
Thousands of student pilots suffer from fear of stalls, an unnecessary and curable malady. Read more >
Video
VFR flight plan or flight following?
What's the difference between a VFR flight plan and flight following? Controllers explain in this Ask ATC video from the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Watch the video >
Podcast
'Hangar Talk': Wright Brothers ranger Amiee Ginnever
Dec. 17 marked the 115th anniversary of the world's first powered heavier-than-air flight. Wright Brothers National Memorial National Park Service Ranger Amiee Ginnever shares some hidden first-flight facts. Plus, stick around for the week's headlines. Listen to the podcast >
Scholarships
Homer scholarship honors 9/11 hero
LeRoy W. Homer Jr. was flying United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001, when hijackers attempted to aim the aircraft at the U.S. Capitol. The flight crew and passengers fought back and are considered heroes, but the aircraft crashed into the Pennsylvania countryside. The application deadline for a scholarship named in Homer's honor is Jan. 31.
AOPA Live
AOPA Live
'Draco' most popular video of the year
Hang a Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop on an airplane that weighs just a bit more than a Beechcraft Bonanza (and was already renowned for short-field performance), and you have one head-turning beast. Pilots can't get enough of Mike Patey's creation, Draco, the star of the most popular AOPA Live® video of 2018. Watch the video >
Training Products and Resources
Online resource
Where to now?
Learning everything you can about your destination, including how to navigate the airport environment, is important. Refresh your airport signage knowledge with these flash cards from the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Learn more >
ASA updates VFR trifold kneeboard
Aviation Supplies and Academics updated its classic three-panel Tri-Fold VFR Kneeboard. A brushed aluminum clipboard with VFR reminders is the centerpiece, and a clear panel on the side allows easy stowing and viewing of charts. Another pocket organizes smaller items, and an elastic band secures the device to a pilot's leg. The kneeboard is available online for $39.95.
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
AOPA Premier Partner created content
Tips for nontowered airport communications
Download this free PilotWorkshops Quick Reference Guide to Non-Towered Airport Communications for guidance on what to say and when to say it for takeoffs, landings, and pattern work. It's great for new students or as a refresher. Download the guide >
Celebrating 80 years of GA
AOPA marks its eightieth anniversary in 2019, and to celebrate we've released Freedom to Fly, a coffee-table book packed with glossy photographs of aircraft and inspiring stories of aviation pioneers. Order now >
Pilot Protection Services
Acting as PIC on practical tests
When you take a checkride, you are acting as the pilot in command. A designated pilot examiner will only act as PIC in extraordinary circumstances. Read more >
Instrument Tip
Video
Learn to anticipate weather changes
An experienced pilot talks about his close encounter with a thunderstorm, how he got out of the situation, and tools that can help prevent you from experiencing a similar scenario. Watch the video >
Plane Spotter
AOPA
About those flaps
A sharp-eyed plane spotter might wonder whether those control surfaces are flaps or ailerons at the rear of the high wing of this two-place kitplane photographed during a 2011 fly-in on Maine's Moosehead Lake. The answer is both. The aircraft is an Avid Aircraft Magnum, a homebuilt airplane that can be powered by a variety of Lycoming piston engines. It's outfitted with floats or conventional landing gear (that is, a tailwheel), and sports a design that includes flaperons, a kind of full-span control surface incorporating the functions of ailerons and flaps.
Final Exam
Question

My shop just finished the annual inspection on my airplane. The staff wanted me to test fly it before they signed the logbooks. Is that acceptable?
Answer
No. If the previous inspection expired before the current inspection, the airplane is not legal and airworthy without that logbook sign-off. Also, the maintenance involved in the inspection would require a sign-off even if the previous inspection were still current. All maintenance and inspection endorsements must be signed before the airplane can be returned to service.

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: Chief flight instructor, Myrtle Beach Academy of Aviation
Myrtle Beach Academy of Aviation has an immediate opening for a chief flight instructor for its growing operations in sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 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.
This issue of ePilot was created for: INSERT_FIRST_NAME INSERT_LAST_NAME at INSERT_EMAIL
AOPA
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ePilot Flight Training Editors:
Alyssa J. Cobb
Jim Moore
Dan Namowitz
David Tulis

Production Team:
Elizabeth Linares
Kristy O'Malley
Melissa Whitehouse		 Contributors:
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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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