February 16, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 20, ISSUE 7	February 16, 2018

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Top Stories

Advocacy

Trump budgets ATC giveaway

Despite growing opposition—not to mention the $100 billion price tag—President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget proposal calls for removing air traffic control operations from the FAA. (Photo by Joshua Roberts, Reuters.) Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

ATC fight continues; Utah by Quest

President Donald Trump has released a budget proposal to privatize air traffic control, and AOPA will continue to fight to save aviation as we know it. Also, find out why the Kodiak, by Quest Aircraft Co., is a turboprop made to sink its teeth into adventure. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Feb. 15 >

AOPA Fly-Ins

Article

Flying fun: Register for AOPA's Fly-Ins today

AOPA's 2018 Regional Fly-Ins will take you to the Northern Rockies, the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Range, the Midwest, and the Gulf Coast. Registration for all four events opened Feb. 14. Read more >

Technique and Safety

Video

Get the scoop on ice

AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Tom Horne explains how ice accumulation affects aircraft handling and lift in the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Flying the Weather: Airframe Icing video. Watch the video >

See the lights?

Can you ask air traffic control to adjust the approach light intensity at a towered airport? The AOPA Air Safety Institute's quiz about IFR airport lighting has the answer. Take the quiz >

Video

Scud squeeze

The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Real Pilot Story: From Miscue to Rescue reviews a flight plagued by weather and mountains. What would you do differently under similar circumstances? Watch the video >

AOPA Premier Partner created content

How to practice a partial-panel approach

Use these tips to practice a partial-panel approach, requesting no-gyro vectors from ATC. This is what you'd want during an actual vacuum failure in instrument conditions, so it makes sense to practice it this way. Watch the video from AOPA Premier Partner PilotWorkshops >

Advocacy

Canada airports report avgas shortage

AOPA has received reports of 100LL aviation fuel being unavailable at a number of airports in Canada, possibly in connection with a "bad batch" of avgas that was produced at the only refinery in the country that produces the fuel used by most general aviation aircraft. Read more >

Technology

Article

Future of flight includes $2 million payout

Design a safe, thrilling, and useful personal flying device and you could walk—or fly—away with a hefty reward. The first deadline for the GoFly Prize is April 18, when a written report and a preliminary drawing are due. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Battle of Mediterranean winter

Opinion Leaders blogger Garrett Fisher captures stunning views of snow-covered Spain, France, and the Pre-Pyrenees. Read more >

Gear

Article

TruTrak autopilot gains new approvals

TruTrak Flight Systems, a manufacturer of autopilots for certified, experimental, and light sport aircraft, announced supplemental type certificate approval for the TruTrak Vizion autopilot in more Cessna and Piper single-engine airplane models. Read more >

Travel

Slideshow

Aviation, autos, and art glass

Each February, the Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show returns to Puyallup, Washington, just south of Seattle. While there, explore Tacoma's revitalized waterfront area. Read more >

Slideshow

Arkansas' historic spa city

Fly to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a genuine old-world spa experience in a quaint, quirky Victorian town with a unique baseball history. It's the place to be if you can't help but get yourself into hot water. Read more >

Financial

Article

HondaJet lands largest order yet

Honda Aircraft Co. has sold 16 HondaJets to French air taxi provider Wijet, which serves 1,200 airports in Europe and North Africa, and plans to replace a fleet of 15 Cessnas in the coming 18 months. Read more >

Article

Sun Flyer's developer announces more funding

Electric and solar aircraft pioneer Bye Aerospace, developer of the two- and four-seat Sun Flyer airplanes, announced it has closed a $5 million funding round for projects to bring innovative solar-electric propulsion technology to aviation and aerospace. Read more >

Member benefit

Three reasons for an insurance middleman

Learn how an insurance middleman can help aircraft owners by matching the aircraft and flying style with the correct options and coverage. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

Heat, and tweaks, for 2018 TBMs

Daher, manufacturer of the TBM series of single-engine turboprops, has announced some enhancements to its 2018 line of TBM 910 and TBM 930 models. Topping the list are electrically heated seats. Read more >

Article

PlaneSense receives first Pilatus PC–24 jet

Fractional ownership operator PlaneSense announced on Feb. 8 the delivery of the first Pilatus PC–24 twinjet. Customer flights will begin in March. Read more >

Article

FAA notes modified fuel system in 2016 AT–6 accident

The FAA is recommending that operators of some Boeing (North American) AT–6 and T–6 single-engine airplanes verify their aircraft are equipped with appropriate fuel system placards and mechanical provisions, citing a 2016 fatal crash. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

Preparing for an informal conference with the FAA

The FAA applies its compliance philosophy to address unintentional pilot deviations and regulatory violations, but the agency still requires legal enforcement action for intentional violations and reckless acts. Read more >

Article

Radar expert Archie Trammell remembered

Noted aviation safety expert Archie Trammell, who served from 1981 to 1983 as the executive vice president of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, died Feb. 5 at his Mansfield, Texas, home. Read more >

Slideshow

Aviators' wedding photos amid warbirds dazzle

Mindy and Kevin Lindheim landed in the aviation community's limelight after sharing stunning images from their hangar wedding. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Assistant or associate professor, Kearney, Nebraska

The Aviation Systems Management program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney is seeking a full-time, tenure-track faculty member at the rank of assistant or associate professor. Teaching responsibilities will be based on the successful candidate's strengths but may include one or more of the following: aviation safety, aviation law, airport management, air traffic control, and other topics. Potential candidates must have a passion for teaching and hold at least a current advanced ground instructor certificate and instrument ground instructor certificate. 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 marketing coordinator, business analytics intern, facilities technician, High School Aviation Initiative manager, aviation program operations coordinator, and Salesforce developer. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Question of the Week

Question

While preparing for a long cross-country, you notice a few symbols on the sectional that you don't recognize and that don't appear in the legend. Where can you go to review all the charting symbols in one place?

Answer

When you see an unfamiliar symbol on a chart or instrument procedure, you can check the Aeronautical Chart User's Guide. The guide is available online or as a PDF download.

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

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Feb 17-18	Sacramento, California; and Nashua, New Hampshire
Feb 24-25	Fort Worth, Texas; and Kenner, Louisiana
Mar 3-4	Tempe, Arizona
Mar 10-11	King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Ontario, California; and Santa Clara, California

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

Feb 20	Germantown, Tennessee; and Wichita, Kansas
Feb 21	Nashville, Tennessee; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Feb 22	Maryville, Tennessee; and Rogers, Arkansas
Feb 25	Puyallup, Washington

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Feb 17	Carlsbad, California
Feb 24	Puyallup, Washington; and Homestead, Florida
Mar 3	Henderson, Nevada; Kissimmee, Florida; Houston, Texas; Scottsdale, Arizona; San Diego, California; and Valparaiso, Indiana
Mar 10	Tuskegee, Alabama; Chickasha, Oklahoma; and San Antonio, Texas

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
Melissa Whitehouse

Contributors:
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Sarah Deener
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Warren Morningstar
Jill W. Tallman
Ian J. Twombly
Julie Summers Walker

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