January 19, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 20, ISSUE 3	January 19, 2018

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Top Stories

Slideshow

Olympic aviation adventure

If thoughts of skiing, the Oscars, or the Winter Olympics are on your mind, fly to Park City, Utah, home of the 2002 Winter Games, where you can ski with an Olympian and bobsled at Utah Olympic Park, or attend the Sundance Film Festival for a preview of next year's possible Oscar contenders. (Photo courtesy of Park City Mountain.) Read more >

Slideshow

Realizing Olympic dreams

As the world's top athletes convene for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea, prep yourself for cheering on Team USA by flying to Lake Placid, New York, site of the 1932 and 1980 games. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

NASA's need for speed; film your flights like a pro

Recently released footage shows what happens when NASA scientists get their hands on the fastest airplane in history. Also this week, check out an aircraft mount that keeps cameras steady plus software that makes editing easy, and take a peek at the Pietenpol Air Camper, a vintage design for homebuilders on a budget. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Jan. 18 >

Technique and Safety

Article

PilotWorkshops explains nontowered airport communications

Inbound to a nontowered airport, you have just made your initial position announcement 10 miles out when you hear another pilot report taxiing out for takeoff on Runway 24 for "closed traffic." What does this mean? Read more >

Video

ATC has your back

There are plenty of good reasons to request VFR flight following services, even if your onboard equipment displays traffic. The AOPA Air Safety Institute's new Ask ATC: Is ADS-B Enough? video explains. Watch the video >

Online resource

Count the ways

Designated pilot examiner Jason Blair looks at checkride "tricks" applicants and their instructors play in the latest issue of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's CFItoCFI digital newsletter. Also, check out the institute's "Find One, Bring One" campaign, and an instructor's musings on flight review follies. Enter the newsletter >

Online resource

Benefit from Safety Alliance initiative

Got some time between flights to brush up on your technique? Explore the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Safety Alliance safety spotlight for a variety of free content from general aviation companies and organizations. Learn more >

Technology

Article

Major aircraft makers going drone

Bell staked a claim as the first helicopter maker to exhibit at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and joined a growing list of manned aircraft manufacturers working to make pilots optional. Read more >

Article

Progress on diesel engine reported

Engineered Propulsion Systems has worked quietly toward certification of an eight-cylinder aviation diesel engine since announcing the clean-sheet design was "frozen" in 2016. The company expects to have certification requirements completed by the end of 2018. Read more >

Gear

Article

'Jet quality' fuel readouts for GA aircraft

Accurate electronic fuel-sensor technology originally designed for turbine-powered helicopters has trickled down to general aviation aircraft. Scott Philiben, founder and CEO of CiES Inc., said improving fuel awareness increases the safety of flight. Read more >

Travel

Slideshow

Idaho's year-round playground

People can get creative in a small mountain town with a long winter. The folks in McCall have gotten so good at creating their own fun that their west-central Idaho enclave has become a hub of recreation. Read more >

Financial

Member benefit

Tips for financing a flying club aircraft

Find out what's involved with financing an aircraft for a flying club, and why the length of time a club has been in operation can make a difference. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

Is the aircraft you fly owned by an LLC or corporation?

If you fly an aircraft that is owned by a business entity such as an LLC or corporation, be aware that an issue with the "legal status" of the entity could raise compliance concerns with registration and airworthiness requirements, and possibly affect insurance coverage. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

Super Cub Sweepstakes: Not your grandfather's Levi's

With poly-fiber fabric and a high-gloss Ranthane finish on AOPA's Sweepstakes Super Cub, the aircraft's shine will rival that of painted aluminum or composite aircraft. Read more >

Article

Tuskegee Airman Ellis remembered

Thomas Ellis, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen who recorded 15,533 sorties as part of the 332nd Fighter Group, died in San Antonio on Jan. 2 at the age of 97. Read more >

Article

Solar Impulse heads to television

Solar Impulse 2 pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg spent days and nights on end in the cockpit flying around the world. Their story will air in an upcoming documentary. Read more >

Article

New air race to debut

A Florida-based chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots is launching a new air race in 2018 that is open to all pilots. Read more >

Article

FBO owner honored for flight, maintenance safety

Many have received either the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award or the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for 50 years of trouble-free aviation—but very few have received both. Former Noreast Aviation Services owner, pilot, and mechanic John Steidinger is one. Read more >

Article

Flying together

A Facebook group started in 2012 by pilots in the Pacific Northwest has grown to more than 11,000 aviators across the country, using social media as a tool to bring pilots together to enjoy aviation. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: CFI, Phoenix East Aviation

Phoenix East Aviation, a flight school with locations in Daytona and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is seeking full-time flight instructors. This position is responsible for performing duties authorized by the federal aviation regulations in accordance with approved syllabi. Potential candidates must hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Additional requirements include FAA certificates for certificated flight instructor and CFII (MEI preferred) and 400 hours of flight instruction. 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 facilities technician, medical certification specialist, writer/editorial long-term temp, insurance account executive, High School Aviation Initiative manager, accounting clerk, legislative affairs vice president, 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 taxiing out to the runway, you realize that you have an electrical problem and are unable to raise the control tower on the radio. You get to your intersection for departure, but you are not taking off. Once the tower becomes aware of your situation, what light gun signal should you expect to see?

Answer

You should expect to see a flashing white signal, which means you should return to your starting point on the airfield. You also might see a solid red light gun signal, which means "stop." Review all light gun signals in section 4-3-13 of the Aeronautical Information Manual.

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

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Jan 20-21	Jackson, Mississippi; Frederick, Maryland; and Romulus, Michigan
Jan 27-28	San Antonio, Texas
Feb 10-11	Louisville, Kentucky; Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Fairfax, Virginia
Feb 17-18	Sacramento, California; and Nashua, New Hampshire

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 22	Van Nuys, California; and Mesa, Arizona
Jan 23	Ontario, California; and Tucson, Arizona
Jan 24	Costa Mesa, California
Jan 25	Houston, Texas; San Diego, California; and Albuquerque, New Mexico

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Jan 20	Bartow, Florida; and Fort Worth, Texas
Jan 26	Sebring, Florida
Jan 27	Waco, Texas
Feb 3	El Monte, California; Dallas, Texas; and Fort Myers, 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
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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