September 7, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 20, ISSUE 36	September 7, 2018

Click here for this week's custom content.

Top Stories

Article

'Nall Report' notes safety gains

General aviation's efforts to reduce fatal aircraft accidents continued to produce encouraging results in 2015, and the overall accident rate per 100,000 flight hours declined even as total flight hours increased, according to the just-released Twenty-seventh Joseph T. Nall Report. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Real-world density altitude tips; Seaplane 101

Ahead of AOPA's Santa Fe, New Mexico, Fly-In, take a real-world look at density altitude and how it affects your aircraft's performance. Plus, get a tip that will spare you embarrassment on the runway. Also this week, follow two seasoned pilots getting their seaplane rating, and we remember the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Sept. 6 >

AOPA Fly-Ins

Video

Go behind the controls of a jet warbird

Tour the Aero Vodochody L–29 Delfin and L–39 Albatros, Lockheed T–33 T-Bird, Fouga Magister, and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG–15 at Jet Warbird Training Center during the AOPA Fly-In at Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sept. 14 and 15. Schedule a lesson in one for the thrill of a lifetime. Watch a lesson with loops and rolls in the L–39 >

Video

Santa Fe bound?

Flying to the AOPA Fly-In at Santa Fe Municipal Airport? Watch this step-by-step video about the arrival notam and flight procedures.

Technique and Safety

Flash-based; login required

Wherever you go, there you are

While GPS navigation is no longer new, there are still pitfalls. Take this course from the AOPA Air Safety Institute to get tips for GPS use during VFR flight.

Video

Fly it all the way to the runway

Low, slow, and turning sounds like a recipe for a stall. All three of these ingredients are found in the traffic pattern. This AOPA Air Safety Institute video explains how to avoid traffic pattern stalls. Watch the video >

IFR Fix

Surprise! DME required

The absence of "DME" from an approach procedure's title used to mean that the use of distance measuring equipment was not applicable. That is no longer always the case. Read more >

Advocacy

Proposals sought for future flight service contract

The FAA wants to become an "enabler," not a "provider" of pilot weather briefing services, with automation playing a significant role. Read more >

Article

FAA marks 60 years of safer skies

In the 60 years since the FAA was established, it has fashioned a focus on safety and spurred phenomenal growth, according to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. Read more >

Article

Elwell: Every drone needs ID

Acting FAA Administrator Daniel K. Elwell, in a keynote address to the InterDrone convention in Las Vegas, took aim at the 2012 federal law that limits regulation of recreational drone use. Read more >

Advocacy

Solutions sought for jet-fuel contamination incidents

Aviation groups are stepping up efforts to prevent incidences of jet fuel being contaminated with diesel exhaust fluid after an August event in which clogged fuel filters led to the failure of two of a business jet's three engines, and several occurrences last year. Read more >

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Flying with AFib

If you have atrial fibrillation, find out what you must do to get a special issuance medical certificate or qualify for BasicMed. Read more >

Technology

Article

Perlan 2 glider soars to new height

Perlan 2 rode an Andes mountain wave to an unofficial glider record of 76,124 feet pressure altitude on Sept. 2, surpassing the high-flying U–2 jet spy plane's 73,737 feet. Read more >

Article

New take on personal flying

A small band of innovators from Utah came to a drone show with a take on a personal flying machine so new it had never been seen outside its creator's shop. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Benevolent or predatory?

Opinion Leaders blogger Mike Busch offers up a puzzling case that a Cessna 182 owner faced recently and asks your thoughts about the actions of the mechanic performing the work. Read more >

Gear

Article

uAvionix gets TSO for wingtip ADS-B

uAvionix received FAA technical standard order authorization on Sept. 4 for its skyBeacon wingtip-mounted Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out hardware with integral position light. Read more >

Financial

Article

On-demand aircraft valuation reports offered

Aircraft online marketplace air.one has entered into a partnership with aircraft valuation service VREF to provide point-of-sale value opinions to help sellers and buyers do business. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

Van's Aircraft to start producing RV–12

Van's Aircraft is set to begin manufacturing RV–12 special light sport aircraft at its headquarters in Aurora, Oregon. Read more >

Article

Sweepstakes Super Cub restorer honored

The superior level of detail and ingenuity that Roger Meggers brought to restoring AOPA's Sweepstakes Super Cub extends to all areas of his involvement in general aviation. Meggers was recently named Montana Pilot of the Year. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: CFI, South Florida

Air Adventures is seeking one full-time and one part-time certificated flight instructor to provide South Florida seaplane tours and training. The employer will pay for the seaplane rating. This position is a great time-builder, averaging 60 to 90 flight hours per month (between two pilots), with a minimum of two hours of flying every day. 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 an aviation finance sales manager/senior account executive, staff accountant, human resources director, publications senior director, insurance customer service representative, High School Initiative project manager, renewals insurance agent, regulatory affairs director, new business aviation insurance agent, aviation finance account executive, and marketing project manager. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Question of the Week

Question

I'm adding a helicopter rating to my commercial pilot certificate. Can I use my training flights toward completing a phase of the FAA Wings program?

Answer

Unfortunately, no. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC 61-91J, you can only get credit in aircraft in which you're already rated.

This question and answer were provided by AOPA's Pilot Information Center. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Sept. 15-16	Sandston, Virginia; and Tempe, Arizona
Sept. 22-23	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Oct. 6-7	Santa Clara, California
Oct. 13-14	Indianapolis, Indiana; and Dulles, Virginia

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

Sept. 12	Northglenn, Colorado; Fort Worth, Texas; Frederick, Maryland; and Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sept. 13	Addison, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Dodge Center, Minnesota; and Stevensville, Maryland
Sept. 24	King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Northbrook, Illinois; and Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Sept. 25	East Peoria, Illinois; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Hartford, Connecticut

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Sept. 8	Madison, Wisconsin; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and Downers Grove, Illinois
Sept. 15	Santa Fe, New Mexico; Springfield, Kentucky; Rochester, New York; and Watford City, North Dakota
Sept. 22	Lawrenceville, Georgia; Stevensville, Maryland; and Columbus, Ohio
Sept. 29	Pottstown, Pennsylvania; and Santa Ana, 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.

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ePilot 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

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