September 28, 2018, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 20, ISSUE 39	September 28, 2018

Click here for this week's custom content.

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Aircraft Maintenance: Improve your cockpit's lighting

Find out how a "lighting map" can shed some light on areas to improve your cockpit illumination. Read more >

Flash-based; login required

Get your IFR skills back

If you haven't flown under IFR in a while, the AOPA Air Safety Institute's IFR Insights: Charts online course can provide a refresher. Take the course >

No tower? No problem!

At nontowered airports, everyone wins when we are where we're expected to be. Check your knowledge with this AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz.

Advocacy

House passes long-term FAA bill

A $90-billion, five-year FAA reauthorization bill passed the House of Representatives on Sept. 26 and leaves out so-called air traffic control privatization. Read more >

Advocacy

Progress continues on new airman certification standards

New draft airman certification standards and revised training publications are scheduled to be released for review in late 2018 and early 2019. Read more >

Advocacy

Three issues that could affect your flying

From phasing out VORs and NDBs to reducing false ELT alerts and shortening the list of cold temperature restricted airports, AOPA works on a multitude of issues that affect your flying. Find out what's changed >

Advocacy

FAA updates call sign policies

The FAA has updated guidance on the assignment and authorized use of aircraft call signs in the National Airspace System, which is increasingly important in the world of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. Read more >

Health

Online resource

Get back in the left seat with BasicMed

Here's what you need to know about BasicMed from the required online course to the medical checklist and your doctor's appointment. Learn more >

Technology

Article

In-flight fire not to blame for electric aircraft accident

Despite widespread media reports that a Magnus eFusion was on fire when it crashed in May in Hungary, the country's transportation safety agency said in its preliminary report that the aircraft appeared to be operating normally. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Fix it now!

Maintenance issue? Fix it now and pay a little or defer it and risk paying a lot later, writes Opinion Leaders blogger Mike Busch. Read more >

Gear

Article

S-TEC 3100 autopilot gains new approvals

Genesys Aerosystems announced FAA approval for installing its S-TEC 3100 digital autopilot in several models of Cessna twin-engine and Piper PA–46 single-engine airplanes. Read more >

Sporty's newest Christmas ornament salutes Texan

Sporty's Pilot Shop continues a 34-year holiday tradition with the announcement of the T–6 Texan as the 2018 crystal Christmas ornament. The ornament is available for $24.95.

Travel

Slideshow

See Denali National Park from above…and below

Sheer, snow-dotted slopes of the Alaska Range in Denali National Park offer big-screen views that could be right out of a blockbuster. Read more >

Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.

Financial

You Can Fly

Boeing flying club touts floatplane

Find out why a Cessna 172 on floats is one of the most popular airplanes in the Boeing Employees Flying Association fleet. Read more >

News and Notes

Slideshow

Operation Airdrop ups hurricane relief

Volunteer pilots with Operation Airdrop delivered 280,692 pounds of supplies during 475 flights after Hurricane Florence swept through the Carolinas. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

Learn drone law violation defenses

Federal preemption of state and local laws may be one of the best defenses to a criminal action resulting from flying a drone. Find out how to avoid fines, jail time, or both. Read more >

Article

Off the charts

Imagine being so good at making a product for your own use that the company you work for scraps the version it makes for its employees and buys yours instead. Read more >

Preorder 'Freedom to Fly'

In the 1940s, AOPA called it "the bite." Today, AOPA is still fighting excessive fees and unreasonable pricing. Learn more about the history of aviation in AOPA's new book, Freedom to Fly, available for preorder.

Podcast

'Hangar Talk': You Can Fly's Pat Brown

Pat Brown has been there and done that in aviation. Hear about his exciting career and what he's doing now as AOPA's regional ambassador to Texas through the You Can Fly program. Plus, stick around for this week's headlines. Listen now >

Career Opportunities

JSfirm aviation job board

Job of the week: Chief instructor of CFI Program, Hillsboro, Oregon

Hillsboro Aero Academy in Hillsboro, Oregon, is seeking a chief instructor of the CFI program. This position is responsible for management of the certificated flight instructor program and instructors. 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 development operations director, medical certification technician, curriculum development director, aviation finance loan processor, accounts payable accounting technician, aviation finance sales manager/senior account executive, staff accountant, human resources director, publications senior director, 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 currently working toward my commercial pilot certificate, but my flight review just expired. Can I continue my instructional flights with an expired flight review?

Answer

Yes, as long as they are dual training flights and the instructor acts as pilot in command and has a current flight review and medical. Keep in mind that you can't fly solo until you complete a flight review, because you would be PIC during solo operations.

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

Oct. 6-7	Santa Clara, California
Oct. 13-14	Indianapolis, Indiana; and Dulles, Virginia
Oct. 20-21	Columbia, South Carolina; and Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Nov. 10-11	Atlanta, Georgia; and San Diego, 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

Oct. 1	Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Burlington, Washington; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; and Garden City, New York
Oct. 2	Melbourne, Florida; Houston, Texas; Debord, Kentucky; and Seattle, Washington
Oct. 3	Daytona Beach, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and San Antonio, Texas
Oct. 4	Ocala, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Ithaca, New York

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Sept. 29	Pottstown, Pennsylvania; and Santa Ana, California
Oct. 6	Murphysboro, Illinois; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Wichita, Kansas
Oct. 13	Sanford, North Carolina; Syracuse, New York; Roanoke, Virginia; Wiley Ford, West Virginia; and Weslaco, Texas
Oct. 20	Spring, Texas; Sebring, Florida; Abilene, Texas; London, Kentucky; Rock Falls, Illinois; and Lawrence, Kansas

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:
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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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