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April 26, 2019, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter

AOPA
VOL 21, ISSUE 17 April 26, 2019
Click here for this week's custom content.
Top Stories
AOPA
Article
FAA grounds Cirrus Vision Jets
The FAA on April 18 issued an emergency airworthiness directive grounding all Cirrus SF50 Vision Jets and requiring replacement of a faulty angle of attack sensor before further flight. Read more >
Article
Vintage Northrop flying wing crashes, kills pilot
A rare 1944 flying-wing aircraft crashed April 22, killing the pilot. Read more >
AOPA Live This Week
Vision of last resort; Flights of two or more
Synthetic vision is no substitute for your own vision, but could you use it to land in a pinch? Also, tour a world-class aviation attraction, and learn about formation flying at AOPA's Frederick, Maryland, Fly-In. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, April 25 >
AOPA Fly-Ins
Video
Sneak peek at the AOPA Fly-In Drone Light Show
See what it will take to pull off an 80-drone formation light show at AOPA's eightieth anniversary celebration and fly-in at Frederick, Maryland. Watch the video >
PDF download
AOPA Frederick Fly-In seminar schedule released
More than 30 seminars and seven ground school workshops will be offered at AOPA's Frederick, Maryland, Fly-In, May 10 and 11—all scheduled so you won't miss the D-Day Squadron or STOL Invitational performances! See the seminar schedule >
Technique and Safety
Podcast
Walking away from a crash
Jim Johnson, a 25-year pilot, shares how he handled his Cessna 177RG's engine failure after takeoff in the AOPA Air Safety Institute's There I was... podcast, available online or through Spotify.
Login required
Tame a twin
On twins, a second engine can provide extra power and peace of mind or extra trouble. Test your single-engine savvy with this AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz.
Video
Ask ATC: Weather deviations
In this AOPA Air Safety Institute and NATCA video, an air traffic controller discusses the importance of telling ATC when you want to deviate for weather.
Advocacy
Advocacy
Tech will transform cross-border travel
Planeside service for clearing Customs and Border Protection in the United States is on the horizon. Read more >
Health
Article
Feel-good moment: Updating your BasicMed online course
It's time for pilots who were the early movers that switched their medical qualification over to BasicMed two years ago to retake the Medical Self-Assessment course that is one of the program's requirements. Read more >
Technology
Article
Eviation adds magniX to Alice electric airplane project
Electric propulsion developer magniX will help bring forward Eviation Aircraft's regional airliner. Read more >
Opinion
Blog
Complacency is an enemy of protecting airports
Pilots can't afford to shrug off threats to their local airports, writes Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas. Read more >
Gear
Pilot magazine
Get your gloss on
A ceramic coating can bring a shiny luster to your old bird, as AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines discovered with his 1972 Beechcraft Bonanza. Read more >
Moments in history, available now
On June 12, 1979, pilot and cyclist Bryan Allen pedaled a MacCready Gossamer Albatross over the English Channel for 22.5 miles. Read about aviation milestones in Freedom to Fly. Buy it now >
Travel
Article
Mighty, musical caverns
Flying along the Shenandoah Valley is breathtaking, but an even grander gem lies just beneath the surface. Read more >
Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.
Financial
Pilot Protection Services
Flight incidental to business
If you travel for business, why not fly yourself? Here are a few considerations to keep in mind. Read more >
Member benefit
Tips to find the right aircraft financing options
Answers to these three questions can help ensure you get the correct loan package for your airplane purchase. Read more >
News and Notes
AOPA Super Cub Sweepstakes
10 fun facts about AOPA's Sweepstakes Super Cub
We've tricked out your Sweepstakes Super Cub to boost performance and increase utility. Here are 10 fun facts about the airplane. Read more >
Article
Aviation pioneer Jerrie Cobb dies at age 88
Groundbreaking aviator Geraldyn "Jerrie" Cobb, the first of the Mercury 13 women, died March 18. Read more >
Article
Owen Garriott made first ham radio call from outer space
General aviation pilot, astronaut, and longtime amateur radio aficionado Owen Garriott died April 15. Read more >
Article
Documentary to honor Lafayette Escadrille pilots
U.S. pilots who stepped up to help France during World War I will be featured in an upcoming documentary. Read more >
Slideshow
Secret behind aircraft judging
Learn how aircraft judges pick the winners at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo. Read more >
Podcast
'Hangar Talk': eVTOL expert Bruce Holmes
Hear the latest predictions about aviation technology from electric vertical takeoff and landing expert Bruce Holmes; plus, stick around for the week's headlines. Listen to the podcast >
Career Opportunities
Aviation job board
Job of the week: Aviation technical specialist, AOPA
Aviation technical specialists in AOPA's Pilot Information Center serve as a technical resource to AOPA members, staff, and the aviation community at large. 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 communications senior director, aviation finance account executive, IT project manager, Legal Services Plan attorney, development research specialist, legislative affairs director, aviation event operations senior manager, development operations director, development marketing and communications manager, and several interns. Learn about these and other AOPA career opportunities >
Question of the Week
Question

I use the autopilot heavily on my flights. Can I still log pilot-in-command time as sole manipulator even though I'm using the autopilot?
Answer
Yes. The FAA considers the "use and management of the autopilot to be the equivalent of manipulating the controls." Read this FAA letter of interpretation.

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
Apr. 27-28 Dedham, Massachusetts
May 4-5 Albany, New York; Conroe, Texas; and Kansas City, Missouri
May 18-19 Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; and Sacramento, California
Jun. 1-2 Bloomington, Minnesota; Orlando, Florida; and Phoenix, Arizona
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
Apr. 30 Cheektowaga, New York
May 1 Brockport, New York
May 2 Ithaca, New York
May 4 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
Rusty Pilots Seminars
Apr. 27 Spring, Texas; Gypsum, Colorado; Lumberton, New Jersey; Buffalo, Minnesota; Bakersfield, California; and Independence, Iowa
May 4 Cheyenne, Wyoming; Mesa, Arizona; Dayton, Ohio; Orlando, Florida; Moline, Illinois; and Wichita, Kansas
May 5 Anchorage, Alaska
May 11 Frederick, Maryland; Shell Lake, Wisconsin; Nashville, Tennessee; Hayden, Idaho; Dallas, Georgia; Fullerton, California; and Beaumont, 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.
AOPA
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