ASI News
Like a glove
Feel confident parking wherever you go
By Alicia Herron
Seaplane FFR
Beyond the basic flight review
Be the best pilot you can be with the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s new Focused Flight Review—Seaplane Module. Designed to tackle gaps in proficiency, the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s newest Focused Flight Review is the first created for seaplanes.
Parking an airplane seems straightforward, and at the start of anyone’s training, it is. You’ll depart from and return to the same place every flight, and your instructor is there to help you. The process is easy, comfortable, and known.
But your instructor won’t always be with you, and as your training progresses, you’ll (hopefully) venture out to new, unfamiliar airports. You’ll need to shut down, stretch your legs, or fuel up (see “Technique: D.I.Y. Fueling,” p. 32). So how should you approach parking in a new place?
Like most decisions in aviation, it depends. You can start by asking yourself a few questions: How long do you plan to stay? Do you need fuel? Is there a storm coming?
If you’re just planning a short stop, consider transient parking, which is often free and well-marked. You’ll see yellow or white Ts painted on the ground, and maybe ropes or chains to help tie the airplane down. Don’t forget to put in the control lock, or if you don’t have one available, use tightened seatbelts to minimize control movement.
If you need to park and fuel and don’t feel like heading to self-serve (or if self-serve isn’t available), many FBOs will waive their parking fee if you purchase fuel from them. When parking at an FBO, you may mingle with aircraft much bigger than yours. Keep an eye out for any lit beacons, even if you can’t hear the whir of an engine or two—the pilots may be getting ready to start up or taxi away. Unexpected jet blast or rotor wash can make your parking a little more interesting than you’d like.
Depending on what kind of airplane you have you may want to keep it inside overnight. Call ahead and ask the airport about hangar parking and fees. If a storm is coming through, a costly night indoors for your airplane will still be less expensive than repairing hail damage.
Wherever you park, you may be greeted by an aircraft marshaler’s waving arms or orange batons. Marshalers are there to help you and can make the parking process smoother. Review marshaling signals with this video. You’ll feel more confident if you know what to expect.
Arriving at a new airport is always exciting, but don’t get distracted by the red carpet at a fancy FBO or the promise of freshly baked cookies inside—make sure the airplane is secured and the mags, master, and mixture are off and out. If at any point during parking you get into a pickle and think you might hit something, shut down the engine and assess from outside. A little embarrassment is better than an unnecessarily bent airplane.
Industry News
UND wins Safecon 2019
Safecon 2019, the annual collegiate flight competition sponsored by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NAFI), was held May 13 through 18 at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, hosted by the University of Wisconsin in Janesville. Chief Judge Andrew Ross, Associate Chief Judge Greg Weseman, and Senior Chief Judge Erich Hess conducted the competition.
- University of North Dakota
- Southern Illinois University
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University—Prescott
- LeTourneau University
- U.S. Air Force Academy
- Western Michigan University
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University—Daytona
- The Ohio State University
- University of Nebraska Omaha
- Kent State University
