December 13, 2019, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter
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| VOL 21, ISSUE 50 |
December 13, 2019 |
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Top Stories
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| Article |
| Happy birthday, Col. McGee |
| Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles McGee, who flew a P–51 Mustang as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, celebrated his 100th birthday by climbing into the left seat of a Cirrus Vision Jet. Read more > |
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| Pilot magazine |
| Waypoints: A century of perseverance |
| AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines reflects on the experiences and wisdom of retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles McGee. Read more > |
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| Slideshow |
| It's 'all for the kids' |
| For the past 49 years, a Michigan event has proven that there really is a Santa Claus. Read more > |
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| AOPA Live This Week |
| Aviation legend turns 100; Pilots bring 'Good Cheer' |
| At age 100, Tuskegee Airman and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles McGee can still land a jet like a pro. Also, see how Michigan pilots participating in Operation Good Cheer spread holiday joy to needy youth. Watch AOPA Live This Week® > |
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Technique and Safety
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| Article |
| New IFR video series offers practical tips |
| AOPA Premier Partner PilotWorkshops has released a new video program that demonstrates techniques and procedures to make instrument flying easier and safer. Read more > |
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| Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce |
| Aircraft Maintenance: Tame Old Man Winter with hangar tech |
| Pilot and A&P Jeff Simon offers tips to help you minimize the challenges of winter flying by preheating and monitoring your aircraft via Wi-Fi. Read more > |
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| Holiday flying—Good decisions make happy memories |
| Flying general aviation to visit friends or family during the holidays? In this YouTube Live broadcast, AOPA Air Safety Institute Executive Director Richard McSpadden will share tips to help you identify potential traps unique to the holidays. Watch live December 17 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. |
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| Online resource |
| AOPA Air Safety Institute video producers: 'Ask Me Anything' |
| Ever wonder how we make videos like Accident Case Studies and Real Pilot Stories? AOPA Air Safety Institute video producers Tyler Pangborn and Kurt Sensenbrenner will take your questions on December 16 via Instagram at 5 p.m. Eastern time during an "Ask Me Anything" session! |
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| Login required |
| Into a black hole |
| Our eyes can play tricks on us in the air, and flying an approach after dark can lead to several optical illusions. Can you overcome them? Find out with this AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz. |
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Advocacy
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| Advocacy |
| Answers for the unequipped |
| As the FAA's ADS-B Out mandate draws closer, more pilots—especially those flying aircraft not equipped—have questions. We have answers. Read more > |
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| Advocacy |
| HIWAS broadcasts ending January 8 |
| The Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service, which transmits weather advisories over some VORs, will be discontinued on January 8. Read more > |
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Health
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| Video |
| When should you stay on the ground? |
| Dr. Jonathan Sackier shares 10 reasons why you shouldn't take to the sky. Watch the video > |
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Technology
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| Article |
| Harbour Air flies first electric Beaver |
| Harbour Air's all-electric-powered de Havilland Beaver seaplane made its maiden flight test December 10 in Vancouver, British Columbia, ushering in a new era of aviation. Read more > |
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Opinion
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| Blog |
| Mountain flying: Warn and mitigate |
| After a flight around Mont Blanc in windy conditions, Opinion Leaders blogger Garrett Fisher explains why he advocates a "warn and mitigate" model of instruction for mountain flying. (Photo by Garrett Fisher.) Read more > |
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Gear
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| Article |
| tailBeacon approved for rotorcraft |
| uAvionix's tailBeacon has been accepted by the FAA for installation on rotorcraft with no product updates or changes required. Read more > |
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Travel
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| Pilot magazine |
| Tour Diamond's factory |
| One of Diamond Aircraft's most active and interesting manufacturing facilities is in London, Ontario, an easy flight over the border from Ohio, Michigan, or New York. Read more > |
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| Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter. |
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Financial
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| Pilot Protection Services |
| Tips for buying and selling used aircraft |
| If you plan to sell your aircraft or are interested in buying one, here's what you need to know about warranties, inspections, and more. Read more > |
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| Member benefit |
| Best time to sell an older jet |
| Not everyone has a jet to sell, but if you do, now is the time. Because new jet prices have risen significantly, buyers might prefer to purchase a well-maintained, used aircraft instead. Read more > |
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News and Notes
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| Article |
| World speed record attempt back on track |
| After several false starts, Bill Harrelson is on his way around the world in a Lancair IV to break a 58-year-old record. Read more > |
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| Article |
| Events to mark seventy-fifth anniversary of World War II's end |
| A committee dedicated to paying tribute to veterans of World War II is raising funds to host events and programs in 2020 to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the war's end in Europe and the Pacific. Read more > |
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| Article |
| Hayward Air Rally to award EAA Air Academy scholarships |
| The Hayward Air Rally is again offering scholarships to the EAA Air Academy for two students between the ages of 16 and 18 to cover the cost of tuition and transportation to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Read more > |
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| Survey |
| FAA seeking icing survey responses |
| The FAA and the National Weather Service are asking pilots to share their thoughts in this survey to help determine terminology for icing products. Take the survey > |
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Career Opportunities
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| Aviation job board |
| Job of the week: CFI, Horizon Aviation |
| Horizon Aviation in Warwick, Rhode Island, is seeking CFIs with a passion for teaching and a driving commitment to their students' success. Read the full description and apply today > |
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| AOPA career opportunities |
| Join the AOPA team |
| Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a marketing coordinator (membership), You Can Fly coordinator, government affairs (regulatory) vice president, and High School Aviation Outreach director. Learn about AOPA career opportunities > |
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Question of the Week
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Question
I've always heard that you can log time as pilot in command when you take (and pass) a practical test. I have not found a regulation supporting this statement for a student pilot taking a private pilot practical test. Where's the proof? |
| Answer |
According to this FAA Letter of Interpretation, there is an exemption that allows a student pilot to act as PIC on his or her checkride; therefore, he or she can log PIC time as well. This is because the applicant "possesses the appropriate experience prior to the practical test for the particular certificate or rating," and therefore is qualified to act as PIC during the test.
This question and answer were provided by AOPA's Pilot Information Center. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA. |
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Education & Seminars
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| Flight Instructor Refresher Courses |
| Jan. 4-5 |
Charlotte, NC; Spokane, WA; and Costa Mesa, CA |
| Jan. 11-12 |
San Antonio, TX; Portland, OR; and Alcoa, TN |
| Jan. 18-19 |
Bellevue, WA; and Elkridge, MD |
| Jan. 25-26 |
Jackson, MS; and Romulus, MI |
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| Rusty Pilots Seminars |
| Dec. 14 |
Scottsdale, AZ; and Mosinee, WI |
| Jan. 11 |
Gordonville, TX; and Nashville, TN |
| Jan. 18 |
Stevensville, MD; Bethany, OK; Eden Prairie, MN; and Woodland, CA |
| Jan. 25 |
Fredericksburg, TX; Gulf Shores, AL; Clinton, IA; and Carlsbad, CA |
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| 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.) |
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Aviation Calendar
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| 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 Cobb
Jim Moore
Dan Namowitz
David Tulis
Production Team:
Elizabeth Linares
Kristy O'Malley
Melissa Whitehouse |
Contributors:
Mike Collins
Sarah Deener
Tom Haines
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Warren Morningstar
Kollin Stagnito
Jill Tallman
Ian Twombly
Julie Summers Walker |
Advertise in ePilot:
Dan Justman, 301-695-2182
Eastern and Central United States and International:
Jeff Rockwood, 301-695-2089
Western United States:
Tom Linton, 301-695-2055
AOPA Advertising website |
