May 3, 2019, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 21, ISSUE 18	May 3, 2019

Click here for this week's custom content.

Top Stories

Article

'I just knew what to do'

Aerobatic pilot Spencer Suderman was cruising above Southern California on his way to Arizona for a crack at beating his own inverted flat spin world record when the prop on his Pitts deplaned. (Photo courtesy of Spencer Suderman.) Read more >

Article

Water wings

When is a pilot overdressed in jeans and sneakers? When the airplane you are about to fly is a Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey. Read more >

Online resource

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, the first designed with seaplane pilot proficiency in mind. Learn more >

AOPA Live This Week

Extra adrenaline; Prizes for killing corrosion

Watch AOPA Editor at Large Dave Hirschman get his hands on an Extra 330SC, and see what's cooking around Frederick, Maryland, along with our huge AOPA homecoming. Also, get part of a $200,000 prize for Bonanza corrosion solutions. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, May 2 >

AOPA Fly-Ins

Article

Party at the Flightline Cookout

Don't miss your chance to chow down on unlimited food while watching a STOL Invitational, a D-Day tribute, and a drone light show. The AOPA Fly-In Flightline Cookout at Frederick, Maryland, on May 10 is certain to sell out. Read more >

Video

Your right or mine?

Need to brush up on marshalling signals? Review the basics in this new AOPA Air Safety Institute video and taxi in to your next fly-in with confidence!

Technique and Safety

Article

Flying to help others

Before you volunteer to help after a disaster, make sure you don't inadvertently put yourself on the wrong side of the law. Read more >

Video

Rescue gone wrong

Helicopter search and rescue is a far cry from everyday flying—but the fundamentals of aeronautical decision making still apply as seen in this AOPA Air Safety Institute Accident Case Study. Watch the video >

IFR Fix

Glass-cockpit greenhorn

Find out how a staunch steam-gauge pilot handled his first experience with a glass cockpit and what he learned about sharpening his focus. Read more >

Advocacy

BasicMed turns two

BasicMed crossed the two-year mark on May 1 with nearly 50,000 pilots flying under the new medical process. Read more >

Advocacy

Master of disguise

Utah's Heber Valley Airport will likely remain AOPA's most complained-about location after the city's latest actions to thwart competition on the field. AOPA is challenging the city's excuses. Read more >

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Combating expectation bias

Expectation bias, our tendency to believe our "lyin' eyes," can be lethal in an airplane. Read more >

Technology

Article

Drone 'eyes' might be better than yours

A computer-vision collision-avoidance solution for drones may someday come to manned aircraft. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Is flying worth dying for?

Opinion Leaders blogger Robert DeLaurentis discusses the psychological and spiritual aspects of the risks of flying a polar circumnavigation. Read more >

Gear

AOPA Super Cub Sweepstakes

Pilots excited to try out Sweepstakes Super Cub's gear

Find out which of the three sets of landing gear—floats, tundra tires, or skis—pilots want to fly with most on the AOPA Sweepstakes Super Cub. Read more >

Travel

Article

Can't get enough STOL

Short takeoff and landing competitions are popping up across the country. Here are a few you won't want to miss. Read more >

Article

Share your flight experience, win a gift card

Share your flights on social media through the AOPA app's Pilot Passport challenge in May, and you could win a $50 AOPA Pilot Gear gift card. Read more >

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

Financial

Member benefit

Get your ducks in a row

Procrastinating on gathering your financial documents can slow or scuttle your plan to buy an airplane. Read more >

Article

Society posts prizes to save Bonanza fleet

An engineering alternative for Bonanza V-tail ruddervators could earn an engineer, or team of engineers, a share of $200,000 for saving the fleet from being forever grounded by corrosion. Read more >

News and Notes

You Can Fly

Putting the fun in fundamentals

If the teachers are having fun teaching aviation concepts, imagine how their students are going to feel. Read more >

Article

Tucker teams up

Sean D. Tucker will continue his Oracle Challenger III farewell tour with new teammate Jessy Panzer. Find out where you can watch them in action. Read more >

Article

Inventor of popular autopilot turns 90

You might not know Jim Younkin's name—but you know his inventions, including the first practical autopilot for general aviation. Read more >

SocialFlight expands to Europe

A hamburger is a hamburger in many languages, and the aviation app SocialFlight can now translate the proverbial $100 hamburger into European adventures.

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Assistant chief flight instructor, California Aeronautical University

The assistant chief flight instructor is responsible for providing safe, effective, and efficient Part 141 flight instruction operations for the university in accordance with all local, state, and federal guidelines. 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 Northwest Mountain Region manager, communications senior director, aviation technical specialist, 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 had a bird strike on my last flight. The mechanic is checking out the aircraft now. Is there anything further I should do?

Answer

Yes. You should fill out a wildlife strike report with the FAA. You can either use the online form or fill out the paper form. This FAA advisory circular covers this topic in depth.

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

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
Jun. 8-9	Columbus, Ohio; and Santa Clara, 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

May 4	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
May 10-11	Frederick, Maryland

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

Rusty Pilots Seminars

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
May 18	Austinburg, Ohio; Crawfordsville, Indiana; Easton, Maryland; Rochester, Minnesota; and Idaho Falls, Idaho

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 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:
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Eastern and Central United States and International:
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Western United States:
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