Potential insurance relief; SFAR views sought


VOL 22, ISSUE 50	December 11, 2020

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Top Stories

Article

Potential insurance relief on the horizon for older pilots?

After months of close coordination with AOPA, strategic insurance partner AssuredPartners Aerospace is teaming up with an A-rated aviation insurer that has pledged to explore options for pilots up to age 79. Read more >

Advocacy

AOPA surveys pilots on coronavirus SFAR effectiveness

Share your thoughts about the special FAA regulations created to help pilots remain current during the coronavirus pandemic. AOPA will provide insights gathered from the survey to the FAA before the agency decides whether to extend relief measures. Read more >

Slideshow

Just in time for Christmas: A Holiday Flying Festival

Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with several thousand aviation and automobile enthusiasts, converged for sun, fun, and holiday cheer December 4 and 5 in Lakeland, Florida. Read more and view a slideshow >

AOPA Live This Week

Flights against the virus; HondaJets by slice; Flight unseen

Pilots rose to the coronavirus challenge in many ways. Also, fractional HondaJet opportunities, and a blind preteen's Cirrus experience. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >

Technique and Safety

Webinar

The year in aviation safety

Join AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden for a review of general aviation safety in 2020, and what we can tell about 2021. The webinar airs December 17 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Register here >

Online resource

Learn from new 'CFI to CFI'

In this issue of CFI to CFI, review lessons learned from 2020, discover tips to avoid paperwork hiccups during a practical test, and more. The newsletter is packed with information for all pilots—not just CFIs!

Article

AOPA Air Safety Institute will not offer in-person FIRCs in 2021

Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the AOPA Air Safety Institute will not offer in-person flight instructor refresher courses in 2021. Instructors are encouraged to complete the tablet-friendly eFIRC instead. Read more >

Video

See, sense, separate

Midair collisions fall into that "low probability, high consequence" category. In this video, the AOPA Air Safety Institute discusses areas where the risk of a midair is greatest as well as strategies to minimize the chance of having one.

Advocacy

FCC disregards aviation groups' concerns

Despite the strong opposition from key leaders in Congress and the aviation industry, the FCC on December 8 "kicked off" the auction of spectrum for telecommunication services that could interfere with aircraft radar altimeters. Read more >

Advocacy

NTSB flags oil-filter adapter in Continental engine failures

The NTSB has requested an FAA airworthiness directive requiring inspection of oil-filter adapters used in Continental engines that have been linked to accidents. Read more >

Advocacy

FAA concerned about Piper lift-strut inspections

The FAA is reaching out to operators of numerous Piper Aircraft models as it seeks to determine how many aircraft are flying with unsealed wing lift struts that are subject to repetitive corrosion inspections mandated by a series of airworthiness directives. Read more >

Technology

Article

Falcon 6X debuts

Dassault Aviation rolled out its latest business jet—the Falcon 6X. Read more >

Article

Icon goes with Garmin G3X Touch

Icon Aircraft is offering the Garmin G3X Touch and autopilot as options on its A5 amphibious light sport aircraft. Read more >

Article

Hybrid commercial trial underway

Electric aviation pioneer Ampaire's hybrid-electric Cessna 337 Skymaster conversion is being put to a new test in Hawaii. Read more >

Gear

Article

Switch hitter

Remotely turn on your engine preheater so that your aircraft is ready to fly when you are this winter. Read more >

Travel

Flight Training magazine

Flying the national parks

The spectacle of the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is one of many reasons to fly over the U.S. national parks. Here are tips for flying safely >

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

Financial

Article

Joby acquires Uber Elevate

A major deal between Uber Technologies and Joby Aviation transforms the race for electric urban air mobility. Read more >

Member benefit

2020 questions: Year in review

AOPA Aviation Finance Co. President Adam Meredith answers questions about using an airplane as security for a loan, interest-only loans, securing financing versus paying cash, and purchasing an aircraft as a student pilot. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

Reno Air Races halfway to goal

The Reno Air Racing Association has made significant fundraising progress and plans to have the Stihl National Championship Air Races in 2021. Read more >

Slideshow

Charles E. 'Chuck' Yeager dies at age 97

Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, the legendary test pilot who broke the sound barrier, died December 7 at age 97. Read more >

Article

Program to honor World War II veterans with Stearman flights

Dream Flights will honor World War II veterans in 2021 by barnstorming the country in six World War II-era Stearman biplane trainers as part of Operation September Freedom. Read more >

Article

'I feel like the plane is talking to me'

A blind preteen's flight in the left seat of a Cirrus SR20 (with a CFI by her side) boosted her self-confidence and inspired others. Read more >

Pilot Protection Services

Practical considerations for ASRS reports

There are many reasons to file an Aviation Safety Reporting System report, including the waiver of sanction in FAA enforcement cases and to alert others to safety issues. Read more >

Podcast

'Hangar Talk': Operation Good Cheer pilot Dean Greenblatt

Dean Greenblatt is a leader of Operation Good Cheer, an organization that uses aircraft to deliver tens of thousands of presents to children in the Michigan foster care system every year. Listen to the podcast >

Airworthiness advisories

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Director of flight instruction, California Aeronautical University

California Aeronautical University in Bakersfield, California, is seeking a director of flight instruction to manage CFIs and overall quality for the university's flight lab courses. Read the full description and apply today >

Question of the Week

Question

I'd like to warn other pilots about National Aviation Center. This company, whose website often appears high in search results for "FAA aircraft registration," collects the needed information and charges a fee but is not actually affiliated with the FAA.

Answer

This company charges exorbitant rates to do the same thing that you can do with the FAA for $5. This company also sends out "renewal notices" that are very official looking just before the actual notices come out from the FAA. Check out this video report about this company. You should be careful and verify who you are dealing with prior to paying anything. When in doubt give AOPA a call. The Pilot Information Center exists to help members with all sorts of questions, including those concerning aircraft registration renewals. Read the full answer and join the discussion >

This discussion is from our online Pilot Information Center, where you can ask questions, contribute answers, earn badges, and join our growing pilot community online. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Education & Seminars

AOPA's in-person educational courses and seminars have been canceled or postponed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Stay sharp with our webinars, podcasts, and videos.

Upcoming AOPA webinars

Dec. 17, 7 p.m. EST	2020: The year in aviation safety with Richard McSpadden
Jan. 14, 12 p.m. EST	'Don't Get Rusty' series: Wait! Are we in balance?
Jan. 19, 12 p.m. EST	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Jan. 27, 7 p.m. EST	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition

See the full webinar schedule in our online Pilot Information Center. (Log in to our online Pilot Information Center using your AOPA website username and password to view these events.) View our recently recorded webinars (registration required).

Latest AOPA Pilot Lounge videos

John Mohr, Piaggio Royal Gull

CST Flight Services COVID-19 travel guides

Earthrounder, crash survivor, and public speaker Ryan Campbell

George Antoniadis - PlaneSense

You Can Fly Champions

How a PPS panel attorney protects AOPA members

For a full list of Pilot Lounge videos, see AOPA Online.

AOPA podcasts

'Ask the A&Ps': 'I went to the church of lean of peak'

'Hangar Talk': Operation Good Cheer pilot Dean Greenblatt

'Hangar Talk' Flight Time series: John Zimmerman

'Pilot Briefing': Week of Dec. 7, 2020

'There I was...': Todd Clark

'Never Again': I knew I was rusty

'Pilot Protection Services Podcast': Predicting the future

To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.

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