Get extra lift from AOPA. Start your free membership trial today! Click here
News & Media COVID-19 vaccines for pilots; Piper Pilot 100 certified

COVID-19 vaccines for pilots; Piper Pilot 100 certified

AOPA ePilot
VOL 22, ISSUE 51 December 18, 2020
Click here for this week's custom content.
Top Stories
'Everyone realized the gravity'
Article
'Everyone realized the gravity'
AOPA member Houston Mills said captaining a UPS Boeing 757 to deliver the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine doses "was very humbling." (Photo courtesy of UPS Inc.) Read more >
Advocacy
FAA approves first COVID-19 vaccine
Pilots and air traffic controllers can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, but they cannot fly or control air traffic for 48 hours after each dose, the FAA said. Read more >
Article
NTSB opens docket on Collings Foundation B–17 crash
The Boeing B–17 Flying Fortress that crashed short of the runway at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on a Collings Foundation flight in October 2019, killing seven people, never climbed more than 600 feet above the airport, according to documents released by the NTSB. Read more >
Article
Piper Pilot 100 certified
American Flyers will receive the first eight Piper Pilot 100i trainers to enter service before the end of 2020, Piper Aircraft announced December 15. Read more >
AOPA Live This Week
Honors revisited
Never again will so many of those who built aircraft and flew them to victory in World War II gather to remember. Our Arsenal of Democracy retrospective includes stories you have not seen yet. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >
Technique and Safety
Podcast
'There I was': Power loss on takeoff
Doug Stewart tells the AOPA Air Safety Institute about the day the Cessna Cardinal he was flying lost power departing a 1,900-foot-long strip with trees at the end. Listen to the podcast >
Video
Fly safely this holiday season!
Flying general aviation during the holidays? Review state-by-state COVID-19 guidance and get tips for handling the stress of holiday flying. Watch the video >
Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce
Aircraft Maintenance: Buying used aircraft parts online
An aircraft owner can be frugal and safe at the same time, but it takes education and attention to detail. There are no shortcuts. Read more >
Online resource
Pinch hitter
Share this new AOPA Air Safety Institute Safety Spotlight with your nonpilot passengers to help them learn the basics of flying and landing an airplane in the unlikely event of pilot incapacitation.
AOPA Premier Partner created content
Approach lighting for instrument pilots
This PilotWorkshops video explains and demonstrates the different approach lighting systems and what to expect so you can fly a safe visual transition. Watch the video >
Advocacy
Advocacy
Experts to steer AOPA's proposals to improve DPE system
One of the goals of the six-member AOPA Designated Pilot Examiner Advisory Board will be to ensure transparency and fairness to designees and applicants throughout the examination process. Read more >
Advocacy
Pilots can weigh in on SFAR effectiveness
AOPA is conducting an online survey about the special federal aviation regulations created to help pilots stay current during the coronavirus pandemic as the FAA considers extending relief. The survey takes about five minutes to complete. Pilots are encouraged to respond. Read more >
Advocacy
Superior Air Parts crankshaft AD finalized
A new airworthiness directive requires the removal from service of some Superior Air Parts crankshaft assemblies used on all SAP Model IO-360-series and O-360-series reciprocating engines, and some Lycoming engines. Read more >
Advocacy
FAA notes concern about Cessna 120, 140 seat belt brackets
Two fatal accidents and three other incidents linked to the failure of aluminum seat belt mounting brackets on Cessna 120 and Cessna 140 airplanes have prompted the FAA to seek information from operators on any other known failures or damage to the brackets. Read more >
Health
Pilot Protection Services
Why pencils have erasers
Dr. Kenneth Stahl cautions pilots to guard against "learned carelessness." Read more >
Technology
Article
Garmin releases new Smart Rudder Bias
Garmin has added a feature to GFC 600 autopilot retrofits in Beechcraft Baron 58 and 58A models, and certain Piper Navajos, that automatically applies corrective rudder forces in engine-out situations. Read more >
Article
A high-five for the Hy4
A four-seater with a hydrogen-electric powerplant took flight in Europe. Read more >
Article
Hydrogen attracts dollars
ZeroAvia, the California startup that built a hydrogen fuel cell power system for a single-propeller Piper, announced a fresh influx of funding that will enable it to scale up. Read more >
Article
Electric for Australia
Australian aviators have selected a Washington state firm's motor to electrify a fleet of Cessna Caravans. Read more >
Opinion
Blog
Weather flight in the Alps
Studying many weather sources, preparing an out, and maintaining respect for the Alps helped Opinion Leaders blogger Garrett Fisher fly over the mountains in his Piper PA–11 Cub Special. Read more >
Gear
Pilot magazine
Great gear for the pilots in your life
If you are looking for some last-minute gifts for the holidays or want ideas for an upcoming birthday, pilots will love the products highlighted in AOPA Pilot's 2020 Gear Guide. Read more and watch a video >
Travel
Article
2021 aviation event season taking shape
Aviation event organizers are already announcing their plans for fly-ins, airshows, and virtual events in 2021. Here's what we know so far. Read more >
Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.
Financial
Member benefit
What does the process look like?
For those who have not worked with AOPA Aviation Finance Co. to finance an aircraft purchase, here is a brief overview of the process. Read more >
News and Notes
Article
First Flight Society introduces honorary members
North Carolina's First Flight Society honored five aviation legends December 17 during an inaugural honorary member program that coincides with the 117th anniversary of powered flight at Kill Devil Hills. Read more >
Article
Astronauts land moon assignment
A graduate degree in math or science and graduation from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School seem to boost your chances of walking on the moon. Read more >
Airworthiness advisories
Career Opportunities
Aviation job board
Job of the week: Ground and simulator instructor, FlightSafety International
FlightSafety International is seeking a ground and simulator instructor for its Wilmington Learning Center in Delaware. Read the full description and apply today >
Question of the Week
Question

What is the Instrument Flight Procedures Information Gateway?
Answer
The IFP Information Gateway is an FAA tool you can use to get answers to questions about specific procedures that are typically hard to find. For example, if a local RNAV approach has LPV minima that are higher than the LNAV/VNAV minima, it might because of an error, a controlling obstacle along the approach path, or another reason. The only way to know for sure would be to query the FAA directly, which you can do through the gateway. The IFP Information Gateway has many more features and allows users to see all the current procedures for an airport, get notifications for specific airports, see information about procedures in development, and more. See this training video for details. 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
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
Jan. 30, 5 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: Jamie Patterson-Simes
'Pilot Briefing': Week of Dec. 14, 2020
'There I was...': Doug Stewart
'Never Again': I knew I was rusty
'Pilot Protection Services Podcast': Predicting the future
To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.
AOPA logo
© 2020 AOPA
421 Aviation Way Frederick, MD 21701
800-872-2672
301-695-2375 Fax
Facebook Twitter Instagram
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