June 5, 2020, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter


VOL 22, ISSUE 23	June 5, 2020

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Top Stories

Multimedia

Beyond Proficient: STOL Goal

See how Ross Wilke stays safe while operating near the edge of the envelope in challenging environments in a sneak peek at the AOPA Pilot July feature and latest AOPA Air Safety Institute Beyond Proficient video. Read more >

Article

Back in the game

AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines shares what it's like to witness the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch near Kennedy Space Center, as he fulfills his 51-year dream to experience a spacecraft launch in person. Read more >

Article

Garmin aera 760: Looks and acts like a tablet

Here's a first look at Garmin's new aera 760, which resembles a thick iPad Mini with a seven-inch screen well-suited for VFR and IFR flights. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Launchside seats; Paying it forward

The first all-American orbital flight in nearly a decade blew our hair back. Also, pilots in Hawaii (including AOPA scholarship recipients) team up for coronavirus pandemic relief, and a close look at Garmin's newest gizmo. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >

Technique and Safety

IFR Fix

Five reasons to get seriously current

What instrument pilot isn't tempted to shoot some familiar approaches, race around a holding pattern, and pronounce oneself fit to move forward after a long winter's hibernation? Read more >

Video

Communication breakdown

The AOPA Air Safety Institute connects the links in the accident chain of a Cirrus SR22 that plunged to the ground in 2012 just seconds before what would have been a routine landing. Watch the video >

All charged up

Airplanes and thunderstorms do not mix. Get insight into these convective beasts and tips for avoiding them with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's "Thunderstorms" quiz.

Advocacy

Industry groups urge SFAR extension

Aviation groups urged the FAA to extend the special regulation that provided some relief for complying with regulatory deadlines amid the coronavirus pandemic before key provisions expire on June 30. Read more >

Advocacy

FAA reopens comments on Piper wing spar AD

Thousands of aircraft may be culled from a list of up to 20,000 Piper singles potentially subject to an airworthiness directive proposed after the fatal crash of an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University trainer in 2018. Read more >

Advocacy

This will be on the test

The FAA has released changes to training and testing procedures and study resources for students, advanced pilots, and flight instructors. Read more >

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Don't be afraid to ask for help

Dr. Kenneth Stahl reminds pilots that it is important to do a thorough self-assessment before flying and to ask for help if you need it. Read more >

Technology

Article

Electric milestone

A Cessna Grand Caravan modified with an electric motor powered by batteries that weigh more than an empty Skyhawk made a bit of history with its maiden flight. Read more >

Article

Epic Aircraft delivers first two E1000 turboprops

Epic Aircraft announced the first two deliveries of its recently certified E1000 all-carbon-fiber single-engine turboprop. Read more >

Gear

Article

Bluetail launches digital recordkeeping service

A new company scans and digitizes aircraft maintenance and other records so that customers can search their documents from any web browser and view a timeline of the aircraft's maintenance history. Read more >

Article

Honeywell develops safety packs for airline passengers, crew

Honeywell Safety Packs with personal protective equipment are designed to help travelers feel safer while flying. Read more >

Travel

Article

Socially distant sandwich on the shore

AOPA Live® Producer Paul Harrop, a new private pilot, makes a daytrip to the beach after being grounded by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more >

Article

Bahamian officials to open islands to air travel

General aviation pilots will be among the first tourists allowed back in the Bahamas starting June 15. Read more >

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

Financial

Member benefit

What's the deal with prepayment penalties?

If you pay your aircraft loan off early, that may be good for you but not so good for the lender. A prepayment penalty is one way the lender can recoup the cost of your loan. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

Self-serve fuel pump issue resolved at 800 airports

A computer network glitch disabled self-serve fuel pumps at airports across the country for five days, a major inconvenience for pilots flying to airports without a full-service fuel option. Read more >

Article

Pilots rise to meet critical needs in Hawaii

With hospital workers facing a critical shortage of protective equipment and stray cats facing starvation in shelters, Hawaii pilots swung into action. Read more >

Article

Iditarod champs finally catch a ride home

A Douglas DC–6 with a storied history made its final flight on June 2—from Alaska to Norway with 24 dogs and one Iditarod trophy aboard. Read more >

Article

FAA to modify Cessna doorpost-inspection AD

The FAA is giving the operators of numerous models of Cessna single-engine airplanes a second opportunity to weigh in on an airworthiness directive it proposed in 2018 to inspect aircraft for metal-fatigue cracking of the forward cabin doorpost bulkhead. Read more >

Multimedia

Operation SoCal Strong turns eyes skyward

Fifteen World War II-era airplanes took to the skies over Southern California on May 25 in a Memorial Day flyover led by the D-Day Squadron. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Cessna Citation Mustang pilot, Huber & Associates Inc.

Are you looking for a unique flying opportunity within a dynamic and multifaceted organization? Huber & Associates Inc. in south-central Pennsylvania is seeking a well-trained pilot who will help its business continue to flourish in the years ahead. 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 government affairs (regulatory) vice president, member experience senior manager, data analyst, and associate developer of safety programs. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Question of the Week

Question

I'm adding a helicopter rating to my private pilot certificate. My flight review is going to run out soon. Can I just get a flight review in the helicopter since I'm training in it currently?

Answer

Unfortunately, no. A flight review must be completed in an aircraft in which you're rated (see FAR 61.56). Since you aren't currently rated in helicopters, you cannot accomplish a flight review in one. 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

June 6, 12 p.m. EDT	Flying Clubs Workshop: Club management and member proficiency
June 9, 2 p.m. EDT	AOPA Flying Clubs Webinar: Maximum fun, minimum cost
June 11, 12 p.m. EDT	Don't Get Rusty Series: Is your airplane rusty too?
June 13, 1 p.m. EDT	Flying Clubs Workshop: Is your flying club running at peak efficiency?
June 13, 3 p.m. EDT	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
June 18, 12 p.m. EDT	Don't Get Rusty Series: Keeping current with Mark Baker

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

Nick Hoffman

Supersonic ejection

Sean D. Tucker flies the GameBird GB1

AOPA Technical Editor Jill Tallman

Textron Aviation's Robert Scholl on the impact of COVID-19 on Cessna and Beechcraft

Skytypers behind the scenes

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

AOPA Podcasts

'Hangar Talk': Garmin's Bailey Scheel explains Autoland

'Hangar Talk' Flight Time series: Rod Machado

'Pilot Briefing': Week of June 1, 2020

'There I was...': Thomas Middleditch

'Never Again': Close call

'Pilot Protection Services Podcast': Predicting the future

To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.

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