Get extra lift from AOPA. Start your free membership trial today! Click here
News & Media March 6, 2020, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter

March 6, 2020, issue of 'AOPA ePilot' weekly newsletter

AOPA ePilot
VOL 22, ISSUE 10 March 6, 2020
Click here for this week's custom content.
Top Stories
Georgia aviators at heart of coronavirus rescues
Article
Georgia aviators at heart of coronavirus rescues
Medical transport specialist Phoenix Air flew more than 1,100 Americans out of Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, and stands ready for further missions should the need arise, company officials said. (Photo courtesy of Phoenix Air.) Read more >
Video
Tune Airport devastated as tornado strikes Nashville
Powerful storms wreaked havoc on Nashville on March 3, and John C. Tune Airport was hit hard. Read more and watch the video >
Video
GoFly Prize remains unclaimed
The $1 million prize in the GoFly Prize's Final Fly Off at NASA's Moffett Federal Airfield in California is still up for grabs. Read more and watch the video >
AOPA LIVE THIS WEEK
Sweeps RV–10 sports new colors; GoFly inspires new designs
Feast your eyes on the AOPA Sweepstakes RV–10's new look, check out the futuristic flyers that competed for big bucks, and assess the tornado devastation in Tennessee. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >
AOPA Fly-Ins
Pilot magazine
The value of volunteers
AOPA plans its fly-ins, but volunteers bring them to life. The three AOPA Fly-Ins for 2020 will have lots of great opportunities you can choose from. Read more >
Technique and Safety
Article
NTSB works to speed up accident investigations
The NTSB is working to reverse a slowdown in its reporting of aviation-accident probable causes. Read more >
AOPA Foundation focus
AOPA flight training scholarship deadline is March 15
Working on your instrument rating; commercial pilot certificate; or CFI, CFII, or MEI certificate? Apply by March 15 for an AOPA Advanced Flight Training Scholarship to help with the cost! Read more >
Sponsored by Hartzell Propeller
Warm up for spring flying
In the first of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's new four-part series, Seasons of Safety, we kick off the flying season by highlighting keys to regaining pilot proficiency and ensuring the airplane and other equipment are ready for flight. Watch the video >
Login required
Cross-country to Crescent City
The weather reports for your route reveal it's a great day to log some light IFR time along the Gulf Coast, but your GPS is acting up. Can you find your way to New Orleans without it? Take this AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz to find out.
IFR Fix
Circling the question
Have circling approaches outlived their usefulness in the age of straight-in GPS-based procedures? Read more >
Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce
Aircraft Maintenance: Winter battery care
Winter often means long intervals between flights, and that can spell trouble for aircraft batteries. Read more >
Video
Icing encounter
A newly instrument-rated pilot planned to take his family on a flight across central Pennsylvania in his Cessna 172. Mother Nature had other ideas. Learn more in the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Real Pilot Story: Icing Encounter.
Advocacy
Advocacy
Expense-sharing guidance updated
Pilots should read the new explanation of rules about sharing operating expenses with passengers, particularly as the line between shared flights and for-hire air transportation has blurred. Read more >
Advocacy
AOPA asks FAA to facilitate low-risk drone ops under remote ID
Tracking drones will make flying safer for all, but the FAA should not sacrifice the freedom to fly in the interest of safety. Read more >
Advocacy
Accident puts Cessna 206 cargo doors back in focus
The FAA is revisiting the question of whether occupants of Cessna 206-, U206-, and TU206-series airplanes can safely exit the aircraft through the cargo doors during an emergency. Read more >
Advocacy
Annual GA survey launches
The FAA has launched its forty-second annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey. Read more >
Advocacy
AOPA asks Mexico to add UAT to ADS-B
AOPA is taking advantage of Mexico's delayed ADS-B Out mandate to ask the country to accept 978-MHz ADS-B data as compliant within its airspace. Read more >
Technology
Article
Flying on hydrogen
A California firm plans to begin test flights this month of a hydrogen-powered Piper in the United Kingdom, where climate change has prompted government investment in the technology. Read more >
Opinion
Blog
On second thought: Make decisions based on wisdom, not fear
Quick decisions are more likely to be based on a primitive part of our brain, while second thoughts can include wisdom from the more cognitive side, writes Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas. Read more >
Gear
Article
AOPA Flight Planner to sunset
Jeppesen will be decommissioning its legacy map engine that powers much of the information in the AOPA Flight Planner. Because of this, AOPA will be sunsetting the planner by the end of April. Read more >
Travel
Article
Tips to break into the Pilot Passport top 100 check-ins
Find out how a pilot climbed to the top 100 check-ins in the AOPA app's Pilot Passport and what you can do to improve your ranking in March. Read more >
Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.
Financial
Article
Wheels Up goes big
Two deals in 2020 make Wheels Up one of the largest aircraft management companies in the world. Read more >
Article
Piaggio up for sale
Long besieged with financial troubles, Piaggio Aerospace has announced a call for buyers. Read more >
Member benefit
How much airplane can I afford?
An aircraft buyer's purchasing power depends on several factors. Read more >
Article
Hardening market makes getting higher liability limits difficult
Find out what threshold insurers have set for hull and liability coverage combined. Read more >
Member benefit
Cellphone insurance built into AOPA World Mastercard
Cellphone insurance is included when you pay your cellular bill with your AOPA World Mastercard. Read more >
News and Notes
Article
Pilot, 'Actors Studio' host James Lipton dies at 93
Pilot James Lipton, the bearded baritone host of the TV program Inside the Actors Studio, died March 2 at age 93. He wore his "AOPA wings" on his suit jacket lapel because he was proud of his aviation background. Read more >
Article
Victory Gala to honor World War II veterans
Celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of World War II and listen to veterans' firsthand accounts during the Arsenal of Democracy Victory Gala in Washington, D.C., on May 7. Read more >
Pilot Protection Services
Liability waivers in aviation
Although liability waivers may provide legal protection for pilots, you should be aware of circumstances in which courts may elect not to uphold a waiver. Read more >
Standard time ends March 8
If you live in an area that observes daylight saving time, don't forget to move your clocks forward one hour March 8. Remember that the conversion to Coordinated Universal Time will change, too. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's time conversion chart can help you avoid confusion.
Podcast
'Hangar Talk': Ted Greenfield encourages 'silver' students
We chat with Ted Greenfield, whose "Over 50 and Learning to Fly" YouTube channel encourages those in their "early silver period" to pursue aviation. Listen to the podcast >
Career Opportunities
Aviation job board
Job of the week: AOPA associate developer of safety programs
The associate developer of safety programs supports the AOPA Air Safety Institute online and in-person certificated flight instructor renewal programs through customer service, content development and editing, and administration of CFI renewal documentation. 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 medical certification specialist, membership experience senior manager, major gifts officer, data analyst, facilities technician, front-end developer, communications senior director, government affairs (regulatory) vice president, High School Aviation Outreach director, and several interns. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >
Question of the Week
Question

If I already have a Marine Radio Operator Permit (MP) from the FCC, do I also need a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR) to fly internationally?
Answer
If you already have a current MP, you do not need to get the RR as well. The MP conveys all the authority of the RR. (See 47 CFR 13.8(g)).

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
Mar. 14-15 Tempe, AZ; King of Prussia, PA; and Santa Clara, CA
Mar. 21-22 Ontario, CA
Apr. 4-5 Indianapolis, IN; and San Diego, CA
Apr. 18-19 Atlanta, GA; Aurora, CO; Dulles, VA; and Tampa, FL
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
Mar. 9 Monroe, NC; Olathe, KS; and Reno, NV
Mar. 10 Wichita, KS; and Asheville, NC
Mar. 11 Oklahoma City, OK; and Greensboro, NC
Mar. 12 Morrisville, NC; and Rogers, Arkansas
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
Rusty Pilots Seminars
Mar. 7 Redding, CA; and Reedsburg, WI
Mar. 14 Burlington, WA; and Kissimmee, FL
Mar. 21 Hammond, LA; Omaha, NE; Washington, NC; and Kenosha, WI
Mar. 28 Cleveland, OH; Live Oak, FL; and Rensselaer, IN
AOPA Rusty Pilots seminars are sponsored by Sporty's. For a complete schedule, visit our online Pilot Information Center. (Log in to our online Pilot Information Center 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 our online Pilot Information Center 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.
AOPA logo
© 2020 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
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