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News & Media epilot

Astronaut in an AirCam; Groups seek pandemic relief

AOPA ePilot
VOL 23, ISSUE 2 January 8, 2021
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Top Stories
Astronaut, high schoolers build AirCam
Pilot Magazine
Astronaut, high schoolers build AirCam
Former astronaut Story Musgrave has looked down on Earth from orbit at more than 17,000 mph. Now he flies at a mere 60 mph in an amphibious AirCam he built with Florida high school students. (Photo by Steven Martine.) Read more and view a slideshow >
AOPA Live This Week
TBM technique; Biplanes, burgers in Battle Creek
AOPA Editor at Large Tom Horne practices precision landings for prop-strike prevention; a once-rusty pilot takes his dad for a flight; and Waco Aircraft Corp. launches its first Michigan-made taco. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >
Technique and Safety
Webinar
Proficiency 101
Join two of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's flight instructors on January 14 at 7 p.m. Eastern time for guidance on creating a proficiency plan for 2021. FAA Wings credit and an AOPA Pilot Passport badge are available. Register now >
Video
Ground control
Consistently practicing the proper control placement in crosswinds on the ground builds an excellent habit that will kick in when the winds kick up and help avoid ground loops. Watch the AOPA Air Safety Institute video >
Online resource
Your IFR limits
Whether you're barely current or flying by instruments daily, take a few minutes and update your IFR personal minimums for 2021 with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's IFR Pilot Personal Minimums Contract.
AOPA Premier Partner created content
Win this flight simulator
Watch an unsettling night landing scenario; choose how you would handle it; then enter online to win a complete desktop flight simulator worth $2,495. Take the PilotWorkshops challenge >
Advocacy
Advocacy
Aviation groups press for third extension of pandemic SFAR
The special regulation the FAA issued in April 2020 and amended twice during the year to help pilots cope with the coronavirus pandemic should be extended a third time as COVID-19 continues to spread, aviation groups believe. Read more >
Advocacy
Real-time SUA updates coming to the cockpit
An AOPA-championed effort to push real-time status of military operations areas and other types of special-use airspace into cockpits has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act. Read more >
Advocacy
Congress hooks Ligado for costs from GPS jamming
Congress has handed out some hefty homework assignments to government officials and scientists in a bid to resolve a persistent question of whether the multibillion-dollar Ligado Networks proposed 5G wireless telecommunications project could jam or disable GPS signals. Read more >
Advocacy
Rule supports supersonic aircraft development
The testing of supersonic aircraft for safe and environmentally friendly use in civil aviation has taken a major step forward with the release of a rule that sets out procedures for gaining flight test approval, the FAA said. Read more >
Advocacy
Baker continues on FAA drone committee
AOPA President Mark Baker, among the original members of the FAA Drone Advisory Committee, has been appointed to another two-year term. Read more >
Advocacy
FAA working to update private-use airport listings
Owners of private-use airports are encouraged to confirm with the FAA that the information the agency has on file about their airports is no more than three years old as the agency works to update its data on the airfields. Read more >
Technology
Article
Move over, 'Kermit' and 'Miss Piggy'
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's new Textron Beechcraft King Air 350CER joins Lockheed WP–3D Orion hurricane hunters Kermit and Miss Piggy, among other aircraft. Read more >
Opinion
Blog
Into the alligator's mouth
Instrument-rated commercial pilot and Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas dives into the psychology of setting and reevaluating personal minimums during the first installment of a multipart series that explores how aviators approach flying limits. Read more >
Gear
Article
Invention automates weight-and-balance calculation
Aviation writer and inventor Tim Kern has a patent pending for his automated weight-and-balance calculator integrated with sensors that measure actual weight on the landing gear. Read more >
Travel
Article
Have a taco, watch a Waco being made
The makeover of the Waco Aircraft Corp. headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan, included a new restaurant with views of the runway and the factory floor. Read more >
Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.
Financial
Article
AOPA life and AD&D insurance plans change to MetLife
MetLife is the new carrier for AOPA-sponsored life and AD&D insurance programs—a move that will offer better rates, more coverage, and added benefits to members. There are no general aviation exclusions for coverage. Read more >
News and Notes
Podcast
'Did you float the dog?'
Ask the A&Ps podcast hosts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling revisit sticky valves, diagnose shimmy dampers, give a bit of career advice, and talk about throttle response. Plus, silly pilot tricks with animals! Submit your questions for the next episode. Listen to the podcast >
Podcast
'Hangar Talk': Aviation stories with the most impact in 2020
Join a special year-end discussion about the top aviation news stories of 2020 and predictions about what could affect pilots in 2021 and beyond. Listen to the podcast >
Pilot Protection Services
What to expect from a traffic stop
Two attorneys with backgrounds in law enforcement and criminal defense offer advice on how to handle yourself during a traffic stop. Read more >
Airworthiness advisories
Question of the Week
Question

I own a Cessna 162 Skycatcher light sport aircraft that sputters, hiccups, and momentarily loses power on takeoff. My A&P has investigated the issue and fixed discrepancies, but the problem persists. Other A&Ps are also stumped. Any help or feedback is greatly appreciated!
Answer
Any internal combustion engine needs three components to operate properly and smoothly: a steady flow of fuel, a constant ignition source, and uninterrupted air flow. Because the issue seems to occur only at full power, here are a few suggestions: Check that the fuel supply line to the carb is not bent, kinked, dented, or partially obstructed. Check fuel filters for obstructions. Check that the spark plugs are clean, electrodes not too worn, are gapped properly, and are of the proper heat range for the engine. Check plug wires for defects and magnetos for timing. Check that the air filter and air intake tube(s) are clean and unobstructed. 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. 14, 7 p.m. EST Proficiency 101: Create your personalized plan for safe flight
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': 'Did you float the dog?'
'Hangar Talk': Aviation stories with the most impact in 2020
'Hangar Talk' Flight Time series: Jamie Patterson-Simes
'Pilot Briefing': Week of Jan. 4, 2021
'There I was...': Doug Stewart
'Never Again': Smoke in the cockpit
'Pilot Protection Services Podcast': Predicting the future
To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.
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