New Cirrus Vision Jet; BasicMed proves safe


VOL 23, ISSUE 30	July 23, 2021

Click here for this week's custom content.

Top Stories

Multimedia

New Cirrus Vision Jet model includes better takeoff, Wi-Fi

Cirrus Aircraft's Vision Jet G2+ provides more thrust for takeoff and a way to brag about it in flight with a new Wi-Fi system. Read more, watch a video, and view photos >

Advocacy

AOPA turns to Congress to solve FAA-created flight training crisis

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to clarify "that individuals engaged in aircraft flight instruction or testing...are not operating an aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire." Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Five years of BasicMed success; Cirrus updates jet

We reflect on what we have gained during five years of BasicMed. Also, the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet G2+ gains thrust and connectivity, and longtime pilot Wally Funk is now an astronaut at 82. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >

Technique and Safety

Article

Western wildfire smoke affecting weather in Eastern states

Smoke from distant wildfires has been showing up as an obscuring haze in weather observations at airports in the Northeast just as many pilots have begun planning flights to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to attend EAA AirVenture. Read more >

Article

STOL Drag offers training

STOL Drag is offering two-day training courses to help pilots polish their short-field skills with a chance to earn a spot in future STOL Drag events, including the Stihl National Championship Air Races. Read more >

Podcast

'There I was...': Backcountry prop strike

YouTube personality Thomas Marrow recalls a prop strike at a backcountry airstrip near Johannesburg in the latest episode of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's There I was... podcast.

Video

STOL goal

Find out what it takes to fly in your first short takeoff and landing demo as we follow pilot Ross Wilke in this AOPA Air Safety Institute video.

Video

Safety Tip: Marshalling Signals

Need to brush up on marshalling signals? The AOPA Air Safety Institute goes over the basics. Watch the video >

Pilot Protection Services

Take note of notams

Word of mouth—even in the form of an IFR clearance—is no substitute for checking notams before flight. Read more >

Advocacy

BasicMed report: Five years of safety, efficiency, growth

AOPA has released a report about how BasicMed has kept safe pilots flying without unnecessary red tape and delays. Read more >

Technology

Article

FAA certifies next-generation turboprop from Epic Aircraft

Epic Aircraft received FAA type certification for a next-generation model of the six-place E1000 carbon-fiber single-engine turboprop. Read more >

Article

Surf Air to hybridize Grand Caravan EXs

Surf Air Mobility plans to purchase up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravans to fit with hybrid electric powertrains. Read more >

Article

'Just laying down... going into space'

Wally Funk, at age 82, finally got her space shot and emerged from the Blue Origin New Shepard capsule with her arms extended and beaming a smile. Read more >

Article

NASA selects partners in air mobility quest

NASA named 13 companies and one university to participate in a campaign to test components of an advanced air mobility infrastructure. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Reinventing yourself and your flying experience

AOPA Opinion Leaders blogger and polar circumnavigator Robert DeLaurentis finds that new friends and new adventures accompany his move from California to the Pacific Northwest. Read more >

Gear

Article

Garmin offers helping hand

Garmin will soon enable Smart Glide on Garmin GTN Xi series navigators through a software update to help reduce pilot workload in case of emergency. Read more >

Article

Aspen Pro Max eliminates vacuum system

Aircraft equipped with a single Aspen Avionics Pro Max primary flight display can do away with vacuum-powered gyroscopic instruments that the FAA has long required as backups. Read more >

Article

Avidyne goes big

Avidyne announced it is going big on glass with the expected 2022 arrival of its first 12-inch primary and multifunction displays crafted with Cirrus airplanes in mind, for starters. Read more >

Article

ForeFlight's pace of innovation quickened during pandemic

ForeFlight has made more than 100 upgrades to its app in the past two years, and it's focused on streamlining the process for filing IFR flight plans and obtaining IFR clearances digitally. Read more >

EAA AirVenture is back with special deals

Whether it's your first time or your fiftieth, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, offers something for everyone. Many businesses that support general aviation are offering show specials and savings during the event July 26 through August 1.

Financial

Article

Hartzell Propeller acquires Tanis Aircraft Products

Hartzell Propeller announced July 13 that it had acquired the assets of Tanis Aircraft Products, which produces popular engine preheaters. Read more >

Member benefit

Financing a high-time airframe

If you want to finance an airplane with approximately 10,000 hours on the airframe, be prepared for a different loan structure, including a larger down payment and shorter amortization period. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

Passion, service, dedication: Meet Kenneth Thomas

Airshows sparked Kenneth Thomas' interest in aviation. Now, he is a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and is president of the Legacy Flight Academy. Read more >

Article

Take a private tour of Orbis Flying Eye Hospital at AirVenture

AOPA members attending EAA AirVenture can take a complimentary, private tour of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital MD–10 on July 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Read more >

Article

What joy of flight looks like

An AOPA editor wound up on the cover of a special issue of Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine, mainly for remembering to smile. Read more >

Survey

Helicopter pilots' input sought

PSI Services is surveying helicopter pilots to gather data for an analysis it will provide to the FAA "to update the specifications for certification examinations" to better align with current practices. The survey is open until August 31 and should take 25 minutes to complete. Take the survey >

Podcast

'Hangar Talk': Teen pilot Travis Ludlow circles the world

Learn how Travis Ludlow, 18, recently completed an earthrounding flight and was recognized by Guinness World Records as the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world; and get caught up on the latest aviation news. Listen to the podcast >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Corporate pilot, Huber & Associates Inc.

Huber & Associates Inc., located in south-central Pennsylvania, is seeking a well-trained pilot to help the 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 legal assistant, an email marketing manager, an editorial assistant, and a content producer. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Question of the Week

Question

A recent AOPA article, "Tips for Flying to AirVenture," highlighted some changes this year. Are there other tips for flying in to Wittman Regional Airport for the show?

Answer

Keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel. Memorize the arrival procedure; you won't have time to look at it as you do it. Have someone in the right seat to help. Nail the route, altitudes, and speeds. 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

Aug 3, 3 p.m. EDT	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Aug 12, 12 p.m. EDT	'Don't Get Rusty' series: Weather and how to read it - Part 2
Aug 20, 11 a.m. EDT	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Sep 2, 5 p.m. EDT	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

Hartzell President JJ Frigge talks about new products

'A Pair of Wings' author Carole Hopson

Garmin's Cliff Pemble on earning the Collier Trophy for Autoland

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

AOPA podcasts

'Ask the A&Ps': 'An oil filter inspection is non-invasive, unless you're an oil filter'

'Hangar Talk': Teen pilot Travis Ludlow circles the world

'Pilot Briefing': Week of July 19, 2021

'There I was...': Thomas Marrow

'Never Again': Engine out at night

To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.

421 Aviation Way Frederick, MD 21701
800-872-2672
301-695-2375 Fax

ePilot Editors:
Alyssa Cobb
Jim Moore
Dan Namowitz
David Tulis

Production Team:
Elizabeth Linares
Melissa Whitehouse

Contributors:
Sarah Deener
Tom Haines
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Warren Morningstar
Kollin Stagnito
Jill Tallman
Ian Twombly
Julie Summers Walker

Advertise in ePilot:
Initial advertising inquiries:
Donna Stoner, 301-695-2336

Eastern and Central United States, Canada, and International:
Jeff Rockwood, 301-695-2089

Western United States:
Dan Justman, 301-695-2182

AOPA Advertising website