AOPA awards $1.1 million in scholarships; King Air accident was avoidable


VOL 23, ISSUE 21	May 21, 2021

Click here for this week's custom content.

Top Stories

AOPA Foundation focus

AOPA awards $1.1 million in scholarships

The AOPA Foundation is helping transform lives and fulfill dreams through aviation. We recently awarded scholarships to 124 recipients ranging from aspiring pilots to pilots who seek to earn additional certificates and ratings. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Final salute; Scholarships awarded; Virtual reality gets real

Fellow pilots flew the missing man formation for our colleague Mike Collins. Also, the AOPA Foundation grants a record number of scholarships, and a Swiss company makes virtual reality helicopter training effective. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >

Technique and Safety

Article

Rudder misapplication cited in fatal King Air crash

The NTSB found that the pilot's mistakes handling a loss of power in one engine during takeoff in a Beechcraft King Air 350 led to the June 30, 2019, crash and explosion that killed 10 people. (Image courtesy of the NTSB.) Read more >

IFR Insights: Cockpit weather

Get practical advice on safely using datalink weather in flight with this AOPA Air Safety Institute course.

Online resource

Instrument procedures explained

Find answers to your instrument flight questions all in one location in this AOPA Air Safety Institute Safety Center page, which hosts a variety of IFR resources. Learn more >

Airspace review

Whether you're flying a short hop or a long cross-country, it's important to understand the ins and outs of airspace. Put your airspace proficiency to the test with this AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz.

AOPA Premier Partner created content

Takeoff over max weight?

Is an aircraft's maximum gross weight a guideline from the manufacturer, or a number that should never be exceeded? See poll results from 19,000 pilots and read the discussion on the PilotWorkshops website.

Pilot Protection Services

Electronic self-briefing

A recent FAA advisory circular provides guidance for performing preflight self-briefings. Read more >

Advocacy

Aviation safety in focus as FCC expands 5G

A coalition of aviation organizations has requested the Federal Communications Commission reconsider its policy of repurposing the C-band because of threats to radar-altimeter system operation and flight safety. Read more >

Technology

Article

Mapping the tallest volcano in North America

Having the right aerial platform for the job makes all the difference in aviation, particularly when it comes to photographing and mapping Pico de Orizaba, the tallest volcano in North America. Read more >

Gear

Online resource

AOPA offers online Operating Cost Calculator

Calculate the estimated annual and per-flight-hour operating costs for a variety of aircraft with the AOPA Operating Cost Calculator. Get your estimate today >

Travel

Slideshow

Summer playground

Hiking, camping, sightseeing, golfing, horseback riding, rock climbing, and kayaking are some of the activities available at Mammoth Lakes, California. Read more >

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

Financial

Article

Signs of recovery in aircraft shipment report

Increases in helicopter and piston and turboprop airplane deliveries in the first three months of 2021 were deemed encouraging signs that the industry is recovering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more >

Member benefit

Benefits of an aircraft broker

An aircraft broker's market knowledge and insight can put you in a better position to buy an aircraft, writes AOPA Aviation Finance Co. President Adam Meredith. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

NTSB Chairman Sumwalt to step down

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt plans to step down on June 30. The 14,000-hour pilot has been a member of the NTSB since 2006 and got his start in aviation after going to the scene of a fatal aircraft accident when he was 17. Read more >

Article

'Spectacular' flight across North Pole

Beechcraft Bonanza V35 pilot Adrian Eichhorn credited his support team and favorable weather after completing a "spectacular flight" across the North Pole on May 11. Read more >

Article

The Warbird Adventures case

AOPA General Counsel Justine Harrison shares her perspective on the recent court decision to allow an FAA emergency cease-and-desist order to stand against Warbird Adventures. Read more >

Article

Celebrating Aviation Maintenance Technician Day

On May 24, we celebrate Aviation Maintenance Technician Day on the birthday of Charles Taylor, the Wright brothers' mechanic. Read more >

You Can Fly

Growing Mohawk Flying Club adds third aircraft

Mohawk Flying Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, added a Cirrus SR20 to its fleet of a Cessna 172 and 182 to satisfy increasing demand for more flight time. Because of that, the club's membership continues to grow. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: AOPA digital media specialist

The digital media specialist is instrumental to AOPA's growing digital advertising revenue stream and in leveraging our primary online advertising servers that support multiple websites, video content, apps, electronic newsletters, products, and resources. 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 member services representative, a marketing specialist, and a customer service representative (legal services). To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Question of the Week

Question

I am a flight instructor. If I add an airplane single-engine sea rating to my commercial pilot certificate, is there a minimum number of hours I would need to log as pilot in command in single-engine seaplanes before teaching students? The 15 hours mentioned in FAR 61.183(j) appear to be for the "instructor rating sought," not the privilege to teach.

Answer

The 15 hours is a prerequisite for a practical test for a CFI certificate or rating, which you don't need since you already have an airplane single-engine instructor certificate. However, it's wise to have a good bit of experience in a type of aircraft before instructing in it. Also, your insurance company may require it. 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

May 25, 7 p.m. EDT	Airworthiness Records: A guide for owners and pilots, Part 3
May 26, 12 p.m. EDT	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
May 27, 7 p.m. EDT	Airworthiness Records: A guide for owners and pilots, Part 4
Jun 1, 4 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

Theoretical astrophysicist, author, private pilot: Talking flying with Dr. @AstroKatie Mack

Adrian Eichhorn and Shinji Maeda

Simon Caldecott on his retirement from Piper

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

AOPA podcasts

'Ask the A&Ps': 'Heavy detonation is normally a self-correcting event'

'Hangar Talk': Smithsonian Aeronautics Curator Dorothy Cochrane

'Pilot Briefing': Week of May 17, 2021

'There I was...': John 'Pappy' Mazza

'Never Again': What doesn't kill us

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
Kristy O'Malley
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