Training Tip: Instructors behaving badly


VOL 21, ISSUE 21	May 21, 2021

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Instructors behaving badly

It's awkward to mention, but some flight instructors don't live up to their calling. Read more >

Technique

Premium content

Good to great

During each flight, we can look at the primary tasks we perform and judge how accurately we're doing them. Read more >

Flight Training News

AOPA Foundation focus

AOPA awards $1.1 million in scholarships

The AOPA Foundation has awarded scholarships to 124 recipients—high school students and teachers, aspiring pilots, pilots in training, and pilots pursuing advanced ratings. Read more >

Article

Virtual reality training device for R22 certified

VRM Switzerland has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification for a virtual reality simulation device that can be used in lieu of flight time to meet training minimums. Read more >

Article

You're (maybe) fired

Sometimes it is easy to tell when it is time to switch instructors. Other times, it is less clear. If you're not sure, following these steps can help. 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® >

Career News

Article

FlightSafety, Flight Research pool resources for upset recovery

An upset recovery training course from FlightSafety International and Flight Research Inc. pairs type-specific simulator time with in-aircraft instruction to help pilots avoid loss of control. Read more >

Career spotlight

Code and fly

A software engineer designs the software to run the instruments, systems, and components that modern aircraft rely on. Read more >

Article

Virtual interview prep tips

Online forums, aviation career-oriented websites, airline social media sites, and mock Zoom interviews with airline professionals can help you prepare for your online interview. Read more >

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 >

Training Products and Resources

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.

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.

Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by Flight Training editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.

Member Benefits

AOPA Sweepstakes Tiger

Year of the Tiger

In May 2022, a randomly selected pilot will become the new owner of the first Grumman airplane ever offered in an AOPA Sweepstakes: a speedy Grumman AA–5B Tiger. 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 >

Pilot Protection Services

Electronic self-briefing

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

Instrument Tip

Article

Instrument approach to a mountain airport

AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines makes an instrument approach to an airport in mountainous terrain with the ceiling just 100 feet above minimums. Read more and watch a video >

IFR Insights: Cockpit weather

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

Photo of the Week

Honoring our missing man

AOPA staff gathered May 18 outside our Frederick, Maryland, headquarters and online to pay tribute to AOPA Technical Editor Mike Collins, who died of COVID-19 on February 25. AOPA eMedia Associate Editor David Tulis captured this photograph of the poignant missing man formation capping the ceremony. Follow @flywithAOPA on Instagram to see more photos from AOPA members and staff.

Final Exam

Question

Can a CFI sign off a private pilot who has a single-engine land rating to solo in a multiengine aircraft before the pilot's multiengine checkride?

Answer

Yes, under FAR 61.31(d)(2). However, while the FAA would be OK with that, the insurance company might not be. So, to financially protect all concerned, whoever owns the airplane should check with his or her insurer first. 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. Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800-USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time) or from AOPA 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.

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