Honoring top CFIs, flight schools; High Sierra in review


VOL 23, ISSUE 43	October 22, 2021

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Top Stories

You Can Fly

Who's the best?

The 2021 annual Flight Training Experience Awards honor 42 schools and 100 flight instructors with a "Distinguished" Award, and six schools and six instructors as regional winners. National winners will be announced in February. Read more >

AOPA Live This Week

Fast times at Dead Cow lakebed; Volunteer pilots deliver blood

We are on location at Nevada's High Sierra Fly-In for aviation's best new experience, and tag along with Arizona pilots who crisscross the rugged state speeding vital blood deliveries. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >

Technique and Safety

Podcast

'There I was...': Huey ferry flight

David Bradley talks about ferrying a flight of UH–1 "Huey" helicopters to Texas during Operation Desert Storm in this AOPA Air Safety Institute There I was... podcast. Listen to the podcast >

Video

'Accident Case Study: Cross-country crisis'

The AOPA Air Safety Institute examines the pilot's actions as weather deteriorates and fuel becomes critical on a VFR flight from Chicago to Raleigh, North Carolina. Watch the video >

Maneuvering flight

Don't get spun around by maneuvering flight. Roll yourself right with this AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz.

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Little by little

Tiny deviations from your safety standards can set you on a slippery slope toward disastrous consequences. Read more >

Technology

Article

Diamond developing all-electric trainer

Diamond Aircraft announced its intent to compete for a slice of the electric flight training market with the eDA40. Read more >

Article

Bonanza Society boosts ruddervator replacement design prize

The American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation has increased the financial incentive it hopes will motivate development of replacement ruddervator skins for V-tail Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanzas. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

Noorduyn Norseman: Flying a slice of history

Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas shares her experience flying a Noorduyn Norseman Canadian bushplane with Senior Aviation Medical Examiner Dr. Brent Blue. Read more >

Gear

Pilot magazine

Getting started with personal action cameras

A checklist comes in handy when prepping your camera for the airplane. Here's what you need to know about flying with personal action cameras. Read more >

Travel

Article

'The world's most awesome backcountry fly-in'

The High Sierra Fly-In began as a small gathering of friends, but the action-packed event has transformed into one of the most popular "aviation celebrations" of the year. Read more and watch the video >

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

Financial

Member benefit

Cash-out financing

AOPA Aviation Finance Co. President Adam Meredith explains some roadblocks to obtaining cash-out financing on an aircraft. Read more >

News and Notes

Image gallery

Beech Party draws a crowd with STOL demo, warbird workshops

The Beechcraft Heritage Museum's annual Beech Party in Tennessee was "done right," according to attendees. Read more >

Slideshow

Newlyweds tie the knot at fly-in wedding

Georgia Hanson and Parker Thaxton made their fly-in wedding dream come true at a private grass strip in Georgia. These tips can help you plan an aviation-themed proposal or wedding. Read more >

You Can Fly

Tips to increase flying club membership

Free State Flying Club, based at College Park Airport in Maryland, has increased its membership by 40 percent in 18 months. Here's how the club did it. Read more >

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: CFI, West Bend Air Inc.

West Bend Air is seeking a full-time flight instructor for its Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, location to provide Part 61 ground and flight training. The instructor will have the opportunity to advance into the company's charter department. 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, a UX/UI designer, an aviation events specialist, an aviation events manager, a marketing specialist, an IT project manager, a content producer, and a research analyst. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Question of the Week

Question

I am an Australian citizen and permanent U.S. resident and maintain an FAA private pilot certificate based on the currency of my Australian pilot license. What are the requirements for me to earn a U.S. sport pilot certificate that I can renew in the United States?

Answer

You must take the FAA knowledge and practical tests. All your prior flight time counts toward the aeronautical experience requirements, including training time from instructors in Australia, but at the very least, you'll need three hours of training with a U.S. CFI to prepare for the checkride. That's all true whether you want a sport pilot or private pilot certificate. 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. (Log in to the online Pilot Information Center using your AOPA website username and password to see this discussion.) Have a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Education & Seminars

Stay sharp with AOPA's webinars, podcasts, and videos.

Upcoming AOPA webinars

Oct 27, 12 p.m. Eastern	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Nov 4, 7 p.m. Eastern	AOPA Air Safety Institute presents: Wrong Surface Operations
Nov 10, 12 p.m. Eastern	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Nov 18, 11 a.m. Eastern	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

Pilot/adventurer Victor Vescovo

XPrize Foundation cofounder Gregg Maryniak

Hartzell President JJ Frigge talks about new products

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

AOPA podcasts

'Ask the A&Ps': 'Compression readings are garbage'

'Hangar Talk': 'Latinas in Aviation' author and pilot Jacqueline Ruiz

'Pilot Briefing': Week of Oct. 18, 2021

'There I was...': David Bradley

'Never Again': Personal minimums

To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.

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