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Flight Training Online

Explore more training topics in our expanded online content hub, aopa.org/ft

Online resource

Got questions? Ask just about any aviation-related question, and AOPA will have an answer and resources for you. Browse by topic and ask flight training questions in the online Pilot Information Center. You can also contact the PIC by phone or email.
pic.aopa.org

Hangar Talk

GAMI founder and engineer George Braly provides an update on G100UL unleaded aviation fuel and explains the history of how it was developed.
aopa.org/podcasts

Video series: Beyond Proficient: Extra 300 The AOPA Air Safety Institute takes you into the cockpit of a 300-horsepower aerobatic airplane to experience how advanced maneuvers build confidence through heightened awareness of the airplane’s dynamics.
aopa.org/ft/extra300

VOR system

I really enjoyed Julie Summers Walker’s article about VORs in the July 2022 issue of Flight Training and would like to add an important detail. The ground station reference to magnetic north for each VOR was generally established many years ago, and it no longer matches actual magnetic north. Here in the Los Angeles Basin, for example, VORs such as LAX and PDZ (Paradise) have an offset of 15 degrees from true north, though changes in the magnetic field over decades have resulted in an offset of magnetic north from true north about 11.5 to 12 degrees. 

The offset for each VOR is published in its chart supplement entry. An excellent oral exam question: Where would you find this? Properly updated GPS devices should reflect the latest five-year magnetic field model update including variations over time. Therefore, ground tracks shown on such devices shouldn’t be expected to match VOR radials, differing around Los Angeles by about 3 degrees.

John BergSan Pedro, California

I found Max!

Thank you, as always, for a tremendous Flight Training publication. The “Extracurricular” article by Dave Hirschman in July 2022 caught my eye. And so did Max! Spotted on p. 35 in the spin stream. At first I thought that was the face of an exasperated pilot who bungled a maneuver. Now I understand it’s an intentionally hidden figure. Oh, what fun! Thank you and keep the blue side up, well, unless you don’t mean to.

Killian Madden, Worcester, Massachusetts

We welcome your comments. Please email [email protected]. Comments will be edited for style and space.

Let's go places

The AOPA Poker Run National Flight Challenge encourages pilots to get out and go places. Players collect their hand of virtual cards following a 7 Card Stud-inspired format. Check in at different airports around the United States and earn a new card at each check-in for a chance to win awesome prize packages. The AOPA Poker Run National Challenge runs from July 1, 2022, to September 30, 2022. Visit seven different airports between July 1 and September 30, and check in each time with the AOPA app (version 2.6 or higher). Each Pilot Passport check-in generates a random card that is added to your hand. You can check in only once per day at any one airport, but you can visit as many different airports in a day as you care to—and check in for another card at each. Once seven cards have been added to your hand, the Pilot Passport system picks the best five to become your final hand. What is in it for participating pilots? Well, how about a nice Bose A20 headset, and an AOPA prize pack including a year of iFlightPlanner Premium access, a year of AOPA membership with Pilot Protection Services Plus, and a $100 AOPA Pilot Gear gift certificate? That will be the top prize awarded to one lucky pilot at the conclusion of this challenge. Winners will be selected and announced on or before October 6, 2022.

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