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News & Media Training and Safety Tip: Two fingers and a thumb

Training and Safety Tip: Two fingers and a thumb

AOPA Flight Training
VOL 22, ISSUE 3 January 21, 2022
Training and Safety Tips
Two fingers and a thumb
Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce
Two fingers and a thumb
Call it a rule of thumb: The rule of maneuvering an airplane with just two fingers and a thumb will smooth out your flights—and your landings. Read more >
Technique
Premium content
Touchy subject
Few subjects in aviation are as steeped in controversy as the tailwheel airplane. And in particular this tailwheel topic: to wheel land or not to wheel land. Read more >
Flight Training News
You Can Fly
Second career returns pilot to her passion
Ambyr Peterson is four years into her second career as a certificated flight instructor and was named best instructor of the year in the Great Lakes region in the 2021 Flight Training Experience Awards. Read more >
Around The Patch
20 years a pilot
AOPA Technical Editor Jill Tallman details her path to the private pilot certificate just over 20 years ago. Read more >
Video
Similar but not the same
The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Transitioning to Other Airplanes: Tempting Fate video looks at why a checkout in an unfamiliar airplane is critical. Watch the video >
Podcast
'Hangar Talk': Spacecraft commander Jared Isaacman
Spacecraft commander, general aviation pilot, airshow performer, and philanthropist Jared Isaacman describes a three-day journey into space with the Inspiration4 crew. Plus, get caught up on the latest aviation news. Listen to the podcast >
AOPA Live This Week
Extra layers; Rusty Pilots milestone; Farewell, Brig. Gen. McGee
Bundle up for a winter cross-country in an Extra (all power, no heater); celebrate 10,000 pilots returning to active flying; and say goodbye to Brig. Gen. Charles McGee during our final salute. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >
Career News
Article
The 10 hottest careers in aviation
Aviation industry hiring is a candidate-driven market right now, and those interested have more options than ever. Check out the top 10 most in-demand careers.
Career Pilot
Big business
Although flying for the airlines gets the most attention, other flying career options can be equally rewarding and just as satisfying. Read more >
Article
What drives us?
Job stability is important for airline pilots, but so are pay, work rules, time off, and other perks. Read more >
Article
FAA invests in the future of aviation
The FAA awarded Aviation Workforce Development grants to 31 recipients to help the next generation of pilots and aircraft mechanics. Read more >
Aviation job board
Job of the week: CFIs, Tampa Bay Aviation
Interest in flight training in the Tampa Bay area has exploded. Come be a part of Tampa Bay Aviation's motivated team in Clearwater, Florida, where the weather is always warm and flight training is conducted year-round. 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 vice president of brand and member experience, a UX/UI designer, a mobile app developer, a High School Initiative coordinator, and a safety content producer. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >
Training Products and Resources
Online resource
Set minimums, fly safe, fly often
Use the AOPA Air Safety Institute's personal minimums contract to write down your VFR flight minimums. Then update them periodically to reflect your proficiency level. Download the contract >
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 Premier Partner created content
Do you lean during taxi?
When does it help and when is it dangerous? See the poll results from over 20,000 pilots, read the helpful discussion, and get expert tips from PilotWorkshops >
Article
Best value in aviation
The AOPA Pilot Protection Services legal plan is one of the best values in general aviation. Read more >
Member benefit
Why buy an aircraft for flight training
Buying an airplane for flight training might be a good idea—under normal circumstances. Under current, atypical, COVID-19 circumstances, it could be an excellent idea. Read more >
Pilot Protection Services
Understanding heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Do you know what puts you at an increased risk for developing the disease? Read more >
Instrument Tip
AOPA Foundation focus
AOPA offers instrument rating scholarship
The Edward Prosperi Memorial Instrument Rating Scholarship being offered through the AOPA Foundation will award $5,000 to an AOPA member working toward the instrument rating. Prosperi, a Chicago-area icon and instructor, was posthumously inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame in 1996. The application deadline is February 11.
Photo of the Week
Over a century of inspiration
Over a century of inspiration
AOPA mourns the death of Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and an American hero, who died January 16. He recently celebrated his 102nd birthday. Two years ago AOPA Senior Photographer David Tulis caught a ride with McGee as he took the controls of a Cirrus Vision Jet in celebration of his 100th birthday. Follow @flywithAOPA on Instagram to see more photos from AOPA members and staff.
Final Exam
Question

The flight school where I am training has a Cessna 152 that it claims is IFR capable, but the aircraft is not equipped with pitot heat. Can I take my instrument checkride in that aircraft?
Answer
Yes. Pitot heat is not listed among the equipment required for IFR flight (see FAR 91.205). If the examiner asks you if having pitot heat is a good idea, say "yes." If the pitot tube ices over, the airspeed would be affected and likely show a speed that is different from the speed that is actually being flown. 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.) 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. Have a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.
Education & Seminars
Stay sharp with AOPA's webinars, podcasts, and videos.
Upcoming AOPA webinars
Jan 27, 12 p.m. EST 'Don't Get Rusty' series: Ice, ice, maybe?
Feb 17, 2 p.m. EST AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Feb 18, 8 p.m. EST AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition (Redding, California)
Mar 9, 7 p.m. EST AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition (Augusta, Kansas)
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
Aviation writer Martha Lunken
Kim Kissh: What it's like to be a corporate pilot
Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman
For a full list of Pilot Lounge videos, see the AOPA Live® YouTube channel.
AOPA podcasts
'Ask the A&Ps': 'It's not our job to be the safety police'
'Hangar Talk': SpaceX commander Jared Isaacman
'Pilot Briefing': Week of Jan. 17, 2022
'There I was...': Russ Jeter
'Never Again': Suckered in
To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.
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