Training and Safety Tip: The missing checklist item


VOL 22, ISSUE 47	November 25, 2022

Training and Safety Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

The missing checklist item

Before forging ahead to final, take a look down the approach path—rolling as needed to feast your eyes on traffic that may lurk in your blind spot. Read more and watch the video >

Technique

Gyro Hero

Completion katas

Adding a category or class rating to a pilot certificate can be simple, or you can move to a foreign country and train there. Read more >

Flight Training News

Always learning

One size does not fit all

A cushion that puts a pilot in proper position can do away with discomfort and visual limitations imposed by the inevitable compromises of aircraft design. Read more >

How it works

Fight sound with sound

Some headsets simply block annoying (and fatigue-inducing) aircraft noise, while others block and tackle, cancelling unwanted sound waves inside the earcup by creating others. Read more >

Online resource

Operations at airports

With over 5,000 public-use airports, communicating with the tower or unicom is inevitable. But don't worry; the AOPA Air Safety Institute has your back. This Safety Center refreshes your understanding and enhances airport etiquette.

Video

Controllers field your queries

Air traffic controllers answer questions about available services, communicating, and more in the Ask ATC video series from the AOPA Air Safety Institute.

Fly with AOPA

Belly checks; BasicMed win; Alpine Airpark

A habit of rolling to spot traffic enhances safety, a BasicMed limitation is lifted, and a visit to the ultimate playground for pilots. Watch Ep. 7 >

Career News

Article

Aircraft deliveries overpower headwinds

Despite supply chain disruption and worker shortages, many aircraft makers logged an uptick in deliveries through the first nine months of the year. Read more >

Podcast

'Hangar Talk': Jumpers Away founder Ed Scott

Ed Scott tells us what it takes to safely fly skydivers to altitude, quickly descend in the drop zone, and pick up the next load. Plus catch up on the latest general aviation news. Listen on a podcast app, or online, or watch it on YouTube.

Article

Virginia aviation expo inspires youth

The Leesburg Aviation and Career Expo in Virginia continued a long-running tradition of helping people achieve their aviation dreams. Read more >

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Fixed-wing pilot, Guardian Flight

Guardian Flight is hiring a King Air C90 pilot to provide medical air transportation services to customers in eastern Arizona. Scheduled shifts run two weeks on/two weeks off and service day or night trips. 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 an Aviation Finance loan assistant, a data entry/travel products representative, a marketing administrative coordinator, and a vice president of membership and event marketing. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Training Products and Resources

Podcast

Teaching your kids to fly

In this episode of There I was..., country music legend Aaron Tippin chats with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's senior vice president, Richard McSpadden, about the rewards and challenges of teaching your kids to fly. Listen to the podcast >

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

Pilot protection services

Get your knees up

From an aviator's perspective, if you have knee pain—regardless of cause—self-ground until you are able to freely and fully use your leg. An aching knee could impair safe operation of the aircraft. Read more >

AOPA Aviation Finance

Considering an aircraft upgrade?

You're no longer a newbie pilot and you've owned your first aircraft for some time now. Should you move up? In the second installment of this article series, President of AOPA Aviation Finance Adam Meredith helps you decide. Read more >

Instrument Tip

Article

Three strikes

For many pilots the instrument rating is the most difficult certificate or rating they will ever earn. That's ironic, because the flying is relatively easy. Read more >

Photo of the Week

A giving tradition

General aviation pilots gather at Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, Maryland, to deliver holly branches, school supplies, and holiday presents to 400 residents of Tangier Island, Virginia. The Holly Run started in 1968 with a single pilot and turned into an annual tradition. Read the story and see more photos from AOPA Senior Photographer David Tulis. For more photos from AOPA members and staff follow @flywithaopa on Instagram.

Final Exam

Question

When performing maneuvers such as steep turns, why do you have to begin at or below design maneuvering speed?

Answer

According to Chapter 5 of the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, design maneuvering speed (V_A) is "the speed below which you can move a single flight control, one time, to its full deflection, for one axis of airplane rotation only (pitch, roll or yaw), in smooth air, without risk of damage to the airplane." Steep turns, when done properly, subject the airframe to up to 2 Gs. Add in some turbulence and there can be a momentary 3-G load. Flying at or below V_A provides a level of assurance that no matter how abruptly you move a flight control, you will not overstress the airframe. 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 seminars, webinars, podcasts, and videos.

AOPA Rusty Pilots seminars

Dec 3

Frederick, Maryland; Houston, Texas; and Glendale, Arizona

For a complete schedule, visit our online Pilot Information Center. (Log in to our online Pilot Information Center using your AOPA website username and password to view these events.)

Upcoming AOPA webinars

Dec 8, 12 p.m. EST

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.

Latest AOPA Pilot Lounge videos

Aviation101's Josh Flowers

Building the aviation community—Vermont Aviators Association

New Aerospace Center for Excellence leader Eric Crump

For a full list of Pilot Lounge videos, see the AOPA Pilot Video YouTube channel.

AOPA podcasts

'Ask the A&Ps': 'All engines deserve an engine monitor in their Christmas stocking'

'Hangar Talk': Jumpers Away founder Ed Scott

'Pilot Briefing': Week of Nov 21, 2022

'There I was...': Ken Urban

'Never Again': Along for the ride

To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.

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