Training and Safety Tip: No sump-dumping


VOL 22, ISSUE 36	September 9, 2022

Training and Safety Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

No sump-dumping

Most of us have done it, or have watched another pilot casually dump fuel drained from a sump. It's high time we retrain our brains. Read more >

Technique

AOPA Pilot Video Producer's Pick

Flying the Los Angeles Corridor

Fly with AOPA's Alicia Herron in a Cessna 172 from Torrance, California, over Los Angeles International Airport, along the California coast up to Santa Barbara for a seafood lunch. Watch the video >

Flight Training News

You Can Fly

Apply for AOPA scholarships

The 2023 AOPA Foundation scholarship program opened September 5, with scholarships available for flight training, aircraft maintenance, and other aviation-related pursuits. Read more >

Five questions

Meet airline, STOL pilot Nat Esser

Natalie "Nat" Esser is a first officer for a major Canadian airline who became interested in short takeoff and landing (STOL) competitions after her husband attended the High Sierra Fly-In in 2018. Read more >

Online resource

Collision avoidance

Structures, mountains, and other aircraft are just some of the things we don't want to see close-up in flight. Learn more about the gotchas in this AOPA Air Safety Institute Safety Center.

AOPA Pilot Video Producer's Pick

Trust but verify

You can't completely discount what your eyes tell you, but diligence and confirmation with tools at hand keeps you away from wrong runways. Watch the video >

Pilot Magazine

Proficient Pilot: Abandonment issues

Pilot and longtime columnist Barry Schiff offers reasons to embrace the option to go around when needed. Read more >

Career News

Advocacy

FAA approves unleaded fuel for piston fleet

The FAA approved the first unleaded fuel found fit to power every spark-ignition engine on every airframe in the general aviation fleet. The next step is to ramp up distribution. Read more and watch the video >

AOPA Pilot Video Producer's Pick

Flying the DHC–3 Turbine Otter

The turboprop de Havilland DHC–3 Otter is "the closest thing to a helicopter" with fixed wings, according to a pro we flew with to learn the fine points. Watch the video >

Aviation job board

Job of the week: QC inspector, ST Engineering Aerospace

ST Engineering Aerospace is hiring an aircraft inspector to be responsible to the lead inspector for inspecting aircraft undergoing maintenance and alteration. 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 account executive, a high school initiative coordinator, a customer services representative, a medical certification specialist, and a senior manager of communications. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >

Training Products and Resources

Video

Fuel management made easy

Fuel mismanagement continues to be a problem among general aviation pilots. In this AOPA Air Safety Institute video, we review various techniques to combat unsafe mindsets and habits.

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

A time-sensitive warning

If you have failed to disclose your Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits on your medical certificate application, there is a possibility of preventing an FAA action against you for falsification, but timing is everything. Read more >

Photo of the Week

Cutting through the air

Photographer Mike Fizer followed AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Dave Hirschman for a story on one man's quest to push the envelope of a Lancair Legacy. Read AOPA's article about this remarkable aircraft and the pilot who will return to compete in the Stihl National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, September 14 through 18, and follow @flywithaopa on Instagram to see live updates from AOPA staff during the event.

Final Exam

Question

I am looking to train other pilots in the proper use of their avionics but don't have a commercial pilot or flight instructor certificate. I would not be pilot in command but may become a safety pilot, and no logbook endorsement would be made. Can an instrument-rated private pilot charge for avionics training in an aircraft?

Answer

Giving people training on the operation of their avionics in flight sounds uncomfortably close to giving flight training, whether you're getting paid or not. You'd have to be very careful to get agreement from the trainee that this is not "flight training" per the FAA. An attorney might even suggest getting that in writing. And make sure there's nothing in the other pilot's logbook (or yours) suggesting that there was flight training given or received. Being paid to act as a safety pilot (whatever terms the two of you might agree on) is also too close to crossing the line for comfort without a commercial pilot certificate in your pocket. All things considered, it would be a good idea to get your commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates if you really want to do this. 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

Sep 24	Battle Creek, Michigan; and Glencoe, Minnesota
Oct 8	Naples, Florida; and La Crosse, Wisconsin
Nov 5	Tampa, Florida; Hayden, Idaho; Aurora, Oregon; and Henderson, Nevada
Dec 3	Frederick, Maryland; 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

Sep 15, 12 p.m. EDT	'Don't Get Rusty' series: AIM-ing to decode the Al-FAA-bet soup
Sep 15, 7 p.m. EDT	AOPA Air Safety Institute NTSB Insider: Preventing weather-related accidents
Nov 15, 7 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 (registration required).

Latest AOPA Pilot Lounge videos

Building the aviation community—Vermont Aviators Association

New Aerospace Center for Excellence leader Eric Crump

'The Aviators'/'The RVers'/'The Boaters' TV shows' Anthony Nalli

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

AOPA podcasts

'Ask the A&Ps': 'I'm a choir boy in the church of lean of peak'

'Hangar Talk': STOL competitor Hal Stockman

'Pilot Briefing': Week of Sep 5, 2022

'There I was...': Cody Goodan

'Never Again': That nagging feeling

To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.

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