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Top Stories
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Article
Icon Aircraft will soon begin delivering the A5 amphibious light sport aircraft to customers willing to sign a purchase agreement that imposes many restrictions. The company aims to increase safety and limit its liability for mistakes made by owners and pilots who fly the A5, with the hope that such limits will control costs, limit litigation, increase safety, and have a lasting and positive impact on the industry as a whole. Some buyers are reluctant to sign the deal. Read more...
 
Video
Responding to a simulated engine-out during training is one thing. Responding to a real engine-out is another, and when one happens you should be prepared to deal with it. The AOPA Air Safety Institute's new video, Engine Out: From Trouble to Touchdown, reviews how to tackle an engine-out dilemma in a single-engine airplane—whether under relatively benign or tricky circumstances. Learn what matters...
AOPA Live This Week
FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker flies with AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines to see Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast traffic and weather information displayed inside the cockpit of a Bonanza, and explains why pilots should equip with the technology. Also learn how Christian missionary organization JAARS uses aviation to reach remote areas of the world, and find out which two fuels are moving into Phase 2 testing of the FAA's search for an unleaded avgas replacement. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, March 31...
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Technique and Safety
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Safety Spotlight
With personal minimums and decision-making guidance written down, it's easier to fight the temptation to "mentally negotiate" yourself into a tight spot during the heat of the moment. Contract with yourself, your passengers, and your family to fly safely and within personal minimums. Download and print the VFR Pilot and IFR Pilot Personal Minimum Contracts from the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Aeronautical Decision Making Safety Spotlight...
Article
Just days in advance of the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a new aviation safety alert to highlight safety issues that could arise during major fly-ins. Read more...
Pilot Protection Services
With limited exceptions, only a certified mechanic who has an inspection authorization can perform an annual inspection. Thus, unless the owner-pilot also has an IA, he or she is not permitted to assist with the inspection function of an annual. However, he or she can help with the preventive maintenance aspects involved. Read more...
IFR Fix
To arrive at "go" for an instrument flight, a pilot must weigh many elements of weather information. Read more...
Video
Flight instructors are responsible for their students' safety and for setting a good example. So it is incomprehensible that an instructor would be reckless and irresponsible on a training flight, yet that is the subject of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Accident Case Study: Everyone's Problem. As pilots and CFIs, we all can learn from this unfortunate experience. Watch the video...
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Advocacy
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Advocacy
AOPA is reminding student pilots and their flight instructors that significant changes in the process of applying for and issuing student pilot certificates take effect April 1. Read more...
Advocacy
The FAA has selected two unleaded fuels to move to the next phase of testing for use in general aviation aircraft. Read more...
Advocacy
Increased air traffic is expected and possible management initiatives could be in place in Houston during the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Championship April 2 through 4. Read more...
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Technology
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Article
The FAA plans to evaluate the Cirrus Vision SF50 jet's ballistic parachute recovery system without requiring costly and potentially dangerous in-flight testing. Read more...
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Opinion
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Blog
Why doesn't a company that flies scheduled service and lets passengers book a single seat instead of chartering the entire airplane need a 14 CFR Part 121 certificate? Opinion Leaders blogger Ron Rapp explains. Read more...
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Gear
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Article
Garmin is targeting the experimental and light sport aircraft markets with its new G5 that can serve as an all-in-one standby instrument or a compact primary flight display, and its new GMA 245 and 245R Bluetooth audio panels that allow up to six listeners to connect to as many as three devices. Read more...
Article
NavWorx Inc., maker of the ADS600-B Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast transceiver, has struck a deal with Garmin to allow the unit to connect to Garmin navigators. The Texas firm sells the unit for $1,900, and it can now use the wide area augmentation system GPS position information from Garmin GTN and GNS series units to offer owners a lower-cost path to compliance with the 2020 mandate. Read more...
Article
Certification of Globalstar's new Part 23 Light Aviation Aircraft Antenna opens the door to affordable satellite-based voice and data communications for light general aviation aircraft. Read more...
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Travel
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Pilot Getaways feature
If you're looking for a vacation spot that everyone can enjoy, fly to Pinellas Peninsula, known to many as Florida's Beach, where historic family fun awaits, no matter which direction you choose. Check it out on your way to or from the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo. Read more...
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Financial
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Article
A former Cessna dealer with a contract to refer customers to Cessna has become a Diamond dealer. Another dealer switched to drones for revenue. Read more...
Member benefit
Lower the cost of your flying by trying these eight money-saving tips for aircraft renters. Read more...
Answers for Pilots
If you are thinking about buying an aircraft, get a realistic picture of what the financing looks like and what maintenance costs to expect, then make sure those expenses fit in your budget. Read more...
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News and Notes
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Article
Aviation Supplies & Academics' new owner is a former bike shop salesman and longtime student pilot who began his aviation career in the company's warehouse. Read more...
Article
The FAA released a new set of reports of unmanned aircraft sightings March 25. Among the 582 encounters reported between Aug. 21 and Jan. 31, at least one may document a collision with a manned aircraft, though no damage was discovered. The rules for commercial unmanned aircraft operators have also changed. Read more...
Article
A British non-rigid airship called Airlander is returning to British skies after it was rejected four years ago by the U.S. Army in hopes of attracting a civilian market, while the Aeroscraft of Los Angles continues development. Read more...
Article
At least three large airfoil airships are in development or test flights, but only one can claim confirmed orders. Lockheed Martin's cargo airship has 12 orders from Straightline Aviation, a company in England. Deliveries start in late 2018. A smaller prototype flew for a U.S. Army competition seven years ago but lost. Read more...
Article
LifeStyle Aviation says it is offering a "breath of choice" for flight school centers by marrying modern marketing methods and advanced technology to build pilot-friendly training environments. Read more...
Article
The FAA will honor a flight instructor and an aviation technician from Virginia, and an FAA Safety Team representative from California, with general aviation awards. Read more...
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Career Opportunities
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AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a communications director, pilot community development coordinator, Great Lakes "You Can Fly" ambassador, donor relations director, AOPA Foundation communications director, aviation technical specialist, Flying Clubs Initiative senior manager, marketing copywriter, Web project manager, and member services representative. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
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Question of the Week
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Question
While transferring entries from your paper logbook to your electronic logbook, you realize that you failed to complete a couple of entries. Do you need to log every flight?
Answer
There is no need to log every flight, just those that you are using toward the requirements for a certificate, rating, flight review, or recency/currency under 14 CFR Part 61 (see 14 CFR 61.51). There is nothing wrong with logging every flight and making sure that every single tenth of an hour gets in your logbook, but you don't need to do so unless you need that time to get your next rating or show currency.
Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA. |
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Education and Seminars
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Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Apr 2-3 - Denver, Colorado; Tampa, Florida; Needham, Massachusetts; and Dulles, Virginia
Apr 9-10 - Indianapolis, Indiana; and Salt Lake City, Utah
Apr 16-17 - San Diego, California
Apr 23-24 - Atlanta, Georgia
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.
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Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars
Apr 5 - Olathe, Kansas; and Lakeland, Florida
Apr 6 - Bellevue, Nebraska; and Lakeland, Florida
Apr 7-9 - Lakeland, Florida
Apr 11 - Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and Salt Lake City, Utah
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilots Seminars
Apr 2 - Henderson, Nevada; Hayden, Idaho; Vancouver, Washington; Appleton, Wisconsin; Findlay, Ohio; Colby, Kansas; Elyria, Ohio; and Columbus, Ohio
Apr 5 - Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 6 - Augusta, Maine
Apr 9 - Lakeland, Florida; Alexandria, Indiana; and Louisburg, North Carolina
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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ePilot Editors:
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
David Tulis
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse
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Contributors:
Mike Collins
Sarah Deener
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Alton K. Marsh
Warren Morningstar
Dan Namowitz
Jill W. Tallman
Elizabeth Tennyson
Ian J. Twombly
Julie Summers Walker
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