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Aug. 24, 2012, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition' weekly newsletter

AOPA ePilot

In This Issue:

VOLUME 12, ISSUE 34 — August 24, 2012

Ready to roll?
Women’s flight academy to take off
Plane Spotter: Cessna Corvalis
Final Exam: Bird strikes

Safety

Safety >>

Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect >>

AOPA Live

AOPA Live >>

Training Tips

Ready to roll?

Training TipTakeoff is a brief phase of flight, a product of preparation, decisions about technique, and contingency planning.

 

Before any takeoff, you are required to comply with a regulation on preflight action that calls for you to familiarize yourself with runway lengths, and takeoff and landing distances provided in your aircraft’s approved flight manual. Consider the Air Safety Institute’s 50/50 rule of thumb. The institute recommends adding 50 percent to the pilot’s operating handbook takeoff or landing distance over a 50-foot obstacle. For example, if the distance over the obstacle requires 1,600 feet, add 800 feet for a safety distance of 2,400 feet.

 

Your preflight inspection and your pre-takeoff checklist, which includes checking magneto function, setting the fuel-air mixture, and verifying that the fuel selector is properly positioned, provide assurance that the aircraft is ready to fly.

 

What takeoff technique will you use? If departing via the short-field method, be sure to use all available runway. If there is an obstacle to clear, review the recommended climb speed to maintain until well clear. For a soft-field takeoff, the key to proper execution is to break ground promptly, and then accelerate in ground effect until reaching an airspeed that allows you an efficient climb with full control authority.

 

Whether departing via the short- or soft-field method, be sure to apply control deflection for any crosswind during the takeoff run. Then correct for drift in the climb.

 

Suppose the runway has a displaced threshold. Can you use the entire runway for your takeoff? (See the Oct. 1, 2004, “Training Tip: Displaced thresholds.”)

 

Where is your abort point? Select a visible point before you roll. Obviously a rough-running engine is a reason to abort, but other concerns—sluggish acceleration, losing directional control in gusty winds, or an anomalous instrument indication—could prompt the decision. Your aircraft should produce a stated rpm when takeoff power is applied. Check early in the run for that performance. One rule of thumb is to discontinue takeoff if you have not achieved 70 percent of liftoff speed halfway down the runway.

 

Speaking of technique, firm, not abrupt throttle application will provide a smooth, straight takeoff roll. Similar smoothness at rotation will deliver a liftoff free of wallowing. This is something to practice on all training flights.

 

Remember to calculate takeoff and climb performance based on actual conditions. High elevation, temperature, and the aircraft’s loading can erode or even retard your aircraft’s ability to become airborne and climb. Estimating performance may not provide an accurate result as a recent, well-publicized takeoff accident illustrated.

 

A safe takeoff is a careful blend of aircraft performance, pilot decision making, and technique.

Flight Training News

Women’s flight academy to take off in Texas

For the second year in a row, a Texas designated pilot examiner and her band of volunteers will host a weeklong academy aimed at helping women to advance in their flight training. Girls in Flight Training (GIFT) will take place Nov. 3 through 9 at Wilbarger County Airport in Vernon, Texas. Read more >>

Washington state teen solos four taildraggers

Many student pilots have been known to solo more than one airplane on their big day. Ben Littlefield of Kent, Wash., may get extra points because he soloed four tailwheel aircraft. Littlefield turned 16 on July 22, and to celebrate, he soloed his mother’s Stearman biplane. He then flew the family’s Cessna 185 and 140. He finished it up by soloing his father's Piper PA-18—the same airplane in which he’d first flown at the age of just 3 weeks. Ben is the son of Keith and Molly Flanagan Littlefield, who are both professional pilots and describe themselves as very active in general aviation.

NBAA offers academic scholarships

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is offering academic and career training scholarship opportunities to qualified applicants. The Janice K. Barden Aviation Scholarship annually awards $1,000 to each of five undergraduate students studying aviation-related curricula at NBAA and University Aviation Association member institutions. The deadline to apply is Nov. 1. NBAA also sponsors schedulers and dispatchers monetary and training scholarships; the deadline to apply is Sept. 28. See the website for complete information and application.

What you can’t see can hurt you

You’ve seen the crash footage and read the comments, but do you really know what it is? You can’t see it, feel it, hear it, or smell it, but your airplane’s engine will certainly know it’s there. Every year, pilots challenge the insidious effects of density altitude … and many of them lose. So what should you expect to encounter when flying in a high-density-altitude environment, and how can you avoid those pilots’ mistakes? Find out with the Density Altitude online quiz from the Air Safety Institute, underwritten by AOPA Insurance Services. Take the quiz >>

Training Resources

Weather theory is often the least understood subject in flight training. You may pick up the required knowledge to pass the checkride—but do you really understand it? Do you grasp the big picture? Unless you’re a professional meteorologist it’s sometimes tough to pinpoint the finer nuances of the weather forecast vis-à-vis your flight plan. Why not bolster your preflight repertoire with weather fundamentals found in the Air Safety Institute's WeatherWise: Air Masses and Fronts course? Terms like isobars, drylines, Coriolis force, and occlusions will have a crystal-clear new meaning after you take the course.

 

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 Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you’re not already a member, join today and get the pilot’s edge. Login information is available online.

AOPA LIVE

Idaho airplane crash

Idaho airplane crash and density altitude A video of an airplane crash in Idaho earlier this year went viral because it provided a rare in-cockpit glimpse of an accident unfolding. All of the airplane’s occupants survived the crash, which took place June 30 in Idaho. AOPA Foundation President Bruce Landsberg discusses how the video illustrates the effects of high density altitude on aircraft performance, and shows you a simulated high-density-altitude takeoff, in this segment that aired in AOPA Live This Week Aug. 16. Watch the video >>

Career Pilot

U.S. airlines' workforce up slightly over 2011

The Department of Transportation reported that U.S. airlines’ employment rose 1.7 percent from June 2011. Total full-time and part-time employment for all passenger, charter, and cargo carriers for June was 585,807, up from 576,208 in June 2011. A report in the Hudson Valley, N.Y., Times Herald-Record noted that while overall employment numbers had increased, the numbers were down from May 2012, when 586,781 were employed.

American Airlines flight attendants approve new contract

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants said its members at American Airlines voted to approve a new contract offer 59.5 percent to 40.5 percent, according to The Associated Press. The contract includes numerous concessions as the airline seeks to cut costs in bankruptcy protection. The flight attendants join the airline’s mechanics and other union workers who have accepted new contracts; pilots rejected the company’s last offer.

AOPA Aviation Summit

Exhibit hall hub of activity at Summit

Not only can you peruse hundreds of aviation exhibits, test pilot products and gear, and watch new product announcements in the Palms Springs Convention Center exhibit hall during AOPA Aviation Summit, but you can mingle with fellow pilots and learn new techniques and tips to improve your flying at the Learning Pavilion and Interactive Lounge in the show hall. Read more >>

Discounts for Summit hotel reservations expire Sept. 7

Lock in low prices at luxury hotels and resorts in Palm Springs, Calif., which has invested $200 million in new properties and renovations since AOPA’s last convention there in 2006. During AOPA Aviation Summit, Oct. 11 through 13, enjoy mountain and poolside views; indulge in bright desert colors and relaxed, muted tones; and rest in plush accommodations at any of the 11 AOPA hotels. Prices fit every budget and style, from spa, casino, golf, and trendy spots, to smaller boutique inns and suites. Check out the hotels and their amenities; book by Sept. 7 for advance discount rates.

Plane Spotter

Cessna Corvalis: Sizzling speed

Cessna Corvalis TT You never saw the Cessna that reported on final ahead of you, but a low-wing, fixed-gear single also touched down during the time it took you to reach the threshold. Was its pilot on the wrong frequency? Not at all. The low-winger was the Cessna—a high-tech, 200-knot, composite Cessna Corvalis, originally a product of Columbia Aircraft, which Cessna acquired after the 2007 corporate bankruptcy of Columbia. The Corvalis TT (twin turbocharged) features a 310-horsepower Continental engine, speed brakes, and side sticks where you would expect to see control yokes.

Training Products

Free learn to fly e-book

Private pilot Ted Seastrom says he wished he’d known about some of the pitfalls that can occur with flight training. That’s why he wrote a book about it and is now offering it as a free download. Learning to Fly an Airplane is not a how-to book, says Seastrom, but rather a look at each stage of the training process and a discussion of unexpected challenges that can occur. “As a recent student, I believe you will improve your chances for success if you know more about flight training going in. You’ll definitely have more fun and less frustration,” he says. The book is available at his website.

 

Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.

Member Benefits

The FAA wants to talk to me … now what?

What should a pilot do when the FAA “wants to talk”? The request for dialogue might come in a letter or a telephone call from an FAA inspector. It could be a controller’s question to you over the radio or a request that you telephone the tower after landing. Whenever the FAA wants to initiate a conversation to explain some incident involving your flying activities, you need to be careful as there can be a lot at risk. Attorney Kathy Yodice gives advice as part of AOPA’s Pilot Protection Services. Read more >>

Blogs

The short list

Professional pilot Chip Wright says every airline crew has one: a short list of captains you’d rather not fly with. Also in this week’s Flight Training blog, learn who made the cut in Technical Editor Jill W. Tallman’s list of readers’ aviation heroes.

Genevieve: Taking to the skies

Let’s Go Flying’s newest blogger is Genevieve Beaulieu, a student pilot and aviation management major at the Florida Institute of Technology. Genevieve wasn’t an airport kid—she only recently got bitten by the aviation bug. Read more in the Let’s Go Flying blog.

AOPA Career Opportunities

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We’re looking for a director of media relations, director of legislative affairs, major gifts officer, accounts payable technician, administrative coordinator, director of new market development, aviation technical generalist, and Web graphic designer. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.

Community

Picture Perfect

AOPA’s online photo gallery allows you to upload your own aviation photography as well as view, rate, and comment on others’ photos. Your favorite aviation images from AOPA Pilot are still available online through this new gallery. Take a look, and submit your own photos!

Facebook Become a fan

RSS feed Subscribe to the RSS feed

Picture Perfect

AVIATION EVENTS & WEATHER

Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See your personalized online calendar of events . We’ve enhanced our calendar so that with one click you can see all of the events listed in the regions you selected when personalizing ePilot . Now you can browse events in your region to make planning easier. You can also bookmark the personalized calendar page to check it as often as you want. Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.

To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA Airports.

Final Exam

Question: While practicing takeoffs and landings at my local airport, I frequently have close encounters with birds that fly in the vicinity of the airport. What is the recommended procedure for avoiding a bird strike?

 

Answer: According to section 7-4-1 of the Aeronautical Information Manual , a pilot should climb to avoid a bird strike because bird flocks will typically fly downward. If you observe a large flock of birds while in flight, consider reporting their current position, altitude, and general direction of flight to the nearest ATC facility or FSS, as well as to airport management. If you are involved in a bird strike incident, you can report it using an online electronic form. For more information on bird strikes and how to avoid them, read AOPA’s subject report, Bird/Wildlife Strikes.

Got a question for our technical services staff? Email [email protected] or call the Pilot Information Center, 800/872-2672. Don’t forget the online archive of “Final Exam” questions and answers, searchable by keyword or topic.

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix: The WEF and the WIE

There must be a natural law to make sure that if someone writes an IFR training column discussing how to use a VOR cross-radial to nail down an instrument approach fix, a notice to airmen will pop up the next day placing that VOR out of service. That happened right here not long ago. Here’s hoping the notam didn’t spoil anybody’s practice flight. By popping up like that, the notam did serve a higher purpose: reminding instrument pilots to always read the fine print. Read more >>

Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics

Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars

Sept. 8 and 9

Phoenix, Ariz.

Baltimore, Md.

Bellevue, Wash.

Sept. 22 and 23

Sacramento, Calif.

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Richmond, Va.

Oct. 6 and 7

Indianapolis, Ind.

Corpus Christi, Texas

 

Oct. 13 and 14

Windsor Locks, Conn.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Nashville, Tenn.

 

For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.

Can’t make it in person? Sign up for the CFI Refresher Online.

Sept. 10

Wichita, Kan.

Ypsilanti, Mich.

Germantown, Tenn.

Sept. 11

Independence, Ohio

Bethany, Okla.

Nashville, Tenn.

Sept. 12

Fayetteville, Ark.

Columbus, Ohio

Maryville, Tenn.

Sept. 13

Little Rock, Ark.

Indianapolis, Ind.

 

Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.

AOPA ePilot Team

ePilot Flight Training Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

ePilot Editor:
Sarah Brown

Contributors:
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
Warren Morningstar
Alton K. Marsh


Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Ian J. Twombly
Dan Namowitz

Production Team:
Melissa Whitehouse
Siobhan Byrne
Lezlie Ramsey
William Rockenbaugh
Mitch Mitchell

Advertise in ePilot:
East: Mike Vodarsik, 732/946-0130
Central: Brian Curpier, 607/547-2591
Central: Gary Brennan, 607/547-2591
West: Zane Lewis, 214/789-6094

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