OCTOBER 18, 2013 - VOL 15, ISSUE 42

Technique and Safety

AOPA Foundation focus

Safety programs at your command

Chances are, you've participated in one of the Air Safety Institute's free safety education programs. Now the institute has launched a new way to bring this content to anyone interested in sharing general aviation safety information at local community events. Visit the Web page to download programs for your next flying club or fly-in safety meeting, or ground school event. More seminars and videos will be added quarterly. Read more... Share:  

Accident analysis

Devil in the details

Which equipment failures make an aircraft unairworthy? An informed answer depends in part on an understanding of how systems interact. The Lancair 235 that crashed near Hudson, Ky., on April 14, 2012, had given its owner and pilot fair warning that something wasn't right. About two months before the accident, he began having trouble getting the electrically operated landing gear to extend. Read more in this special report from the Air Safety Institute. Share:  

IFR Fix

The 40-mile miss

"Are you tough enough?" is the tourism motto of Battle Mountain, a mining and ranching town ringed by mountains in Nevada's Humboldt Valley. Just a glance at navigation chart depictions of the flight environment around Battle Mountain's airport should set a piston pilot's pulse pounding. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Balance point: Safety vs. cost

The FAA has many essential roles in the functioning of the National Airspace System, aircraft certification, and safety efforts. But there are others that merely add to paperwork and payroll. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Article

FAA's shutdown recovery will take time

The reopening of the government on Oct. 17 was welcomed by an aviation industry eager to get back to normal business after a 16-day government shutdown. But it could be several weeks or longer before the FAA sets its priorities, deals with backlogs, and addresses other administrative challenges. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Aviation starts at airports, Baker says

Airport access is a top priority for AOPA President Mark Baker, who thanked AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers Oct. 12 during AOPA Aviation Summit for their work as the association's first line of defense against threats. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Sound off on aviation weather

Users, developers, and operators of the federal system that supplies aviation weather data will meet Oct. 24 for a discussion that could lead to improvements. For those unable to attend the discussion hosted by the Friends and Partners in Aviation Weather in person, a dial-in number is available. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Members put AOPA execs in hot seat

Topics including the government shutdown, user fees, 100LL avgas, airports, taxes, Customs and Border Protection, and regional conferences were covered by AOPA President Mark Baker and his executive team during a pilot town hall meeting at Summit. Read more... Share:  

Health

Article

Presenter offers pilot brain tips

Janet Lapp, a clinical psychologist and pilot, offered tips to AOPA Aviation Summit attendees on what they can do to keep their brains sharp and fly longer. Read more... Share:  

Members only

The top five medical conditions in the FAA

Warren Silberman shares the top five diagnoses for airmen according to a statistical manual published in January 2013 and explains how to get certified. Read more... Share:  

Technology

Article

'Passion for the mission' brings Raburn to Titan

Vern Raburn will lead Titan Aerospace in its quest to fulfill its entrepreneurial vision to fill the void between aircraft altitudes and satellite orbits with unmanned aerial vehicles called atmosats. Read more... Share:  

Article

Stay sharp with simulation

PC simulator expert Bruce Williams covered the multitude of ways simulation can help pilots in a seminar at AOPA Aviation Summit. Read more... Share:  

Opinion

Blog

I had no idea...

When Opinion Leaders blogger Jamie Beckett speaks to groups or individuals about how aviation impacts high school students he often hears, "I had no idea." Read more... Share:  

Gear

Apps of the week

Developers present five aviation apps

Five aviation developers pitch their apps covering aircraft performance, weather, flight training, radio navigation, and video training. Read more... Share:  

Travel

Slideshow

Warbirds headline CAF Airsho

The Commemorative Air Force held its fiftieth annual Airsho at its Midland, Texas, headquarters Oct. 12 and 13. Saturday's weather was perfect, but Sunday's was perfectly wet. Read more... Share:  

Article

SocialFlight launches online events

An expansion to online events and a new partnership with IMC Clubs were announced by SocialFlight, a general aviation calendar app, during AOPA Aviation Summit. Read more... Share:  

Financial

Article

Jet industry stirring, but still hospitalized

Market reports show jet sales are still struggling, and flight activity is low but improving or dropping, depending on whose data you trust. Avinode, a jet charter company, and J.P. Morgan weigh in on where the industry stands in the United States and Europe. Read more... Share:  

Article

Pittsburgh Flying Club: Your friends in high places

Active members, constant recruiting, and a low-cost fleet are some of the benefits of belonging to the Pittsburgh Flying Club. Read more... Share:  

Article

Redbird looks back on $1 avgas experiment

Redbird Skyport of San Marcos, Texas, pumped almost 90,000 gallons of avgas during its 15-day experiment selling fuel for $1 per gallon to study the effects of pricing on general aviation activity, the company said. One pilot told Redbird employees, "For a dollar a gallon, I'll wait all day, and wash your car." Read more... Share:  

Member benefit

It's up to you to protect yourself as a renter

Many pilots fly a rental or training aircraft with the assumption that insurance isn't their responsibility—that the flight school or FBO is responsible. Some believe that an accident won't happen to them. But accidents happen to even the best pilots, and FBOs and schools are protecting themselves, not you. Read more... Share:  

News and Notes

Article

Air charter rule to be debated at NBAA

A new rule sent out Sept. 27 by the Department of Transportation seems simple enough: stop deceptive practices by air charter operators. Those debating its merits see a widening door to additional rules that they fear may go too far. Read more... Share:  

Article

Mooney gets funding to restart production

Mooney Aviation Co. Chief Financial Officer Barry Hodkin has announced that new funding from a California company will allow the restart of production of the Acclaim and Ovation series. Read more... Share:  

Article

Weather snarls world championship

An elite field of the world's best aerobatic pilots got back in the air Oct. 16 after days of waiting out weather. Contest organizers hope the north Texas skies will allow enough flights to complete the contest by Oct. 20. Read more... Share:  

Article

Fuller named Redbird chairman

Weeks after handing the reins of AOPA over to a new president and CEO, Craig Fuller has been named chairman of Redbird Flight Simulations. Read more... Share:  

Article

Cirrus adds LED lighting

Following a tip-to-tail overhaul dubbed "Generation 5" in 2013, Cirrus Aircraft focused on LED lighting and other cosmetic changes for 2014 SR-series models. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Foundation focus

One-of-a-kind holiday cards

The 2013 AOPA Foundation Holiday Card collection is now available. Share your passion for flying by sending special holiday greetings to your family and friends this year. Each box of 25 cards comes with free personalized address labels and festive holiday-themed envelope seals. Best of all, while enjoying these holiday products, you will feel great knowing that your purchase is helping support the AOPA Foundation's critical work preserving the future of general aviation. View more than 30 unique aviation-themed holiday cards... Share:  

Webinar

Learn operating rules for flying clubs

At the heart of every successful flying club lies a good set of operating rules for its members. David St. George, manager and chief instructor with the award-winning East Hill Flying Club in Ithaca, N.Y., will guide participants through the process of creating a set of operating rules for their club in a free webinar Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Eastern. Register here...

Blog

Strange but true general aviation news

Losing an aircraft sale, total aircraft upgrade, and he just walked away. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Full flight simulators

Recently, simulator manufacturers have been introducing more helicopter devices and seeking certification at higher levels. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Goodbye, Goodyear blimp

The Spirit of Goodyear, one of the company's three blimps, has left Ohio for the last time on its way to be decommissioned. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Career Opportunities

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for a Web applications developer III, financial analyst, staff assistant/PAC coordinator, and AOPA Live editor/graphic artist. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.

Forums

Restoring this plane

What parts should be used when restoring an aircraft? Weigh in...