SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 - VOL 15, ISSUE 36

Technique and Safety

Article

New easier-to-read notams

The FAA Safety Team is advising pilots of several changes to the format of notices to airmen and the contractions used in notams that should make them easier to read. Read more... Share:  

Fly like a fighter

Stuck without a backup plan

With unforecast crosswinds at the destination airport that exceeded landing limitations, an Air Force pilot found himself stuck in a military trainer without a backup plan. Read more... Share:  

Accident Case Study

In too deep

In November 2011, a Cirrus SR20 unexpectedly plunged into the ground in suburban Chicago, killing all four occupants. What went wrong? Using audio of the pilot's discussions with ATC and factual information from the NTSB report, the Air Safety Institute has pieced together the story of the flight. Learn what may have motivated the pilot to continue past the point of no return by watching Accident Case Study: In Too Deep. Watch the video... Share:  

Article

Pilots talk safety after fatal Connecticut accident

AOPA Foundation President Bruce Landsberg and about 90 pilots reviewed aircraft operations at congested airports Sept. 10 in a safety seminar specially designed after an Aug. 9 accident in which a Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander attempted a circle-to-land instrument approach at Tweed-New Haven Airport and struck two houses, killing two children inside as well as the pilot and his teenage son. Read more... Share:  

Login required

Let there be lights!

Are you ready for your next night flight? The nighttime airport environment can be overwhelming, as airports easily navigated during the day can become a perplexing array of lights of all types and colors. Are you up on the meanings of various light placements and colors? Prove your mettle by taking the Air Safety Institute's Airport Lighting: VFR safety quiz. Share:  

IFR Fix

Radar contact lost

What's an unusual feature of an instrument approach procedure in your aviation neighborhood—some quirk of design that makes you glad you can practice it at will? Read more... Share:  

Blog

ATC generation gap?

A recent report says the FAA is going to have a hard time filling more than 11,700 ATC slots needed in the next eight years. In the interest of streamlining to get the new controllers fully certified, the ASR (or airport surveillance radar) approach is starting to slip away. Is that a "stick-and-rudder skill" for controllers? Read more... Share:  

AOPA Aviation Summit

Article

AOPA offers flight training 'Summit before the Summit'

The AOPA flying clubs and flight training initiatives, research on lapsed pilots, and conversations with aviation innovators are among the highlights from this year's Flight Training and Pilot Community Summit. Read more... Share:  

Article

Airportfest hosts Teddy Bear Drive

Attendees at this year's free Airportfest during AOPA Aviation Summit in Fort Worth, Texas, are being asked to participate in the Teddy Bear Drive, which will benefit Cook Children's Medical Center. Read more... Share:  

Advocacy

Article

Congress seeks investigation into CBP searches

AOPA President Mark Baker spent his first few days on the job meeting with congressional leaders about key issues affecting general aviation, including a series of Customs and Border Protection stops and searches of domestic general aviation flights. Read more... Share:  

Article

Pilot stops appear to decline in face of AOPA questions

The number of incidents of pilots being stopped and searched by Customs and Border Protection officials appears to be declining in the face of questions from AOPA and pushback from pilots. Read more... Share:  

Article

DC routes reduce access, snub GA

The FAA decided to adopt a final rule that snubs general aviation and reduces its access to the Washington, D.C., area, despite considerable stakeholder input about its drawbacks, AOPA said. Read more... Share:  

Article

FAA demands retesting after improper examinations

The FAA says certain pilots must be retested after the agency found alleged improper behavior from an examiner based in the Northeast. Read more... Share:  

Health

Members only

Pilot Protection Services: A timely value

Governmental processes, such as certifying aviators' medical fitness to fly, are not efficient in the very best of times. But this summer was one of the worst for delays. Director of AOPA Medical Certification Services Gary Crump discusses the value of AOPA's Pilot Protection Services. Read more... Share:  

Opinion

Blog

Stick-and-rudder skills are important

Do the modern pilot's responsibilities boil down to systems management? Blogger Ron Rapp argues that pilots who can't proficiently hand-fly are passengers. "System failures are not always covered by the aircraft operating procedures or training, and that's why safe flight still requires human input and oversight." Read more... Share:  

Blog

Skip the MBA. Learn to fly instead

Success in the cockpit relies on managing bandwidth. So does success in business. Managing a business like we manage a cockpit may not be for everyone, but OpenAirplane co-founder Rod Rakic argues that cockpit discipline can be a guide for how to structure time and help you manage your bandwidth better. Read more... Share:  

Blog

The automation challenge: A young person's problem?

Asiana 214 and UPS 1354 have led to conversations revolving around the issue of cockpit automation and pilot interaction with onboard technology. Are these recent accidents a result of a lack of stick-and-rudder skills among younger pilots? A look at the demographics of the flight crews tells a different story, writes Martin Rottler. Read more... Share:  

Technology

Article

Crop dusters go to war

The general aviation industry has sent another airplane into battle, fitting the Thrush 710 crop duster with missiles, rockets, and precision targeting capabilities. Designed for armed reconnaissance, the Archangel enters the marketplace as a cost-competitive alternative to unmanned systems. Read more... Share:  

Article

Piper flies Archer on unleaded fuel

Piper announced Sept. 5 the completion of a round trip from Vero Beach, Fla., to Oshkosh, Wis., with an Archer flown to EAA AirVenture on unleaded fuel. Read more... Share:  

Gear

Article

Is the iPad in? It's the panel calling

It's clear to anyone who regularly uses an iPad in the cockpit that we are working our way to tablets becoming the primary pilot-interface tool. Shadin Avionics and its partners have accelerated that revolution with flyTab, a direct connection between the cockpit and the iPad. Read more... Share:  

Article

Maintenance: Improving aircraft performance, part 1

Indulge your wild side and find out what you can do to your aircraft to improve true airspeed in the quest to win you bragging rights as the fastest (insert your aircraft here) out there. Read more... Share:  

App of the week

Developers offer app updates

This week AOPA gets updates from developers on these apps: WingX Pro7, Aviation W&B Calculator, Xavion, Connect 2 Landmark, and Sporty's E6B. Read more... Share:  

Travel

Blog

Where in the world is Mike Collins?

AOPA Technical Editor Mike Collins and Mike Laver are flying Laver's Mitsubishi MU-2 to Japan—the long way. This week, Collins departs Australia after sharing a flying club's tasty tradition, glimpsing whales on a demo flight, and giving vegemite a shot. Track the pilots' location in real time as they head for Nagoya, Japan, for the fiftieth anniversary of the MU-2's first flight, and continue the rest of the way around the world. Read more... Share:  

Day 12: Ayers Rock to Latrobe Valley, Australia

Day 13: Latrobe Valley, Australia

Day 14: Latrobe Valley, Australia

Day 15: Latrobe Valley to Bundaberg, Australia

Day 16: Bundaberg, Australia

Day 17: Bundaberg to Horn Island, Australia

Day 18: Horn Island to Cebu, Philippines

Article

Triple Tree Fly-In: 'Where airplanes happen to show up'

More than 800 aircraft, their pilots, and passengers joined the festivities Sept. 4 through 8 at the Triple Tree Fly-In, which founder Pat Hartness calls an "event for people, where airplanes happen to show up." Read more... Share:  

Financial

Article

Now taking off: Monticello Flying Club

Working with the local flight school, offering flexible memberships, and using members to help finance aircraft are among the strategies used to create Virginia's Monticello Flying Club. Read more... Share:  

Member benefit

Prevent out of pocket from getting out of hand

With other types of insurance, you generally see the premium drop when you take a higher deductible. Not so for aircraft insurance. Taking higher deductibles won't lower the cost of your airplane insurance much, if at all. Read more... Share:  

News and Notes

Article

Cirrus workforce partnership

A state-funded workforce development program in Minnesota may provide up to 60 employment opportunities at Cirrus Aircraft, where meeting production demands will require more assembly workers. Read more... Share:  

Article

George Mason University starts flight training program

Northern Virginia's George Mason University has expanded its offerings to include an aviation minor. Read more... Share:  

Article

Former AOPA CEO joins Redbird board

Redbird Flight Simulations has named former AOPA CEO Craig Fuller to its board of directors. Read more... Share:  

Article

Scholarships available for New England pilots

The Eastern New England chapter of The Ninety-Nines is presenting scholarship opportunities for 2014. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Foundation focus

Tecnam donated to AOPA Foundation

Retired Air Force reserve officer James Miles has donated his Tecnam light sport aircraft to the AOPA Foundation's new Give Wings program. Read more... Share:  

Weekend IACRA outage to affect test-takers

The Web-based Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Central time Sept. 13 through Sept. 15, according to the FAA. The FAA data center hosting the application will undergo an infrastructure upgrade. AOPA recommends pilots appearing for practical tests during this time take a hard copy of the FAA's Form 8710.

Article

Cessna donates $25,000 to Special Olympics

Cessna has given Special Olympics $25,000 in recognition of the organization's support of its Discover Flying Challenge. Read more... Share:  

Blog

Reporting Points: Strange but true general aviation news

Emergency landing caught on video, interesting uses for drones, and the end of a long aerobatics career. Read more... Share:  

Sweepstakes

Blog

Close-up: Air Mod's work in progress

Photographs document the steps Air Mod takes in its corrosion-control initiatives. Read more... Share:  

AOPA Career Opportunities

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

Forums

Question about flying

Why haven't you flown recently? Read more...