February 26, 2016 - VOL 16, ISSUE 9

Flight Training News

Advocacy

Changes to pilot testing and certification set for June

A new approach to pilot certification and testing is coming together with help from AOPA and other aviation groups. The FAA is on track to meet a June 2016 goal of transitioning to the updated system for those seeking an airplane private pilot certificate or instrument rating. Read more...  

Article

Air Force helps fund CAP encampments

The U.S. Air Force announced Feb. 3 that it would continue to help provide financial assistance to enable aviation-minded high school students to attend the Civil Air Patrol's popular weeklong encampment program. Read more...  

Article

TouchTrainer goes global

FlyThisSim flight simulator users now are able to go global after the company's TouchTrainer device integrated worldwide navigational data into its system Feb. 10. Read more...  

Facebook chat

Step up your photo game

Tired of taking photos where the airplane's wingtip or a blurry propeller takes up too much of the view? Join the Flight Training Facebook chat at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 1. AOPA eMedia Associate Editor David Tulis, a photojournalist who has covered Super Bowls, presidential visits, and the Olympics, will offer tips to help you get the perfect pictures. One chatter will receive a $25 Aircraft Spruce & Specialty gift card. Set an email reminder here. Flight Training Facebook chats are underwritten by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.

Quiz

Test your aircraft parts knowledge

Instructors and flight students: How well do you know common and not-so-common aircraft parts? AOPA challenges you to test your aircraft parts knowledge with these close-up photos in the second installment of the Name That Part quiz. You have four minutes to complete the 11-question quiz. Take the quiz...  

Scholarships

Article

Sporty's Foundation issues 2015 philanthropy report

The Sporty's Foundation continued to advance its commitment to ensuring a robust future for tomorrow's aviation professionals with disbursements totaling $152,500 in 2015. Aviation scholarships received $22,500 in funding from the Sporty's Foundation. Read more...  

Plane Spotter

Falcon's new flagship

Longer range, a longer cabin, and a longer list of airports available thanks to its short-field capabilities are some selling points the French jet maker Dassault is touting for the Falcon 8X, which the company has proclaimed to be its new flagship. Resembling its predecessor, the Falcon 7X, the new ship is about three feet longer, has two more cabin windows, adds about 3,000 pounds of fuel capacity, and takes off at a maximum weight of 73,000 pounds. Certification and first deliveries are expected this year.

Training Products and Resources

Sporty's offers free 'Learn to Fly' course

Sporty's Pilot Shop offers a free Learn To Fly Course Volume 1 DVD for aspiring pilots that includes "everything you need to know to start on your first few lessons." The DVD emphasizes aerodynamics, flight controls, and aircraft systems. It's a great refresher for flight reviews, and it's helpful for rusty pilots returning to the sky. Concepts are explained in an easy-to-follow format with interactive quizzes.

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

Member benefit

Tips to keep your family happy—and flying

You might dream about flying your airplane, your spouse quietly reading a novel in the passenger seat and your children playing with a game in the back. Reality can be starkly different. Your angry spouse might blame you for a bumpy flight that left the kids crying after they wet their pants and filled the Sic-Sacs. This wouldn't bode well for your future flying as a family. Check out these tips from AOPA Insurance Services to help you have one big, happy flying family.  

Pilot Protection Services

Be mindful of unusual Class D configurations

Last year, the FAA brought an enforcement action against a pilot who relied on a multifunction display map (with current data no less) that inaccurately indicated a four-nautical-mile-radius ring around a Class D airport, when it actually contained an extension. Make sure that you understand the limitations of your GPS data, and always consult the sectional itself, whether in paper or electronic format. Read more...  

Article

Help grow AOPA, get rewarded

Share the fun of AOPA Regional Fly-Ins with pilots who aren't members, and invite them into the community. You can earn points toward Amazon gift cards just for letting them know about the events. Read more...  

Member benefit

Buying a business aircraft?

If you don't have a lot of time and want the purchase of a business aircraft to go smoothly, the key is to delegate. Have your CPA handle financial requests, have your mechanic coordinate obtaining aircraft details, and have your administrative assistant oversee all of your designees. But, make sure you are available to answer questions from your designees in a timely manner. Read more...  

Blogs

Seeking economy, playing it safe

In the latest data listed on the NTSB's website, accidents attributed to fuel (or lack thereof) are still too common. Opinion Leaders blogger Amy Laboda shares her flight planning tips to prevent fuel exhaustion, and encourages pilots to "work to make 2016 the year that out-of-fuel accidents suddenly disappear from the NTSB's graph of stupid-pilot-tricks." Read more...  

What does good CRM look like?

With more new pilots coming into the airline industry, crew resource management is a critical component because those who have trained on state-of-the-art general aviation airplanes are going to have to learn to fly "archaic" airliners. It's important to keep the lines of communication open as people continue to learn. Read more...  

Instrument Tip

Video

Engine trouble in IMC

When Robert Shapiro was practicing approaches in instrument meteorological conditions, his Cessna 172 suddenly shook violently and the engine lost power. The AOPA Air Safety Institute's Real Pilot Story: Engine Failure in IMC recounts the troubling ordeal and decisions that led to an emergency crash landing at a nearby airport. Learn from his firsthand account...  

Login required

On approach to Crescent City

Air traffic control instructs you to report "procedure turn inbound." At what point during the course reversal should you provide the report: starting at the barbed portion, after completing the 180-degree turn, after reaching the final approach fix, or after intercepting the final approach course? Test your IFR savvy with this quiz from the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Take the quiz...

Final Exam

Question

I recently saw the term "shock cooling." What is shock cooling and how can I avoid it?

Answer

Shock cooling is the too-rapid cooling of hot engine metals. It can stress engine components, leading to cracks in the cylinder heads. It can occur during prolonged descents at very low power settings. Pilots can avoid shock cooling their engines by planning their descents ahead of time and maintaining a low cruise power setting during the descent. To learn more about shock cooling and engine operations in general, read the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Engine Operations Safety Advisor.

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. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Cirrus marketing communications manager

Cirrus Aircraft is looking for a marketing communications manager to perform a variety of tasks, such as the brainstorming, creation, and development of marketing campaigns; print and online advertising; email marketing and automation; website content development; press releases; bylined articles; video and marketing collateral; RFP review and development; marketing budget development; and cost tracking. Read the full job 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 technical specialist, social media evangelist, Flying Clubs Initiative manager, marketing copywriter, Web project manager, and member services representative. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.