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GA News Freefall record attempt put on holdFirst it was cancellation of the 2011 Red Bull Air Race, and now the Red Bull Stratos freefall record attempt has been canceled until further notice because of a court case filed in Los Angeles. Daniel Hogan claims the project was his idea, which he alleges Red Bull stole while assigning skydiver Felix Baumgartner to break the record. It was to be a “mission to the edge of space” to break the freefall parachute jump record of 102,800 feet set in 1960 by Col. Joe Kittinger of Orlando, Fla. Read more >> Piper makes way for PiperJetLike a family preparing for a new baby, Piper Aircraft has hired a contractor to modify factory space for completion of the PiperJet, now in the detail design phase of its development. Local subcontractors will be used for the multimillion-dollar project that will require 30 workers. Summit Construction will provide architectural design and construction management services to upgrade an existing 75,000-square-foot building on Piper’s manufacturing campus. Read more >> Aspen releases new digital autopilot adaptorAspen Avionics has developed an FAA-certified adaptor, the EA100, which enables the air data computers that drive its primary and multifunction displays to communicate with a range of attitude-based autopilots. Aspen PFD and MFD customers now have the option of replacing aging mechanical gyros with new attitude-based systems that provide greater accuracy, additional capabilities, and reliability. Read more >>
Virgin Galactic ‘Enterprise’ completes glide test FAA clarifies aircraft registration expiration datesThe FAA issued a clarification Oct. 12 explaining when aircraft registration certificates will expire under the new three-year renewal rule. Once owners have transitioned to the new registration, the new certificates will expire three years from the month in which re-registration was accomplished, the FAA said. If an owner whose registration expires March 31, 2011, renews in October, for instance, the three-year registration will display an expiration date of Oct. 31, 2013. Read more >> Garmin seeks G600 RVSM approvalGarmin expects to obtain FAA approval for reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) early next year for some G600-equipped aircraft. Garmin and industry partners AeroMech of Everett, Wash., and Corporate Aircraft of Fresno, Calif., are seeking an STC for RVSM approval in the Cessna 441 Conquest II. If successful, Garmin expects to seek G600 RVSM certification in other high-altitude turboprops. Read more >> SIUC holds career day for studentsSouthern Illinois University Carbondale held an aviation career day on Oct. 9 that featured an aircraft and pilots from American Airlines. The sixth annual event drew 110 Chicago-area high school students who came out to learn more about SIUC’s aviation program. The AA MD-80 was flown in and staffed by employees who are also SIUC alumni, the school said. Read more >> FAA seeks broad new rules for air ambulances, others Balloon pilots celebrate wins, mourn lossThe 2010 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta concluded Oct. 10 after a week of exceptionally good weather. Bryan Hill of Arizona, flying BasketCase, earned the highest score and took home the first-place prize, a one-person Cloudhopper hot air balloon. But Balloon Fiesta—and especially the America’s Challenge gas balloon event—was dampened by the presumed loss of American pilots Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis, whose gas balloon disappeared over the Adriatic Sea, off the Italian coast, Sept. 29. Read more >>
Lockheed Martin makes gift to Challenge AirLockheed Martin Corp. has made a financial contribution to Challenge Air for Kids & Friends, a Dallas-based organization that works to build the self-esteem and confidence of children and youth by giving them the opportunity to experience flight, as well as to participate in educational aviation programs. "We're proud to support an organization that opens up the world of aviation to so many kids," said Jim Derr, director of Lockheed Martin’s Flight Service Program. Read more >> Extra plant approved for Colorado site Three honored with Pathfinder AwardEntrepreneur Clay Lacy, aerospace executive William E. Boeing Jr., and Boeing’s first female test pilot, Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, have received the Pathfinder Award from the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Pathfinder Award honorees are selected by the museum’s board of trustees from among candidates nominated by the museum, the Pacific Northwest section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and representatives of leading aviation and aerospace organizations. Read more >>
Online auction offers training dealsWhether you are interested in earning an instrument rating or getting a type rating in a King Air or Citation Jet, or need recurrent training in a King Air, Beech Baron, or Cessna 300/400 series aircraft, you might find a deal in the AOPA Foundation online auction. FlightSafety International, Redbird Flight Simulations, Accelerated Flight and Instrument Training, SimCom Training Centers, and Aviation Ground Schools have donated for the foundation’s auction. All of the money raised will help the AOPA Foundation with its educational initiatives to support general aviation. Bidding ends Nov. 13 at 10 p.m. Eastern time. Place your bid >> |
| Get cash back on Garmin Traffic Systems Gain an extra set of eyes and save on the Garmin GTS™ series of traffic systems. Save up to $2,500 when you add a GTS 800, 820, or 850 to your aircraft by October 31. For details, visit our promotions page. |
Gordon Webster had a slight feeling that something was not quite right. So he decided to make a precautionary landing at McGhee Tyson airport in Knoxville, Tenn. But when his Beechcraft Bonanza’s engine failed to cooperate he had to regroup. Listen and learn valuable lessons as the pilot retells his unexpected encounter with tombstones in the “Garden of The Apostles.”
Inspection requirements differ with the various uses of aircraft. For example, aircraft being used for compensation or hire must have a thorough inspection every 100 hours. Most aircraft, including those used for compensation or hire, are required to have a complete inspection every year. Check out this AOPA Pilot Information Center subject report for more information on each kind of inspection, and an explanation of when each should be done, which aircraft it applies to, and what it should involve.
| Enterprise 5% off offer: The Road Calls, and So Do The Savings. When you’re ready to go, Enterprise makes it easy with great cars and great deals. Take advantage of your AOPA membership and enjoy a discount on our everyday low rates. Click here to learn more. |
Television networks and blogdom are abuzz about Google’s “robo-car” that is being tested in Southern California. The auto world is in the early stages of thinking machines drive better than humans, and the ineptitude on the nation’s highways makes the theory plausible. We in the aviation business have had autopilots for at least half a century and the later models can handle about 98 percent of the flight. Could we go that last 2 percent to make it totally automatic? There’s a new moniker—the optionally piloted vehicle. Read more >>
Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics | Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars | |||||||||
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can’t make it in person? Sign up for the CFI Refresher Online. |
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. |
Much press and public attention has been focused on the qualifications necessary to become a safe and efficient flight crewmember for air carriers. Although the National Transportation Safety Board did not cite first officer qualifications as a contributing factor in the accident involving Colgan Air Flight 3407 near Buffalo, N.Y., on Feb. 12, 2009, the issue has been debated in the news media and in Congress since that time. A rulemaking committee has turned in a report to the FAA with recommendations for additional training areas for first officers. Read more >>
The FAA will hold three informal meetings with pilots on the redesign of the Seattle Class B airspace in December. The proposed changes are intended to improve containment of traffic arriving and departing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport within the Class B airspace. Pilots will note some unusual design features in the airspace plan, such as the airspace's varying ceiling heights. Most of the airspace will extend vertically to 10,000 feet mean sea level. But extensions north and south of the airport will rise only to 7,000 feet msl. Read more >>
AOPA has responded promptly to comments by two Utah public officials who questioned the future of a Salt Lake City reliever airport that supports an estimated 1,220 jobs, serves as a general aviation gateway to the region, and enables millions of dollars in economic activity. Citing encroachment by development and safety concerns about South Valley Regional Airport, West Jordan, Utah, Mayor Melissa K. Johnson enlisted the aid of U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz who initially said he favored closing the airport, according to a Sept. 18 report in the Deseret News. Read more >>
| Stay healthy, fly longer. Enroll in the AOPA Medical Services Program and gain access to numerous resources designed to keep you in the air. Plus, receive assistance from our Medical Certification Specialists for FAA related medical issues. |
AOPA is urging city officials in St. George, Utah, to heed the concerns of local pilots facing hardships in the transition to the city’s new airport, which is set to open in January 2011 and replace the existing St. George Municipal. Read more >>
Ensuring the health and vitality of your airport is up to you—incompatible development and economic and political pressures can restrict your flying. Every day, more than 2,000 Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteers work with AOPA headquarters to help save their airports, but we need more. Below is a link to a list of the airports where an ASN volunteer could make a difference.
To nominate yourself or an associate to be a volunteer, visit AOPA Online.
To learn more about the Airport Support Network, visit ASN Online.
| AOPA Aircraft Financing Program offers NEW lower rates Our goal is to get pilots into the aircraft of their dreams. To help make aircraft ownership more attainable, we just lowered our rates to make monthly payments more affordable. For more information, or to have a representative call you to discuss financing, go to www.aopa.org/loans. |
Aviation legends? Check. Latest aircraft from manufacturers? Check. Educational forums? Check. Technical gadgets and gizmos for the cockpit? Check. AOPA Aviation Summit brings all of that—and more—to one location this November: Long Beach, Calif. AOPA Aviation Summit is a new twist on the association’s annual convention known as Expo. It takes the convention’s hits, like its educational forums and airport static display, to a higher level. Read more >>
Pancakes at the airport—what better way to start your day? Except maybe an early-morning flight in the crisp November air along the Long Beach, Calif., skyline. Fly in for a pancake breakfast and mingle with fellow pilots and AOPA members at Airportfest at Long Beach/Daugherty Field on Saturday, Nov. 13. The Airportfest Pancake Breakfast runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and will feature Rod Machado’s “Learning to Fly” presentation on the Airportfest Main Stage. Read more >>
Practicing approaches under the hood is one thing—flying in hard IMC is another. But some of the new equipment and technologies make it a little simpler to fly in the system and maintain a high level of precision. For example, GPS is accurate to about 110 feet laterally and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) to 10 feet laterally, according to the Air Safety Institute. So how can you take your IFR skills to the next level? Read more >>
| As an AOPA member, you have numerous ways to save… …(both time and money) on your next rental car from Alamo. Receive up to 20% off, a free additional driver and unlimited mileage…plus valuable coupon offers! |
Catalina Island Conservancy officials know a good thing when they see it and have extended a previous two-day offer to waive the $20 Catalina Island landing fee for AOPA members during AOPA Aviation Summit. Now, the fee is waived for four days, Nov. 11 through 14, to cover the entire Summit. Response to the original offer was strong, so Conservancy officials decided to extend the offer. Just show your AOPA membership card once you land on the island, and the fee is waived. Not only that, but you get 20 percent off the Wildlands Express shuttle service, normally a $17 charge. Read more >>
Ever wonder how AOPA photographers produce those stunning images in AOPA Pilot magazine every month? Well, it’s time to get the inside story from the photographers who have made aerial images their professional specialty. During AOPA Aviation Summit, Mike Fizer, AOPA’s chief photographer, and Chris Rose, a staff shooter and graphic artist, will talk about how they approach each new subject, plan aerial photo missions, and use still and video equipment. Read more >>
Stop by the AOPA Pavilion to visit the association’s certified partners and learn more about its financial, insurance, and pilot services. Find out how you can protect your pilot certificate, apply for a credit card, and score great discounts on everything from FAA computerized testing to car rentals. Looking to buy an aircraft? AOPA Member Products can help you to perform a title search, finance your purchase, and insure your airplane—all in one place. Have legal questions? Speak to one of AOPA’s panel attorneys who specialize in aviation. Read more >>
Taking a cruise? Need to fly commercial? AOPA can still provide assistance. Through an arrangement with Orbitz, you benefit from travel discounts while AOPA gets a portion of the revenue when you spend on hotels, airfare, cruises, and rental cars. Just by using Orbitz through AOPA’s website, your travel planning is simplified. Your AOPA membership benefits you even further when it comes to rental cars. You have your choice of rental car companies: Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz. Each of these companies also offers deals in addition to a discount. For example, Alamo waives the extra driver fee, while Hertz enters you automatically in its #1 Club Gold Program. Plan your next trip.
| FREE Video Tip! — Courses for Beginner to Pro! Click for a Free Video Training Tip and find a course to achieve your next goal, or to make your flying safer and more rewarding. Not sure? Call us at 800-854-1001 and talk to one of our pilot training advisors. |
Picture PerfectAOPA’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! |
Looking to buy into an aircraft share, or looking to buy or rent an airplane? Ask the magic question, “Is there any hail damage?”
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Engage in AviationCheck out user-submitted events from your region. To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. AOPA does not endorse the events listed below, nor have ePilot editors edited the submissions. AOPA assumes no responsibility for events listed. |
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QUIZ ME!Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member who contacted our aviation services staff through the AOPA Pilot Information Center. Test your knowledge.
Question: I am a private pilot training for the instrument rating practical test. This weekend I am flying an IFR cross-country trip with my instructor. How am I supposed to determine whether or not I’ll need to file an alternate airport if the destination airport does not have a TAF?
Answer: Part 91.169(a)(2) requires that a pilot include an alternate airport in an IFR flight plan unless the ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and the visibility will be at least 3 statute miles for at least one hour before and for one hour after the estimated time of arrival. The aviation area forecast (FA) is the only forecasting tool available at airports that do not have terminal forecasts. The area forecast covers a region which generally includes several states. FAs are issued three times a day for six specific areas in the United States. They are 12-hour forecasts with an additional 6-hour outlook. Remember that FAs give cloud heights in msl rather than agl.
Got a question for our aviation services staff? The AOPA Pilot Information Center is a service available to all members as part of the annual dues. Call 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672), or e-mail to [email protected]. |
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ePilot Editor: Sarah Brown | Contributors: Alyssa Miller Jill W. Tallman Warren Morningstar Alton K. Marsh | Dave Hirschman Tom Horne Ian J. Twombly | Production Team: William Rockenbaugh Lezlie Ramsey Mitch Mitchell | Advertise in ePilot: |
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