Pilots buy Mooney; Through our lens; SFAR request


VOL 22, ISSUE 36	September 4, 2020

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Top Stories

Article

Pilots, aircraft owners buy Mooney International

A group of U.S.-based general aviation aircraft owners and pilots took majority ownership of financially challenged Mooney International, pledging to support owners while upgrading the product. Read more >

Multimedia

Go behind the scenes of an AOPA photo/video shoot

Weather, airplanes, photo and video gear, people, and schedules present countless variables that all must align. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create AOPA's dramatic photography and video. Read more and watch a video >

Image gallery

Setting the bar

Senior Photographer Mike Fizer built his first darkroom at age 14, and he's never looked back. See Mike's favorite AOPA photos >

Image gallery

Capturing a moment in time

Senior Photographer Chris Rose travels the world to capture images and videos of unforgettable scenery and aircraft. See Chris's favorite AOPA photos >

Image gallery

Telling a story

Technical Editor Mike Collins taught himself black-and-white darkroom skills as a youth, and enjoys multimedia storytelling. See Mike's favorite AOPA photos >

Image gallery

Getting the shot

A longtime photojournalist, eMedia Associate Editor David Tulis now combines his loves of photography, aviation, and writing. See David's favorite AOPA photos >

AOPA Live This Week

Marking the end of World War II; Leading by example

Warbirds over Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of World War II. Also, high-profile backcountry aviators gathered to fine-tune fun for safety. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >

Technique and Safety

Webinar

Sightseeing safely

Earn FAA Wings credit and learn best practices for sightseeing flights during a webinar hosted by Jason Miller of The Finer Points and AOPA Air Safety Institute Manager of Aviation Safety Programs John Collins on September 10 at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

Push, then talk

Good communication skills can reduce stress and allow you to focus on flying the airplane. Test your radio knowledge with this AOPA Air Safety Institute quiz.

Video

Traffic pattern tragedy

In June 2016, miscommunication, three go-arounds, and ultimately, a departure from controlled flight resulted in a fatal crash near William P. Hobby airport in Houston. Watch this AOPA Air Safety Institute Accident Case Study for analysis and lessons learned. Watch the video >

IFR Fix

The shape of ice

The symptoms of an approaching tailplane stall are as counterintuitive as the recovery procedure. Read more >

Advocacy

Aviation groups seek new pandemic relief from FAA

AOPA and six other aviation organizations asked the FAA to grant pilots and flight instructors new two-month grace periods for meeting proficiency, medical, and certification deadlines because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more >

Advocacy

AOPA reconvenes medical-expert panel to press FAA reforms

The AOPA Board of Aviation Medical Advisors is developing solutions to help the FAA reduce delays and improve efficiency in medical certification. Read more >

Advocacy

Congress urges DOT, FAA to release funds for workforce program

Congress urged implementation of aviation workforce programs that have yet to launch despite having been authorized for nearly two years. Read more >

Health

Pilot Protection Services

Breaking the grip of habits

Dr. Kenneth Stahl offers tips to avoid letting habits get in the way of safety. Read more >

Technology

Article

Cirrus Vision Jet certified with Garmin Autoland

Cirrus's SF50 Vision Jet became the third general aviation aircraft certified with Garmin Autoland, joining the Piper M600/SLS and Daher TBM 940. Read more >

Opinion

Blog

'Zen pilot' recalls Antarctic route

Opinion Leaders blogger and polar circumnavigator Robert DeLaurentis explains how ADS-B technology helped track his Gulfstream Twin Commander 900 during a round-trip route from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the South Pole. Read more >

Gear

Article

FAA certifies uAvionix AV-30-C

The FAA has approved the uAvionix Corp. AV-30-C cockpit display that can serve as an attitude indicator or directional gyro. Read more >

Travel

Article

VFR Unleashed: The great Florida escape

When a go/no-go decision sits on the edge of your personal minimums, the opportunity to fly may still exist, but it will require careful thought. Read more >

Share your favorite airports featuring outdoor activities, restaurants

Tell us your favorite airports to fly in to where you can walk, bike, or get a car to enjoy nearby activities and restaurants while social distancing. We'll compile the responses and share them in an upcoming issue! Submit your top picks >

Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our free AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.

Financial

AOPA Foundation

Rising to the challenge with flying colors

Nearly 4,400 supporters donated more than $2.7 million to the AOPA Foundation for the 2020 You Can Fly Challenge, securing the Ray Foundation's $2.5 million matching grant. Read more >

Member benefit

A loan is a loan ... or is it?

AOPA Aviation Finance Co. President Adam Meredith explains why you shouldn't expect the same interest rate on an aircraft loan as an auto or mortgage loan. Read more >

News and Notes

Article

'One more time: Thanks'

The flight of the North American B–25 Mitchell bomber Old Glory above Hawaii during an aerial parade marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of World War II's end on September 2 meant the world to those aboard. Read more >

Article

Hurricane Laura slammed Gulf Coast

Hurricane Laura spawned destruction after making landfall on August 27. Read more >

Article

US Air Mail centennial: Four days to retrace history

Pilots will retrace a 15-stop air mail route September 8 through 11 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the first transcontinental air mail delivery. Read more >

Podcast

'Hangar Talk': Outreach pilot Jerome Stanislaus

From the tattoos that share a story about his love of flying to his passion for jumping out of airplanes, pilot Jerome Stanislaus is on a mission to share aviation with inner-city youth. Listen to the podcast >

Podcast

New 'Ask the A&Ps' maintenance podcast debuts

Imagine having three world-class airplane maintenance experts at your fingertips. Now you do. AOPA's new podcast, Ask the A&Ps, answers your aircraft maintenance questions. Listen to the podcast >

Video

CMT highlights You Can Fly Champion Dierks Bentley

Country Music Television recently featured award-winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley, his love of flying, and his new role as an AOPA You Can Fly Champion in the CMT Hot 20 Countdown. Watch the video >

Airworthiness advisories

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Charter sales, Kalitta Charters II

Since 1967, the Kalitta family name has been associated with excellence in the air transport of critical cargo. Due to recent expansion, Kalitta Charters is looking for a charter sales associate to work a four-day on, four-day off rotation in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Read the full description and apply today >

Question of the Week

Question

I am seeking advice on flying in smoky conditions. With all the fires around, I may never fly again if I wait for another CAVU day. Any tips or references to other resources for VFR pilots would be appreciated.

Answer

There are a lot of reasons to avoid flying through smoke plumes, which affect your health (breathing bad chemicals) and that of your airplane (clogging the engine air filter with particulates), even if you can see through the smoke. That's not to say you can't safely fly through a light haze of smoke such that you can see through all the way to the far horizon, but stay out of the thicker smoke plumes. Join the discussion >

This discussion is from our online Pilot Information Center, where you can ask questions, contribute answers, earn badges, and join our growing pilot community online. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Education & Seminars

AOPA's in-person educational courses and seminars have been canceled or postponed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Stay sharp with our webinars, podcasts, and videos.

Upcoming AOPA webinars

Sep. 9, 7 p.m. EDT	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Sep. 10, 12 p.m. EDT	'Don't Get Rusty' series: 60 seconds to a perfect landing
Sep. 10, 12 p.m. EDT	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition
Sep. 10, 7 p.m. EDT	Safety webinar: Sightseeing safely
Sep. 15, 7 p.m. EDT	AOPA Rusty Pilots - Webinar edition

See the full webinar schedule in our online Pilot Information Center. (Log in to our online Pilot Information Center using your AOPA website username and password to view these events.) View our recently recorded webinars (registration required).

Latest AOPA Pilot Lounge videos

You Can Fly Champions

How a PPS panel attorney protects AOPA members

'Bachelor' star Peter Weber

DK's Top 5: Everything you've always wanted to ask a controller

Kellee Edwards

High school scholarship recipient Tristan Dawson

For a full list of Pilot Lounge videos, see AOPA Online.

AOPA Podcasts

'Ask the A&Ps': I'm upside down and there's no oil in my engine!

'Hangar Talk': Outreach pilot Jerome Stanislaus

'Hangar Talk' Flight Time series: Jason Miller

'Pilot Briefing': Week of Aug. 31, 2020

'There I was...': Jon Gandy

'Never Again': Deadly decisions

'Pilot Protection Services Podcast': Predicting the future

To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.

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