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All safe after Colorado midair; $1,000 landing fee?

AOPA ePilot
VOL 23, ISSUE 20 May 14, 2021
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Top Stories
AOPA continues fight for airport transparency
Advocacy
AOPA continues fight for airport transparency
AOPA and industry partners continue a dedicated, nationwide campaign to get the industry to adopt clearer, standardized parking terminology and disclose FBO/ramp fees at airports so that aviators can truly know what costs they might incur before they go. Read more >
Article
Metroliner pilot after midair: 'I'm good, though'
Nobody was hurt when a Cirrus SR22 collided with a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner as both aircraft were attempting landings on parallel runways at Centennial Airport in Denver. (Photo courtesy of Bruce Graham.) Read more >
AOPA Live This Week
New-again Cessna 150; Zero true; Flying scientist
We take a look at an award-winning Cessna 150, ride with a hot air balloon-flying family, and catch up with a new private pilot whose career involves explaining astrophysics. Watch AOPA Live This Week® >
Technique and Safety
Article
Virtual reality training device for R22 certified
VRM Switzerland has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification for a virtual reality simulation device that can be used in lieu of flight time to meet training minimums. Read more >
Series sponsored by Sporty's
Airworthiness records
Learn about maintenance and airworthiness, aircraft and maintenance records, required aircraft documents, and pilot-in-command responsibilities during a webinar on May 18 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. This is the first in a four-part webinar series. Register now >
Video
Ask ATC: Traffic alerts
Air traffic control specialist Sarah Patten explains VFR and IFR traffic separation in this AOPA Air Safety Institute video.
Login required
Same sky, different wings
Transition training involves more than a quick checkout. Learn more in this AOPA Air Safety Institute course.
Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce
Aircraft Maintenance: Repair or replace your autopilot?
An untrustworthy autopilot is no help when pilot workload is on the high side. Read more >
Podcast
'Ask the A&Ps': Heavy detonation is normally a self-correcting event
Ask the A&Ps podcast hosts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling talk about tire wear, avionics glitches, detonation, and topping off fuel tanks. Submit your questions for the next episode. Listen to the podcast >
Advocacy
Advocacy
AOPA opposes $1,000 'climate fee' for Massachusetts landings
A Massachusetts bill would weaponize exorbitant landing fees in the name of aviation's climate impact, jeopardizing the $24 billion industry and the 200,000 jobs it supports in the Bay State. Read more >
Advocacy
Rapid COVID-19 tests approved for international travelers
After AOPA and other aviation groups reached out to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency approved the use of a COVID-19 self-test to allow general aviation crew and passengers to comply with regulations. Read more >
Advocacy
More Cessna wing spar inspections proposed
More Cessna 210 models and some aircraft in the Cessna 177 series would require visual and eddy current inspections of the wing carrythrough spar lower cap and other measures under a proposed airworthiness directive. Read more >
Advocacy
AD for two Grumman single models in the works
The FAA plans to issue an airworthiness directive on Grumman American-family AA–5 and AA–1 airplanes to address potential separation of upper and lower skin surfaces of horizontal stabilizers. Read more >
Health
Pilot Protection Services
Near misses
Make note of your near misses in aviation, examine how you could have prevented them, and correct your mistakes, advises Dr. Kenneth Stahl. Read more >
Technology
Article
Avidyne certifies business-class FMS
Avidyne's flight management system for turbine aircraft, announced in 2019, is now certified for installation in certain Cessna Citations, with more model-specific approvals to follow. Read more >
Opinion
Blog
What's wrong with this picture?
Obtaining prior landing permission in the Alps can sometimes be challenging, writes Opinion Leaders blogger and Piper PA–11 Cub Special pilot Garrett Fisher. Read more >
Gear
Article
uAvionix retrofit enables AV-30 traffic display via Wi-Fi
uAvionix has released an inline Wi-Fi bridge for the AV-30 multifunction digital instrument. Read more >
Travel
Article
Fly and bike
Pack a folding bike or head to an airport with bikes available to celebrate National Bike Month in general aviation style. Read more >
Want more general aviation travel stories? Sign up for our AOPA Travel Pilot biweekly newsletter.
Financial
Member benefit
What determines the term of a loan?
AOPA Aviation Finance Co. President Adam Meredith answers questions about determining the duration of an aircraft loan and finishing a project aircraft. Read more >
News and Notes
Article
Pipeline aerial patrols stepped up as fuel crisis eases
General aviation appears to have mostly dodged the bullet from the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack and is playing a stepped-up security role in the recovery. Read more >
Article
Pilots of the Mahal
The saga of pilots who risked their lives in 1948 to fight for the new state of Israel by flying smuggled, surplus warplanes while outnumbered by the air forces of five nations has inspired novels and movies. Read more >
Article
Mercy Medical Angels virtual event to honor pilots, raise funds
Pilots who have helped provide transportation for medical care to low-income patients and veterans will be recognized May 22 during a virtual celebration. Read more >
Slideshow
Tucker's 'Oracle Challenger III' arrives at Smithsonian
Airshow performer Sean D. Tucker's iconic biplane has a new mission. Read more >
Podcast
'Hangar Talk': Smithsonian curator Dorothy Cochrane
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Aeronautics Curator Dorothy Cochrane provides insight about the popular museum's new general aviation exhibit; plus, get caught up on the latest aviation news. Listen to the podcast >
Career Opportunities
Aviation job board
Job of the week: Paint manager, West Star Aviation
West Star Aviation is hiring a paint manager for the company's Perryville, Missouri, location. This position requires an advanced knowledge of aircraft paint processes and supervisory abilities. Read the full 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 a member services representative, a digital media specialist, a marketing specialist, and a customer service representative (legal services). To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >
Question of the Week
Question

What can I do on the FAA's Airmen Online Services website?
Answer
You can change your address, order a replacement certificate, remove your Social Security number as your certificate number, request temporary authority to exercise certificate privileges, request verification of certificate privileges, and change address releasability, among other functions. Using this website allows you to complete these processes much faster than submitting paper forms. Read the full answer and 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
May 18, 7 p.m. EDT Airworthiness Records: A guide for owners and pilots, Part 1
May 20, 7 p.m. EDT Airworthiness Records: A guide for owners and pilots, Part 2
May 25, 7 p.m. EDT Airworthiness Records: A guide for owners and pilots, Part 3
May 26, 12 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
Theoretical astrophysicist, author, private pilot: Talking flying with Dr. @AstroKatie Mack
Adrian Eichhorn and Shinji Maeda
Simon Caldecott on his retirement from Piper
For a full list of Pilot Lounge videos, see AOPA Online.
AOPA podcasts
'Ask the A&Ps': 'Heavy detonation is normally a self-correcting event'
'Hangar Talk': Smithsonian Aeronautics Curator Dorothy Cochrane
'Pilot Briefing': Week of May 10, 2021
'There I was...': John 'Pappy' Mazza
'Never Again': What doesn't kill us
To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.
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