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News & Media Training and Safety Tip: Hard lesson

Training and Safety Tip: Hard lesson

AOPA Flight Training
VOL 22, ISSUE 29 July 22, 2022
Training and Safety Tips
Hard lesson
Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce
Hard lesson
Every flight, however long or short, demands the same care and attention to preparation. Pilots forget this at their peril. Read more >
Technique
Article
Real-world cross-country planning
In primary flight training, cross-country planning boils down to charting minimal ground track, determining maximum range between fuel stops (while keeping a legal reserve), and avoiding special-use airspace. Read more >
Gyro Hero
Takeoffs are a blast
Once airborne, a gyrocopter flies much like an airplane. But takeoffs and landings are a different story altogether. Read more and watch a video >
Flight Training News
Flight lesson
Diagrams may deceive
A new private pilot learns a lesson about fuel selectors, and why you can't always believe what you read on a placard. (Illustration by Sarah Hanson.) Read more >
Member Benefit
Experience AOPA Flight Training Advantage at EAA AirVenture
Want to see how AOPA Flight Training Advantage benefits students, CFIs, and flight schools? AOPA staff will offer personal demos on our campus at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin, with group sessions July 25 and 29 at 1 p.m. Central time.
Multimedia
Sweepstakes Tiger winner announced
Our AOPA team surprised the new owner of the 2022 AOPA Sweepstakes Grumman Tiger—and he was speechless. He'll pick up the keys at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Read more, view photos, and watch a video >
Multimedia
2023 AOPA sweepstakes revealed
Introducing the 2023 AOPA sweepstakes airplane, a 1953 Cessna 170B that we'll modify to create the perfect backcountry beast for one lucky pilot.Read more, view photos, and watch a video >
Video
Marshalling signal basics
Watch this Safety Tip video from the AOPA Air Safety Institute to learn marshalling signal basics.
Article
Summer aviation scholarship news
Scholarships from multiple aviation organizations are available for pilots and aviation enthusiasts in all walks of life. Read more >
AOPA Pilot Producer's Pick
Behind the scenes of GAMI's unleaded avgas
Go inside the facility where General Aviation Modifications Inc. develops and tests its unleaded G100UL avgas and learn the next steps in the fuel's certification process. Watch the video >
Career News
You Can Fly
AOPA receives major support from Textron
A major gift from Textron Inc. will enable significant expansion of efforts to build aviation's future workforce. Read more and watch the video >
Video/Podcast
'Hangar Talk': New Orleans Cessna 172 pilot Gerald Herbert
A tragic accident has pilots talking, and New Orleans-based Cessna 172 pilot Gerald Herbert shares his passion for documenting southern Louisiana scenery from the air. Plus, find out what to expect during EAA AirVenture. Watch the podcast >
Instructor report
Start with a plan
Too many student pilots never earn a certificate. Those who succeed usually start with a clear plan, set realistic goals, and take a disciplined approach. Read more >
Aviation job board
Job of the week: A&P mechanic, Air Wisconsin Airlines
Air Wisconsin offers new-hire, no-contract bonuses for A&P mechanics as well as a full relocation package. The airline's maintenance facilities perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on Air Wisconsin's fleet of Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft. 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 product marketing coordinator, an exhibits coordinator, a senior manager of communications, a medical certification specialist, a Legal Services Plan attorney, and a Western Pacific regional manager. Learn about AOPA career opportunities >
Training Products and Resources
Sponsored by SiriusXM Aviation
Thunderstorm challenge
Set out with the AOPA Air Safety Institute for a VFR cross-country, but be prepared for pop-up thunderstorms, deteriorating weather, on-board and air traffic control radar realities, and fuel concerns. Test your knowledge in this interactive course.
Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by Flight Training editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.
Member Benefits
Pilot protection services
Pilot training contracts
Pilots should disregard claims that training contracts are "unenforceable," and consult an attorney before signing—or avoid an employer who requires one. Read more >
AOPA Aviation Finance
W-2 versus business owners
When it comes to purchasing an aircraft, lenders view W-2 wage earners and business owners differently. Read more >
Instrument Tip
Article
In the cheap seats
You learned to fly instruments in a Garmin G1000-equippped Cessna 172, but now you are looking to buy your own airplane and all the airplanes have conventional instruments. It's time to go back to school. Read more >
Photo of the Week
Sweeping teamwork
Sweeping teamwork
Parker Thaxton, a seasoned Cessna 170 pilot, showed AOPA Social Media Marketer Cayla McLeod Hunt the ropes while flying the 2023 AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 170B with A&P Ryan Walters in the back seat. Follow @flywithaopa on Instagram.
Final Exam
Question

Do the federal aviation regulations prohibit a student pilot from doing touch-and-go landings?
Answer
Touch-and-go landings are not prohibited for student pilots in the regulations. However, when meeting aeronautical experience requirements, touch-and-go landings are not permitted to be substituted for full-stop landings, such as the three landings at a towered airport required by FAR 61.109(a)(5)(iii). 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. (Log in to the online Pilot Information Center using your AOPA website username and password to see this discussion.) 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 AOPA Online. Have a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.
Education & Seminars
Stay sharp with AOPA's seminars, webinars, podcasts, and videos.
AOPA Rusty Pilots seminars
Jul 27 Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Aug 6 Cleveland, Ohio, and Amarillo, Texas
Aug 13 Nashville, Tennessee, and Rochester, Minnesota
Aug 20 Columbus, Indiana, and Danville, Kentucky
For a complete schedule, visit our online Pilot Information Center. (Log in to our online Pilot Information Center using your AOPA website username and password to view these events.)
Upcoming AOPA webinars
Aug 18, 12 p.m. EDT 'Don't Get Rusty' series: Rated for adventure
Aug 24, 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
Building the aviation community—Vermont Aviators Association
New Aerospace Center for Excellence leader Eric Crump
'The Aviators'/'The RVers'/'The Boaters' TV shows' Anthony Nalli
For a full list of Pilot Lounge videos, see the AOPA Live® YouTube channel.
AOPA podcasts
'Ask the A&Ps': 'I'm a reformed shock cooling worrier'
'Hangar Talk': New Orleans Cessna 172 pilot Gerald Herbert
'Pilot Briefing': Week of Jul 18, 2022
'There I was...': Michael Koury
'Never Again': Geese on final
To see all AOPA podcasts, visit AOPA Online.
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