|GA News | Safety & Proficiency | Member Benefits | Quiz Me|
Click here to view this week's custom content online
PEAK EXPERIENCE: AOPA AVIATION SUMMIT
The excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the opening day of AOPA Aviation Summit in Tampa, Fla., were capped off by the unveiling of the association’s 2010 sweepstakes aircraft: a brand-new Remos GX light sport aircraft. Summit attendees were the first to get a look at the Remos. AOPA President Craig Fuller, Remos Managing Director Corvin Huber, and Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association President Dan Johnson were on hand as the Remos was literally undraped to a musical fanfare on Nov. 5 in the exhibit hall of the Tampa Convention Center. Read more >>
Rally speaks out for GA
Wearing their support for general aviation on their lapels and announcing it with signs, attendees at AOPA Aviation Summit gathered at Center Stage in the Tampa Convention Center exhibit hall Nov. 5 to show that restrictions and user fees can't stifle their passion for GA. The GA Serves America rally began with the crescendoing drumbeat of a five-piece band approaching through the exhibit hall and led into more live music, with speeches from National Air Transportation Association President Jim Coyne, AOPA President Craig Fuller, and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III. "If we do away with general aviation as we know it today, God help us, we'll never be able to get it back," Manchin said. Read more >>
New program to help pilots keep medical certificates
Few things are more important to a pilot than his or her medical certificate. That’s why AOPA created the Medical Services Program, which launched Nov. 5 at AOPA Aviation Summit. The plan is part of a redoubled focus on health issues, which includes the first-ever Health Pavilion, also at Summit. All AOPA members, whether they choose to participate in the Medical Services Program or not, will continue to have access to AOPA’s extensive online medical resources. The program itself has two levels. Read more >>
Cirrus offers Entegra Release 9
In a press conference Nov. 5, Cirrus President and CEO Brent Wouters said that the company will now make the Avidyne Entegra Release 9 integrated flight deck available on new SR20 and SR22 airplanes. Previously, Cirrus discarded Avidyne panels in favor of Garmin’s Perspective avionics suite. Wouters said that because of recent customer interest, “dozens” of buyers may order the new Avidyne glass cockpit in the next six months. Read more >>
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is allowing visitors to AOPA Aviation Summit to fly a radio-controlled model airplane at its Airportfest exhibit at Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa, Fla. AOPA Pilot Senior Editor Al Marsh tried his hand at flying one. He made one good landing, power-dove into a concrete floor, and nearly took out a helicopter. Read more >>
AOPA to provide scholarship, membership to MTSU students
AOPA and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) have reached an accord to help students in the school’s burgeoning aviation program. The association will fund an annual scholarship worth $7,500, and will provide membership to every student in the aviation program. Read more >>
Momentum needed to get women into aviation
Women’s role in aviation has grown progressively stronger since the days of Wilbur and Orville Wright, but there’s much more to be done, airshow pilot Patty Wagstaff and Women in Aviation, International President Peggy Chabrian said Nov. 5. Read more >>
Frasca gives a 170-degree view
AOPA’s Pilot Information Center is teaming up with simulator maker Frasca to feature the “Glass Simulator Center” at AOPA Aviation Summit booth 945. Frasca’s Model 142/Cirrus SR22 simulator is front and center at the Simulator Center, complete with a glass cockpit and a wraparound visual encompassing a 170-degree field of view. Read more >>
Avidyne unveils new autopilot, MFD
Avidyne Corporation introduced its new attitude-based autopilot, the DFC90, Nov. 5 at AOPA Aviation Summit. The $9,995 unit, designed for the Cirrus SR20 and SR22, features a number of safety enhancements. One of them—flight envelope protection—provides aural and visual warnings of dangerous low-airspeed conditions when using vertical-speed, altitude-hold, and airspeed-hold functions. Read more >>
For more Summit 2009 news, see AOPA Online.
AOPA Live Schedule
Embed code (container size is 480x270)
‘USA Today’ does ‘disservice’ to readers in airport stories
Once again, USA Today is bashing funding for general aviation airports. AOPA President Craig Fuller has written to the editorial board of the newspaper regarding two articles published Nov. 2. While setting the record straight, Fuller also suggested, “Maybe USA Today’s next big story will be that billions of dollars are being spent on roads used by privately owned cars instead of on improving bus terminals.” Read Fuller’s letter >>
Piper president resigns
Piper President John Becker resigned effective Dec. 1 as reported in an announcement to Piper employees from Piper official Steve Johnston. Becker first joined Piper more than 20 years ago and oversaw many projects critical to the company's success, including the Meridian and PiperJet programs, the announcement stated. Read more >>
A North Las Vegas stakeholder group of aviation officials, pilots, and community residents formed by Nevada Senate Joint Resolution 3 submitted 13 recommendations to the state legislature Nov. 1 in an effort to increase safety at North Las Vegas Airport. The recommendations call for increased safety education outreach and training for pilots and for laws preventing further residential and commercial encroachment around the airport. The airport came under scrutiny in August 2008 when two fatal accidents occurred there within a week of each other. Read more >>
As deadline nears, GA groups seek future for training visa
When responsibility for the J-1 visa program shifts from the State Department to the Department of Homeland Security at the end of the year, the fate of the program—and the flight schools that depend on it—is still uncertain. General aviation organizations are urging the DHS to move forward with a program to allow J-1 flight schools to continue their businesses. The agency has not yet indicated whether it will continue the program, which allows foreign flight students to complete their professional training and then work as a flight instructor to build hours. The associations met with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Oct. 30 to discuss the program's future. Read more >>
Embraer posts 3Q 2009 financials
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer may have received a lot of upbeat publicity in 2009, but the company’s third-quarter financial statement shows it’s far from immune to the global recession. The statement reflects a steady decline in net sales over the last year. Without sales of Embraer’s Phenom 100 and Legacy 600, the financial picture would have been much worse. Read more >>
AOPA offers expertise on GA security
After some of its recent general aviation security proposals were met with opposition from pilots and legislators, the Transportation Security Administration is reaching out to industry groups to better understand concerns of the GA community. AOPA and other industry groups participated in a research focus group designed to help the TSA understand the GA community and its perspective on security issues Oct. 28. Read more >>
PS Engineering updates original audio panel
In what it says is an effort to offer value and quality to pilots, PS Engineering on Nov. 4 announced an updated version of the company’s original PMA6000 audio panel. The new PMA6000B is smaller and lighter than the original and includes a built-in four-place intercom. Read more >>
Diamond offers to match down payments
Sometimes recessions can be a good thing—for the consumer, at least. Diamond Aircraft is, for a limited time that the company hasn’t defined, matching customer down payments with up to 10 percent of the actual purchase price. In addition, Diamond tosses in Garmin Synthetic Vision for selected models at no charge. Read more >>
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
Keep track of your online safety courses—any time, anywhere
Stay proficient! Don’t wait until your next flight review; take a free AOPA Air Safety Foundation online course today. Your progress is saved, so you can stop and later relaunch the course to pick up where you left off. Your transcript keeps track of your progress, including test scores. It also allows you to reprint a certificate of completion, suitable for framing. Most courses qualify for AOPA Accident Forgiveness and the FAA Wings program.
Night ops to continue at Burbank
The FAA ruled Nov. 2 that the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority could not ban night operations at Bob Hope Airport. The city had sought to ban flights between 10 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. AOPA opposed the ban and petitioned the FAA in July to reject the proposal. Pilots already voluntarily avoid flying at night at the airport, AOPA told the agency. The association also pointed out that a ban would discriminate against general aviation and would create a traffic burden on nearby Van Nuys Airport. The FAA concurred in its decision, saying that banning flights at night would have a negative impact on aviation commerce and airports in the Los Angeles basin. “Burbank didn’t prove the case adequately to gain FAA approval,” said Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of local advocacy. “AOPA is pleased that the FAA recognized the importance of Bob Hope Airport to the L.A. area.”
AOPA seeks to be ‘friend of court’ in jet-ban case
AOPA on Oct. 29 requested permission from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to participate as a friend of the court in an appeal by the city of Santa Monica, Calif., of an FAA decision that the city could not ban certain jet traffic at Santa Monica Airport. Read more >>
To learn more about the Airport Support Network, visit ASN Online.
Aviation-themed holiday gifts
The holidays are right around the corner. If you're looking for gifts for pilots or individuals who'd like to be pilots, look no further than AOPA's Holiday Gift Guide. The Gift Guide features a collection of aviation gear and gadgets, including leather pilot jackets, flight bags, simulator software, and more.
Share the gift of flight with aviation-themed holiday cards
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's aviation holiday cards are now available. Choose from various designs. Imprinting is available, and you will also receive return address labels and decorative seals. Each box has 25 cards, and a portion of the proceeds from each box sold will help the foundation's mission of improving general aviation safety. To view the cards or to place an order, visit the Web site or call 800/308-4285.
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 selling my aircraft and have a firm offer from a Canadian citizen. What do I need to do to complete this sale?
Answer: Selling your aircraft to a non-U.S. citizen or corporation takes extra steps beyond the standard bill of sale. After you have researched the buyer’s legitimacy (per U.S. Customs Web sites) and once you have your sale complete with money in hand, you will need to contact the FAA Aircraft Registry and inform them that you will be de-registering the aircraft for sale to Canada. A title and lien search will be completed to verify no existing liens are held on the aircraft, and the FAA will securely notify Transport Canada of the de-registration within hours so that the Canadian buyer can proceed with his registration. An Export Certificate of Airworthiness (ECA) also may be required of the seller in some cases. You also may need to physically remove the N registration markings from the aircraft if your buyer has not provided either a temporary N number for export or his new C number for use. You can read more about importing and exporting aircraft in this AOPA subject report.
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 800/872-2672, or e-mail to [email protected]. Send comments on our Quiz Me! questions to [email protected].
AOPA’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!
Aviation Events & Weather
Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See your personalized online calendar of events . We've enhanced our calendar so that with one click, you can see all of the events listed in the calendar regions you selected when personalizing ePilot. Now you can browse events listed two weeks to a few months out to make your planning easier. You can also bookmark the personalized calendar page to check it as often as you want. Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.
Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics
The next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in San Diego, Calif., Atlanta, Ga., and Austin, Texas, Nov. 14 and 15; Anchorage, Alaska, Albuquerque, N.M., and Reston, Va., Nov. 21 and 22; Denver, Colo., and Orlando, Fla., Dec. 5 and 6; Northbrook, Ill., Dec. 12 and 13; San Jose, Calif., Baltimore, Md., and Detroit, Mich., Jan. 9 and 10. For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
Can't make it in person? Sign up for the CFI Refresher Online.
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Decatur, Ga., and Smithfield, N.C., Nov. 10; Huntsville, Ala., and Castle Hayne, N.C., Nov. 11; Burbank, Calif., and White Plains, N.Y., Nov. 16; Ontario, Calif., Nov. 17; Costa Mesa, Calif., Nov. 18; San Diego, Calif., Nov. 19; Marietta, Ga., Dec. 1; Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 2; Pensacola, Fla., Dec. 3; West Palm Beach, Fla., Dec. 7; Tampa, Fla., Dec. 8; Towson, Md., Dec. 9. Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
Got news? Contact ePilot. Having difficulty using this service? Visit the ePilot Frequently Asked Questions now at AOPA Online or write to [email protected].
Editorial Team : ePilot Editor: Sarah Brown