Flight Training - May 2011 - 4

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

By Craig Fuller

AOPA SERVICES
THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is general aviation's advocate and the largest, most influential aviation association in the world.

WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON ...
NEVER STAYS THERE

INTERESTED IN LEARNING TO FLY? Visit AOPA’s engaging website for people who want to know more about what’s involved in learning to fly—and what it’s like. www.LetsGoFlying.com RESOURCES FOR STUDENT PILOTS Ask an AOPA CFI | ft.aopa.org/ask Flight Training article archive | ft.aopa.org/archive Aviation library | ft.aopa.org/library Supplemental training information | ft.aopa.org/student Virtual flight bag, including online weather and airport directory | ft.aopa.org/flightbag PILOT INFORMATION CENTER Members can receive answers to flight training and other aviation questions, and join or renew by telephone, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday | 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Via the Internet | ft.aopa.org/ask AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE ONLINE SAFETY CENTER Dedicated to providing general aviation pilot education and safety programs online. Via the Internet | www.airsafetyinstitute.org Call | 800-638-3101 AOPA MEMBER PRODUCTS AOPA Aircraft Financing Program | 800-62-PLANE AOPA Aircraft Insurance Program | 800-622-AOPA Non-owned aircraft and CFI policies available AOPA Credit Card Program | 800-523-7666 AOPA Legal Services Plan | 800-USA-AOPA AOPA Foundation | 800-955-9115 Other products | 800-USA-AOPA ONLINE GUIDE TO AOPA MEMBER SERVICES To join or renew, or for information about AOPA membership, e-mail inforequest@aopa.org or Visit the website | www.aopa.org/join NEW ADDRESS? Send your new address and membership number to AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701 Fax | 301-695-2375 Via the Internet | www.aopa.org/coa-form.html

D

epending on where you live, Capitol Hill and what transpires there may seem worlds away. But the truth is that, unlike Las Vegas, what happens in Washington never stays there. It affects every one of us, whether we like it or not.
have been reported as a result of keeping N-numbers private and the right to privacy is a generally accepted principle, it’s hard to imagine why it would suddenly be overturned. But this is exactly the reason we at AOPA are always vigilant and alert to what’s happening in Washington. And there are other challenges on the horizon that are far easier to predict. For example, we would be naïve to imagine that aviation and airports will be entirely spared in an environment where cutting spending is the biggest issue of the day. We would also be irresponsible if we didn’t recognize that the rising national debt is a serious threat. President Barack Obama’s own Fiscal Advisory Committee reports that if we continue on our present spending course, the annual interest on the national debt could reach $1 trillion by 2021. The rising price of oil, now well more than $100 a barrel, means we simply can’t afford to rely so heavily on this source of energy, especially with so much unrest in many oil-producing countries. These issues aren’t “GA issues” per se, but they have a profound effect on GA, and getting it right will make a real difference to our community. So, although we want to see the FAA well funded and money available for tackling modernization, avgas, and other issues, we need to be mindful of the bigger picture. Our members are wellrounded people who value aviation but who are also committed to the health of the nation as a whole. At AOPA we share those values, and we will keep working toward both goals each and every day.
E-mail AOPA President Craig Fuller at craig@aopa. org.

With last year’s elections more than six months behind us, and the honeymoon period at an end, we are beginning to feel the effects of the changes taking place in D.C. Since the 112th Congress got to work in January, we have seen new leaders heading up important committees and new perspectives coming into play on issues large and small. Even as I write this, the battle continues over the 2011 budget, with the possibility of a government shutdown looming. At the same time, the Obama administration’s 2012 budget proposal is under intense scrutiny and the reaction is mixed, with some saying his spending cuts go too far and others saying they don’t go far enough. To this point, we have been fortunate when it comes to protecting general aviation, with both parties saying “no” to user fees. Both the House and Senate have moved toward providing long-term funding for the FAA and NextGen—the modernization of the air traffic system. Support for finding a replacement for avgas remains strong. In fact, AOPA has just been appointed to an FAA committee that will begin the rule-making process for transitioning away from leaded fuel. While some of the biggest and most critical issues facing GA are being addressed and receiving support in Washington, there have also been some surprises—not the least of which is a new rule that would prevent pilots from exercising a right to privacy they have long enjoyed. This rule, which appeared with no rule-making process and no warning, would abolish the right of pilots to shield their N-numbers, making it possible for anyone to track any aircraft any time it flies. Since no problems

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FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG


http://www.LetsGoFlying.com http://ft.aopa.org/ask http://ft.aopa.org/archive http://ft.aopa.org/library http://ft.aopa.org/student http://ft.aopa.org/flightbag http://ft.aopa.org/ask http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org http://www.aopa.org/join http://www.aopa.org/coa-form.html http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - May 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - May 2011

Flight Training - May 2011
Contents
President’s Perspective
Right Seat
Letters
Trying Something New
This Weekend
Tech Tip What It Looks Like
Training Products
AOPA Action
Since You Asked
Final Exam
Legal Briefing
Insights
Flying Carpet
Checkride
Of Wings and Things
'Miracle Student'
The Transistion
Technique
Weather
Flight Lesson
Where are We Now?
Career Advisor
Career Pilot News
Pitch and Power—and Bicycles
Why Borrow Trouble?
CFI Reading List
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - May 2011 - Flight Training - May 2011
Flight Training - May 2011 - Cover2
Flight Training - May 2011 - Contents
Flight Training - May 2011 - 2
Flight Training - May 2011 - 3
Flight Training - May 2011 - President’s Perspective
Flight Training - May 2011 - 5
Flight Training - May 2011 - Right Seat
Flight Training - May 2011 - 7
Flight Training - May 2011 - Letters
Flight Training - May 2011 - 9
Flight Training - May 2011 - Trying Something New
Flight Training - May 2011 - 11
Flight Training - May 2011 - This Weekend
Flight Training - May 2011 - Tech Tip What It Looks Like
Flight Training - May 2011 - Training Products
Flight Training - May 2011 - AOPA Action
Flight Training - May 2011 - Since You Asked
Flight Training - May 2011 - 17
Flight Training - May 2011 - Final Exam
Flight Training - May 2011 - Legal Briefing
Flight Training - May 2011 - Insights
Flight Training - May 2011 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - May 2011 - 22
Flight Training - May 2011 - Checkride
Flight Training - May 2011 - Of Wings and Things
Flight Training - May 2011 - 25
Flight Training - May 2011 - 26
Flight Training - May 2011 - 27
Flight Training - May 2011 - 28
Flight Training - May 2011 - 29
Flight Training - May 2011 - 'Miracle Student'
Flight Training - May 2011 - 31
Flight Training - May 2011 - 32
Flight Training - May 2011 - 33
Flight Training - May 2011 - The Transistion
Flight Training - May 2011 - 35
Flight Training - May 2011 - 36
Flight Training - May 2011 - 37
Flight Training - May 2011 - Technique
Flight Training - May 2011 - 39
Flight Training - May 2011 - Weather
Flight Training - May 2011 - 41
Flight Training - May 2011 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - May 2011 - 43
Flight Training - May 2011 - 44
Flight Training - May 2011 - Where are We Now?
Flight Training - May 2011 - Career Advisor
Flight Training - May 2011 - Career Pilot News
Flight Training - May 2011 - 48
Flight Training - May 2011 - Pitch and Power—and Bicycles
Flight Training - May 2011 - 50
Flight Training - May 2011 - Why Borrow Trouble?
Flight Training - May 2011 - CFI Reading List
Flight Training - May 2011 - 53
Flight Training - May 2011 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - May 2011 - 55
Flight Training - May 2011 - 56
Flight Training - May 2011 - 57
Flight Training - May 2011 - 58
Flight Training - May 2011 - 59
Flight Training - May 2011 - 60
Flight Training - May 2011 - 61
Flight Training - May 2011 - 62
Flight Training - May 2011 - 63
Flight Training - May 2011 - Debrief
Flight Training - May 2011 - Cover3
Flight Training - May 2011 - Cover4
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