Flight Training - October 2012 - 8

LETTERS

Talk back
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. Please email letters to flighttraining@aopa.org. Letters will be edited for style and space.

PRIMARY MEANS
ARE THE MAP, COMPASS, AND STOPWATCH STILL THE BOSS?
take exception to the first sentence in “Tech Tip: Take the T” in the August 2012 issue of Flight Training. It states, “Despite a shift to GPS as the primary means of navigation….” Years ago I was trained that keeping track of my location by being aware of my speed, altitude, direction, and time of flight is the primary means
of navigation. What do you do if the electrical system or an electronic device fails? I was taught to understand that all those electronic gadgets in the cockpit were just radio aids to navigation. There is nothing wrong with using GPS and all the other radio and navigation tools available, but if they fail you must have a back-up method of estimating where you are. Martin Snyder Dublin, California
SQUAT SWITCH

I

system. That’s a good condition to have while the airplane is on the ground. Warren Webb Jr. Cromwell, Connecticut Webb is correct. Although the story itself made no reference to preventing gear-up landings, the unfortunate headline did. Flight Training regrets the error. —Ed.
RACHEL’S PLIGHT

ment rating, and later the commercial and CFI. For 11 years I instructed part time on weekends and full time in the summers. Last spring I was eligible to retire at age 56 from teaching and now am flight instructing full time. I am very fortunate to be able to do what I truly love to do. I would encourage Rachel to find a way to get into aviation and work toward her goal. She doesn’t have to quit her day job. It was a lot of hard work over all those years, but worth the effort. Cheryl Ann Daml Minneapolis, Minnesota

In the article, “How It Works: Squat Switch,” (August 2012 Flight Training) the comment under the article’s title indicates the squat switch is a brilliant solution to a gear-up landing.  I’m not too sure that the squat switch has anything to do with landings. It isn’t activated until after the airplane has landed and the gear strut on which it is installed has compressed enough to separate or open the switch, having the same effect as pulling a circuit breaker and disabling the gear operating

I am writing in response to Rachel’s letter in the “Career Advisor” column (“A Teacher’s Conundrum,” August 2012 Flight Training). Her story was similar to mine. I am a retired first-grade teacher and now a full-time CFII.  I was 36 when I began flying as a hobby. It began with a demo flight and then I was hooked on flying. As a public school teacher, this was a pretty expensive hobby. I funded the lessons by decorating holiday sweatshirts and selling them to my colleagues.  Eventually I took a second job at a flight school, dispatching airplanes to help pay for my flying. While working there, I was encouraged to get my instru-

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COME CHAT WITH THE FLIGHT TRAINING EDITORS
You’re ready to wade into the waters of aircraft ownership. How do you get started?
JOIN THE FLIGHT TRAINING EDITORS for a live Facebook chat on buying your first aircraft. Which one to buy? How do you find the perfect aircraft? And when you find one, what’s next? We’ll cover these topics and others on Tuesday, October 2, at 3 p.m. Eastern. Go to the Flight Training Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AOPAFlightTrainingMag), click the Chat icon, and follow the directions. You can also go here to set up an email reminder of the event.
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Flight Training - October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - October 2012

Flight Training - October 2012
Contents
President’s Perspective
Right Seat
Letters
When the Wind Blows
How It Works
After the Checkride
Success Story
News
Since You Asked
ASI News Final Exam
Member Products News
Flying Carpet
Able Pilots
Don't Risk It
Technique
Weather
Accident Report
Flight Lesson
Explaining Accidents
Career Advisor
Tech Talk
Think Before You Speak
The Product of Flying
Power Play
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - October 2012 - Flight Training - October 2012
Flight Training - October 2012 - Cover2
Flight Training - October 2012 - Contents
Flight Training - October 2012 - 2
Flight Training - October 2012 - 3
Flight Training - October 2012 - President’s Perspective
Flight Training - October 2012 - 5
Flight Training - October 2012 - Right Seat
Flight Training - October 2012 - 7
Flight Training - October 2012 - Letters
Flight Training - October 2012 - 9
Flight Training - October 2012 - When the Wind Blows
Flight Training - October 2012 - 11
Flight Training - October 2012 - How It Works
Flight Training - October 2012 - After the Checkride
Flight Training - October 2012 - Success Story
Flight Training - October 2012 - News
Flight Training - October 2012 - Since You Asked
Flight Training - October 2012 - 17
Flight Training - October 2012 - ASI News Final Exam
Flight Training - October 2012 - Member Products News
Flight Training - October 2012 - 20
Flight Training - October 2012 - 21
Flight Training - October 2012 - 22
Flight Training - October 2012 - 23
Flight Training - October 2012 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - October 2012 - 25
Flight Training - October 2012 - Able Pilots
Flight Training - October 2012 - 27
Flight Training - October 2012 - 28
Flight Training - October 2012 - 29
Flight Training - October 2012 - 30
Flight Training - October 2012 - 31
Flight Training - October 2012 - Don't Risk It
Flight Training - October 2012 - 33
Flight Training - October 2012 - 34
Flight Training - October 2012 - 35
Flight Training - October 2012 - 36
Flight Training - October 2012 - 37
Flight Training - October 2012 - Technique
Flight Training - October 2012 - 39
Flight Training - October 2012 - Weather
Flight Training - October 2012 - 41
Flight Training - October 2012 - 42
Flight Training - October 2012 - Accident Report
Flight Training - October 2012 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - October 2012 - Explaining Accidents
Flight Training - October 2012 - Career Advisor
Flight Training - October 2012 - 47
Flight Training - October 2012 - Tech Talk
Flight Training - October 2012 - Think Before You Speak
Flight Training - October 2012 - The Product of Flying
Flight Training - October 2012 - Power Play
Flight Training - October 2012 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - October 2012 - 53
Flight Training - October 2012 - 54
Flight Training - October 2012 - 55
Flight Training - October 2012 - Debrief
Flight Training - October 2012 - Cover3
Flight Training - October 2012 - Cover4
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