Flight planning for a weekend getaway

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There is nothing like trying to depart on a Sunday morning and needing assistance when no one is around. The departure date or day of the week can make a difference. Check the FBO operating hours and emergency (after hours) phone number. I always plan for enough fuel to fly to another airport for fuel if something happens and I am not able to fuel up at the destination airport.

Video tip: Cessna 172 electrical system

The electrical system is a critical component of today's modern airplanes, distributing and supplying power to the lights, avionics and digital flight instruments. This week's tip takes a look at the various elements that make up the electrical system in the popular Cessna 172 training airplane.

Apply for the AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards

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Instructors and Flight Schools are invited to apply for regional or national awards. Applicants should ask for reviews from students, clients, instructors, and designated pilot examiners who have trained or worked with them during the previous 12 months.

NOTAMS Transitioning to ICAO Format

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FAA is making the NOTAM information more accessible and readable by adopting the ICAO standardized format. Essentially, NOTAMs will be much easier to read and interpret.

Line Up and Wait: What Every Pilot Needs to Know

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When a pilot hears the ATC instruction LINE UP AND WAIT he is cleared to taxi onto the departure runway and position the aircraft for takeoff. In earlier aviation days, this was known as "position and hold" but the phrase was updated to provide additional clarity.

Video Tip: How to fly an LPV (GPS) approach with a Garmin GTN 650

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LPV instrument approaches provide ILS-like precision to over 4,000 runways in the U.S. In this week's video tip, we'll explain the differences between a traditional LNAV and LPV instrument approach, and show how to fly one using a Garmin GTN 650 navigator.