Coming up, Tecnam's sleek twin
proves itself as a trainer.
And can the impossible turn really be done
in your airplane?
ASI finds out.
Great question.
Plus, general aviation pilots helping critters
get back on their flippers.
"AOPA Live This Week" begins in just a moment.
(upbeat music)
This is "AOPA Live This Week",
with Tom Haines and Alyssa Cobb.
Things are looking up out there.
Traffic numbers are high,
especially in general and business aviation.
Now that's right.
The rebound is strong.
According to data from FlightAware,
business aviation is up 81% from last year at this time,
pretty low threshold.
But its even up 11.5% compared to the same period in 2019.
That's measuring only turbine part 91 and 135 operations.
So I'm on the road this week
with AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker.
We went out and about in the middle on
the southeastern part of the country,
talking to some aviation influencers
and trying to understand what's happening
in the marketplace,
particularly around business aviation.
And what we've seen and heard on the frequency,
seen on the ramps is a lot of activity
by light turbine aircraft, turboprops, light jets,
but also some high-end piston aircraft
out and about conducting business.
But one thing we haven't seen much of
are the really big intercontinental jets.
The Gulfstream and the Falcons of the world
seem to be in the hangers because of COVID.
International travel restrictions have meant
that a lot of corporations that might typically
be making a lot of international trips
are not doing so because of those restrictions.
But regardless, when it comes to domestic travel Phil,
there is a big uptick in activity
and its really nice to see.
And a lot of the uptick in activity
is also reflected in the demand for used aircraft.
If you've tried to find a good used airplane,
you already know that the market is hot.
V-Ref calls it a feeding frenzy.
The piston fixed-wing market is up 15 to 35 percent
compared to last year.
Twin engine aircraft, which have been in the dog rooms,
are also up in demand.
The Baron 55 at the top of the list.
Light to medium sized jets are selling fast,
as are single engine turbo-props.
Based on V-ref valuations, the top three most desired
piston aircraft are, get this,
the Cessna 1-82, 1-72, and the mighty A-36 Bonanza.
You can check out V-Ref aircraft prices on our web site
if you're an AOPA member.
By the way, a 1970s era 1-72 would set you back
about 90-thousand dollars if you can find one.
So Alyssa makes me feel bad
that I sold my 1977 1-72 for about 43,000 dollars.
Okay granted, that was 20 years ago,
but when I now see that they're going for 90,000,
pretty impressive.
That is.
Now, I mean you could always put your Bonanza up,
although I don't see you ever parting with that.
(Tom laughs)
No, I think gonna (indistinct) with A Bonanza for a while.
Yeah.
Well, the AOPA Air Safety Institute
is testing out a controversial proposal.
The impossible turn back to the runway in the event
of an engine failure shortly after take off.
The ASI team took four different aircraft,
a Super Cub, an RV4, a Bonanza, and a Cessna 172
and put them to the test.
Now it's subject of their latest video,
"Reality Check: The Runway Behind You"
With stall numbers and expected
turn back altitude requirements freshly established,
we each flew three profiles in near perfect conditions.
Cool sunny morning, light winds, and low density altitude
on a simulated 4,000 foot-long runway.
The plan was to climb between VX and VY
with full power to the predetermined altitude.
Cut power to idle, delay three seconds
to simulate a startle period.
Then push to best glide while entering
a 45 degree bank turn back to the runway.
I went first in the Super Cut.
ASI Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden
says the experiment was prompted by a real world
high-profile crash.
Earlier this year, there was an accident
in Pembroke Pines, Florida,
where a Bonanza A36 appeared to...
It appears as if he attempted to make a turn back.
Meaning an engine failure on take-off,
and attempted the impossible turn.
Turning back to the runway,
landing in the opposite direction.
We knew that would ignite some debate
around the impossible turn.
So we decided to out and try the impossible turn
in a few different platforms.
How'd they do?
Well, you can find out this Friday
when the video goes live on
the Air Safety Institute's website.
That's AirSafetyIntitute.org.
Well, let us help.
That's the message AOPA and other aviation stakeholders
sent to the Departments of Transportation and Defense
about rolling out real time information
about special use airspace.
AOPA and others who signed this letter
think the industry is in the best position to come up
with the solution as to "how".
Companies like Garmin and ForeFlight may be able
to easily roll out a solution.
The FAA and DOD are talking about how to accomplish it.
And we think aviation can get it done.
The National Defense Authorization Act requires
that real-time status of SUA and military operations area
be sent to pilots' cockpits.
The AOPA-championed effort provides aviators
with real-time status of MOAs and restricted areas
pushed directly into the cockpit.
Now this will result in enormous savings
and environmental benefits for operators of private,
commercial, and military aircraft.
Well, when you think of a multi-engine trainers,
modern and efficient are, well, not the words
you would usually use to describe them.
Most multi-trainers at the local flight school
are worn out old Piper Aztecs, maybe a Seminole.
And they both have big avgas sucking engines.
Well, the Tecnam P2006T is a newer entry
to the twin trainer market.
AOPA Technical editor Jill Tallman has the story
about what makes the Tecnam twin unique.
When you compare this new Italian airplane
to the old American twins, the most notable difference
is the engines.
The P2006T is powered by Rotax 912S3s.
And the airplane is gaining traction
in the flight training market.
My favourite thing about it is just
the ease of operation and the little,
the Rotaxes do such, they're so reliable.
And they're quiet.
It's really a nice, quiet twin trainer.
The engines suck just nine gallons
an hour total.
And they can burn avgas or mogas.
So the Tecnam is much more affordable to operate.
The main advantage is the operating cost.
And I would also say the other big advantage
is the ease of the transition.
You know, an Aztec or even a Duchess
will have either 250 or 180 horsepower aside.
This has got 100 aside,
so it's much more docile doing the single engine work.
And so, it makes for an easier transition for students.
The airplane is also set up well
to teach students on a commercial airline track.
This is a very well, logically laid out cockpit.
It's got the, I would say a similar feel to an airliner.
This example has a standard six pack,
with a Garmin GTN750 navigator.
But Garmin G100NXI avionics are an option.
In the air, the P2006T is light on the controls,
yet noticeable control pressure changes
point to the fact that this is indeed
a larger airplane.
Cruise speed is 150 knots,
and range is 650 nautical miles.
The airplane has four seats,
but useful load is somewhat limited for a twin.
The airplane is not exactly new on the market,
it was certified in the United Stated in 2010.
But it is meeting the demand for affordability,
efficiency, and performance.
Jill Tallman, "AOPA Live".
You can read more about the Tecnam twin
in the upcoming July Issue of "AOPA Pilot" Magazine.
Coming up, how you can take action
against a proposed $1000 landing fee.
And, Turtles Fly Too.
We'll be back in a snap.
(upbeat music)
I'm a full-time filmmaker,
and I integrate a lot of flying in with that.
And primarily produce film and videos around aviation.
I've got about 1700 hours,
about maybe three or 400 of that door given.
My ratings are a commercial airplane single engine land,
and then I'm a CFII, and just recently got my tailwind.
So I use SiriusXM weather hands-down all the time
on a four flight.
We were doing performance testing off the coast of Florida,
and we needed unrestricted climbs
of no clouds above us.
And we needed unrestricted descent,
no clouds below us.
And we actually used the cloud layer
that SiriusXM feeds to the iPad,
and it was shockingly accurate.
I really tend to gravitate towards using SiriusXM
in the cockpit because of the resolution
of data that it's providing you.
I mean when I'm looking at next route,
or weather on the horizon, or satellite cloud layers,
anything like that.
The resolution of the image that it's giving me
is so much higher, and so much more frequent
than ADS-B, especially when you're operating
in an IFR environment.
Well, welcome back.
So Tom, you're at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky.
Can you tell us a little bit about it,
what you're doing there?
What it's like?
Absolutely yeah, we're in Lexington as I said earlier.
Lexington, Kentucky, Aviation Museum of Kentucky.
And it's a fascinating place opened in 1995.
And their emphasis is on kids,
and teaching kids about aviation and the opportunities.
What most people didn't know, don't know,
and I didn't know until I got down here,
is that Kentucky is the Number two state
for economic impact relative to aviation and aerospace.
I wouldn't have thought that,
Washington State of course is first
with Boeing and all the other things
going on up there.
But anyway, it's an impressive museum.
And I'll be talking more about it in a segment
we'll do next week.
Great, looking forward to it.
Well, the FAA has released a final rule
that requires air carriers and other operators
to report their pilots' employment history, training,
and qualifications in an electronic database.
Operators seeking to hire pilots must review
database records on applicants.
Now AOPA has been actively engaged with this issue
since it was first proposed.
We were focusing especially on ensuring that the database
did not place burdens on general aviation operators.
And, for the most part, that was successful.
You can read the full details on our web site.
Well, now you may remember the absurd $1000
landing fee proposed in Massachusetts.
AOPA is calling on members of the state to speak out
against this farce of a proposal.
We encourage you to contact the sponsor of the bill
that would charge a $1,000 "climate mitigation" landing fee
on private, corporate, and charter aircraft
using Bay State airports,
and insist that he pull back the broadly panned measure
from consideration.
Now, the measure was proposed by State Senator Julian Cyr.
His contact information is right there on your screen.
You can let him know how valuable general aviation is
to the state, and the safety impacts
this could have if enacted.
Now we don't expect it to pass,
but the bill is presently before
the Joint Committee on Transportation.
It would devastate the 24.7 billion dollars that aviation
adds to the Massachusetts economy each year
and likely cost 200,000 jobs.
Well, if you're like me, and I know I am,
you're ready for a vacation.
How about a "FlyCation"?
We've got a list of ideas for places to go
in your airplane on our website.
From the Wright Brothers' National Monument,
to the Grand Canyon, there many wonderful destinations
that are perfect to fly with the family.
You could even win some great prizes.
The Pilot Passport feature of the AOPA app
is offering a "June Summer Flycation Challenge".
Just check in to the landmarks on the app to be entered.
Find all the details on our website.
And speaking of flying around the country,
18-year old Ben Templeton is going to fly
to all 48 of the lower states in a J-3 Cub.
He's doing it to raise awareness
about Triple Tree Aerodrome in South Carolina.
Ben departed Triple Tree on Tuesday.
Actually just ahead of our visit there.
We'll have a story about the trip next week.
Until then, you can follow his journey and support the trip
at benflies.com.
And finally, we like to remind people
that general aviation serves America.
And one of the ways volunteer G-A pilots serve
is in rescuing endangered species.
"AOPA Live's" Warren Morningstar has more.
Yup, turtles fly too.
It's amazing how today makes a person feel.
Each and every one of the people on this beach
will never forget this.
These turtles flew all the way from Massachusetts
to this North Carolina beach.
Well, they flew in Chiquita banana boxes
in general aviation airplanes.
All part of the Turtles Fly Too fleet.
Turtles Fly Too is pretty much
a emergency response organization that transports
using general aviation pilots and aircraft.
Endangered species and whatever comes up.
So we've done humanitarian aid
and hurricane relief.
More than 300 pilots have volunteered
their aircraft and time to endangered species,
and other humanitarian missions.
Today, these pilots are helping 34 highly endangered
Ridley's Kemp sea turtles get back to the sea.
Now the turtles were cold stunned,
and couldn't migrate south when they should have.
They get caught in the colder waters,
and they end up being frozen to a degree
that lowers their body temperatures.
And as they're trying to work their way back south
to the warmer waters, the armpit of the Cape Cod area
tends to draw them into the beaches.
So you have volunteers that end combing
those beaches for them every day,
at every tide change.
Pick them up off the beach,
and transport 'em to the New England Aquarium
and National Marine Life Center.
More turtles than they can take care of really.
So Turtles Fly Too volunteer pilots
fly them to other recovery centers,
or, like today, for release back into the wild.
And these pilots are helping ensure
of the survival of the species.
Cold stunning is a natural occurrence,
but it's one of those threats
that we can respond to and help with.
And so generally, if you can help with threats
that we can manage , that should alleviate
the impacts of threats that we have less
ability to manage.
So, over all, it should help, we hope.
It means a lot to the turtles
and to the pilots.
Ed Filangeri flew boxes of turtles in his Seneca.
It just warms my heart.
It's one of the greatest things I do.
And makes me so happy to be helping
an endangered species.
Kirk Fischer's Bonanza proved to be
another capable turtle transporter.
This is all worth it.
It's absolutely great.
Fun to see, very exciting, very rewarding.
Warren Morningstar, "AOPA Live".
If you're interested in volunteering for Turtles Fly Too,
visit their web site to learn more.
And, take note, they need pilots
in all parts of the country.
Well Tom, those were some awfully cute turtles,
I can't wait to see what's next.
We transported cats and dogs last week,
and turtles this week.
Yeah, that is quite a collection.
We'll see what next week's amphibian might be, right?
(Alyssa laughs)
Right, well that's our program for the week.
Thanks for watching.
Don't forget to send us a note on the address
on your screen.
Or down below, if you're with us on YouTube.
No matter where you watch us, we thank you.
We'll see you next time.
(upbeat music)
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