Learn About Weather And Engines On The Internet

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) announced Wednesday the release of two new online courses -- Engine and Propeller and Weather Wise -- to the more than one dozen AOPA Air Safety Foundation (ASF) online courses already available for free to all pilots.

"We are proud to offer safety programs at no cost," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "These highly interactive new programs address issues that consistently cause general aviation accidents - weather and maintenance problems."

Sponsored by Lycoming, Continental, Cessna, and Hartzell, the Engine and Propeller course allows pilots to learn from the experts and promises to be ASF's most comprehensive, and most interactive course yet. Packed with information for both aircraft owners and renters, the program provides practical systems knowledge to help pilots troubleshoot engine and propeller problems, save money on fuel, and take care of their aircraft between maintenance cycles. The course also teaches pilots how to lean their engines, and how to control engine temperature -- as all pilots know, both critical items for long-term engine health.

Weather Wise is the first in a series of online weather courses. Funded in part by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this 20-minute program explains the relationship between temperature and dew point, and how those factors determine two of the most important factors for any flight: ceiling and visibility. According to AOPA, the course will also teach pilots when and where fog is likely to form, and offers in-flight video clips showing marginal VFR, VFR, and IFR conditions from a pilot's perspective. Helpful tips throughout the program point out warning signs of changing weather conditions.

Upcoming topics in the weather series include convective activity, turbulence, air masses and fronts. All of the new online weather programs are based on ASF's highly acclaimed 2004 "WeatherWise" live program.

ASF also offers many other online resources, including an accident database, safety publications, and quizzes. In addition, the Hot Spot and Now Featuring sections of the ASF Web page offer thorough updates on various topics, including links to additional resources. These sections are updated regularly.

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.asf.org