AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 55

WAYPOINTS niques, rules and regulations; interesting people, interesting ﬂights, airports, and their operators.” That’s a rich list—and we draw from it every month. The stories on our sweepstakes project airplanes frequently detail accessories and safety devices that can improve used airplanes. Our monthly avionics reports distill the complex information surrounding today’s highly capable guidance and communications gear. Every month we feature at least one technique or proﬁciency article. The founders of this magazine also wrote that the publication would carry articles “on navigation, ﬂight planning, meteorology, aircraft ﬂight characteristics and radio techniques.” We’re still there. Regular features today include “Wx Watch,” a monthly article dedicated to helping pilots understand the nuances of aviation weather. “Airframe and Powerplant” offers advice on how to keep your favorite ride healthy. Regulations? See John Yodice’s “Pilot Counsel” column each month for the latest interpretations out of FAA headquarters. Bruce Landsberg’s “Safety Pilot” column and “Landmark Accident” features provide thought-provoking guidance, as do the popular “Never Again” submissions from pilots everywhere. Of course, GA is not all about gear, gadgets, and what will get you. We learn about those subjects so that we can enjoy the challenges of piloting airplanes to fun and interesting destinations, and meeting some incredible people. We don’t short shrift there, either. Especially in this issue, you’ll meet some remarkable people who are in one way or another connected to the ﬁrst issue. Our “America’s Airports” series is not just about airports—although you regularly tell us how much you love your airports. Instead the stories, including the one this month on 50-year-old South Lake Tahoe Airport, are about the people who make up this extraordinary GA community. Finally, the founders understood the importance of speaking to GA pilots of all capabilities. “We will concern ourselves with both the beginner and the more advanced pilot ” For the more advanced pilot, we offer “Turbine Pilot.” In this era of a declining pilot population and increasingly complex flying environment, we give extra attention to student pilots and ﬂight instructors, those important people who usher new pilots AOPA PILOT • 55 • MARCH 2008 into GA. Recognizing how important this audience is, in 1998, AOPA purchased Flight Training magazine to address the needs of this unique audience. Today, the magazine ﬂourishes with a circulation of well more than 100,000 a month. The founding editors left the door wide open for us to adapt to a changing technology world. Today’s magazine content lives on AOPA Online, often with additional unique electronic content, such as video, animation, or audio. This issue, along with the original 1958 issue, are both in digital format online (www.aopa.org/pilot/digitalissue). As the founders hoped, we’ve grown to be the leading monthly magazine in GA. I hope you will agree that we met all of those lofty goals from 1958. And, as they wrote in that ﬁrst issue: “Subsequent issues will be improved or changed as circumstances dictate.” The ﬁrst editorial ended with a question: “Now—what do you think of our ﬁrst issue?” I’ll ask you: “Now—what do you think of our 601st issue and what can we do to make the next one even better?” E-mail the author at thomas.haines@ aopa.org. Q: In aviation insurance , when is a deal not a deal? A: Where do we start If your loss isn’t covered, it’s not a deal. If there are hidden deductibles for things like gear-up landings, it’s not a deal. If you can’t get answers to your questions, it’s not a deal. The list goes on and on. That’s why Avemco, the only direct provider of aviation insurance, offers consistent rates, coverage you can count on, and service that doesn’t waste your valuable time. Aviation insurance direct from the source. ® Call 800-276-5213 for an immediate quote, or visit www.avemco.com for more information and experience all the benefits of dealing direct. R

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008