AOPA Safety Seminar - i might go

iWantWings

iWantWings

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AOPA sent out an email about a "Chart Challenge" seminar. Never been ton one of these, not quite sure what to expect (Im sure there will be some Join AOPA propaganda - and Im totally okay with that).

Here's part of the email

Be a safer pilot – today and for years to come...

Join us for this fun, fact-filled, FREE seminar!

What would we do without charts? They're one of the most fundamental parts of flying—but they can also be challenging to interpret, difficult to read, and sometimes head-scratchingly confusing. Our latest seminar is meant to help you master them. We'll quiz you on everything from VFR sectionals to instrument approach plates, and dig into the practical issues that come with them. We'll cover:

• Challenging questions about specific VFR and IFR charts

• Critical tie-ins with real-world procedures and decision making

• Analysis of tragic accidents caused by chart misinterpretation

• Important "gotchas" you need to be on the lookout for​

I might go either

Tuesday, January 29, 2013
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Hilton Orange County - Costa Mesa
3050 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA

or

Wednesday, January 30, 2013
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Doubletree Hotel Ontario Airport
222 North Vineyard Avenue
Ontario, CA
 
Those AOPA seminars are usually pretty good. And it's a good way to catch up with a lot of local pilots.
 
As luck would have it, I just got home from this seminar tonight here in Albuquerque.

It was an entertaining two hours, with A LOT of information shared. Each section (two VFR, three IFR) is presented in a multiple-choice test format, with two separate 'for fun' quizzes to break up the pace a bit. As a VFR-only pilot, I wish they'd spent a bit more time on sectional "gotchas" - those covered just about the first 20 minutes - but I also understand that IFR chart procedures are where professional pilots will have the most questions.

Attendance was good at 130 people, mostly private pilots with their IFR ratings. The AOPA propaganda was kept to a minimum; in fact, the only reference made to AOPA as something other than a safety training institution was a statement about the association's efforts to keep the FAA from charging for electronic chart updates.
 
Matthew said:
Those AOPA seminars are usually pretty good. And it's a good way to catch up with a lot of local pilots.
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I've read/seen some of the web-based format aopa safety seminars and always learned something new, and, you're right, I would see other pilots in all shapes and sizes in this "live" meeting.

And if it'll help keep me out of trouble, I sort of owe it to myself to go.
 
flightwriter said:
As luck would have it, I just got home from this seminar tonight here in Albuquerque.

It was an entertaining two hours, with A LOT of information shared. Each section (two VFR, three IFR) is presented in a multiple-choice test format, with two separate 'for fun' quizzes to break up the pace a bit. As a VFR-only pilot, I wish they'd spent a bit more time on sectional "gotchas" - those covered just about the first 20 minutes - but I also understand that IFR chart procedures are where professional pilots will have the most questions.

Attendance was good at 130 people, mostly private pilots with their IFR ratings. The AOPA propaganda was kept to a minimum; in fact, the only reference made to AOPA as something other than a safety training institution was a statement about the association's efforts to keep the FAA from charging for electronic chart updates.
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Thanks for the info! I'm convinced now and will go. There's little that I know about IFR charts and approaches so this will be a good intro for me as well. That was a good attendance and sounds like you enjoyed it. Thank you again.

Edit: Was the chart presentation tailored to your "local" airspace in Albuquerque, or any other airspace that best fit the topic being discussed?
 
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The seminars are great if you have the time and want an opportunity to mingle with pilots. Their free, online seminars can't be beat for efficiency, take them all.
 
Dave Krall CFII said:
The seminars are great if you have the time and want an opportunity to mingle with pilots. Their free, online seminars can't be beat for efficiency, take them all.
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And you get WINGS credit!

Other good online seminars available through FAASafety.gov.
 
iWantWings said:
Was the chart presentation tailored to your "local" airspace in Albuquerque, or any other airspace that best fit the topic being discussed?
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The latter. The VFR portion included planning a flight from Tuscon, AZ to Chino, CA, which I thought was a nice nod to the region, but other examples were taken from across the U.S.
 
flightwriter said:
As luck would have it, I just got home from this seminar tonight here in Albuquerque.

Attendance was good at 130 people ...
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And we were the presentation with the highest representation of women present.
(We are a well represented group!)
 
I went to this seminar Wednesday night in Milpitas. It was good. I look at it as free instruction and as mentioned, there's WINGS credit.
 
...and sometimes they give away a handheld radio or other nice award.

I've never been disappointed in the time-to-benefit ratio of one of these seminars. It's a shame more pilots don't go. They're often much more candid in presenting safety information than the safety foundation's politically-sanitized publications.
 
PW_Plack said:
...and sometimes they give away a handheld radio or other nice award.
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USUALLY, same for us.
This time, no snacks. Coffee became only water.
Prizes were 1 IFR visor (strap onto cap visor-style) and 3 AOPA ball caps.
But, the thought was there ... :redface:
 
I went to the the chart challenge last week. It was probably one of the better AOPA seminars that I've been to. I'd even go as far as saying that it was more informative than some ground sessions I've had in the past.
 
sacbluesman said:
I went to the the chart challenge last week. It was probably one of the better AOPA seminars that I've been to. I'd even go as far as saying that it was more informative than some ground sessions I've had in the past.
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I went too and was shocked how many local pilots I knew. Small world, though I doubt you went to the one in Santa Rosa.
 
The AOPA seminars seem to pull in the crowds. Sadly, the FAA sponsored WINGS seminars seem to be dying at least in CT. Another vote for the AOPA on-line seminars!!
 
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