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To celebrate the sunny days of summer, Google unveiled new satellite imagery for all Google mapping products this week.  This stunning new imagery of the earth from space virtually eliminates clouds, includes refreshed imagery for regions of the world where high-resolution imagery is not yet available, and offers a more comprehensive and accurate view of the texture of our planet's landscape.

As an iFlightPlanner member you have instant access to the upgraded imagery anytime you access iFlightPlanner.com/AviationCharts or plan a flight with the Flight Wizard™ and choose the Satellite view.  You can read Google's June 26 announcement for all the details!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™

Brent Owens, creator of iFlyBlog.com, has released a free eBook that walks people through the process of getting their pilot’s license.  Owens is a professional pilot with more than 25 years of experience who has built and flies an RV-8 and has done restoration work on previous airplanes he has owned.  He is also notes that as a corporate pilit he has access to some of the latest safety and training techniques in the industry.  

If you are already a pilot, be sure and share it with someone who you think might enjoy the journey of becoming a pilot!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™

The IMC Club released a 30-minute training DVD on how to start and run an IMC Club Chapter. The viewer gets to see an introduction by the IMC Club founder and Club President Radek Wyrzykowski. He explains how IMC Clubs came about and it’s purpose. Radek also reviews the IMC website, concentrating on Member Benefits while demonstrating how to access them.

“I still will try to do my best to attend as many new chapter openings as I can. I wish I could attend them all. This DVD I hope will generate my virtual presence at those meetings I will not be able to attend and it will help to explain our concept and mission to even more pilots worldwide,” said Radek Wyrzykowski, President of IMC Club.

The new DVD is available for free to all new chapters signing after June 11, 2013 and will be available for purchased by existing chapters for a small fee.  

The IMC Club's intent is to create a community of pilots in order to share information, provide recognition, foster communications, promote safety and build proficiency in instrument flying.

With a growing number of reports from pilots being stopped by armed federal agents on the ramp and their aircraft searched by federal agents, the AOPA is questioning CBP’s authority to conduct the searches and demanding a response from officials at the highest level.

“We don’t even know why they’re being stopped,” said AOPA General Counsel Ken Mead, adding that the Association will press the issue until satisfactory answers, or a change in policy, are forthcoming. “We’re not going to let this go with just lip service. The agency either has to stop its behavior or we’re going to need to elevate it to Congress.”

» Full Story on AOPA

What to do if stopped by law enforcement?

AOPA is still researching the legal specifics involved when federal agents agents acting well inside the nation’s borders detain a pilot and search an aircraft.  As they work to gain a fuller understanding of what is permitted, the AOPA has prepared a convenient kneeboard reference card for pilots who might find themselves the object of the agency’s attention.

» Kneeboard Reference Card

There's a new way to rent an airplane at six airports across the U.S. and the founders of OpenAirplane hope it will modernize and rationalize the way people rent aircraft. The online service puts renters and aircraft owners together with an eBay twist. "Both pilots and operators contribute to a reputation system, creating first of its kind transparency for the community," said OpenAirplane spokesman Rod Rakic. OpenAirplane launched this week with affiliates in New York, L.A., Chicago, San Jose, Kissimmee and Detroit and almost 6,000 pilots have registered even though the service has been in a beta mode until now.

» Full Article on AVweb

An ambitious campaign to save a unique part of aviation history is on in Michigan but just like the events that created the Willow Run bomber manufacturing plant, the volunteers trying to preserve it face a daunting challenge. The Ford-owned plant, which churned out B-24 Liberators at the astonishing rate of one an hour during the Second World War, was bought by GM in the 1950s and used to build transmissions until 2009. The trust created to manage GM's assets when it went bankrupt has been trying to sell the defunct facility.

The Michigan Aerospace Foundation wants to preserve 175,000 square feet of the structure to house the new home of the Yankee Aircraft Museum but it needs to raise almost $5 million in six weeks to do it.

» Full Article on AVweb

There's an alarming trend at the Moline/Quad City International Airport. Over the past 24 months, there have been 11 reported runway incursions. Even more disturbing, 7 of the 11 incursions have happened since January of 2013.  Of those 7, the first was a vehicle driver, 2 were air carrier pilots, 2 were locally based general aviation pilots and 2 were transient general aviation pilots. 

Designated as a “Hot Spot” area and clearly marked on the airport chart, the Moline Airport runway configuration has an intersection of three (3) active runways.  Since the reopening of Runway 5/23 in October of 2012 the complexity and size of this intersection seems to be leading pilots to exit onto an active runway instead of the assigned taxiway.  The volume of traffic and the airport's complex runway and taxiway configuration require exceptional vigilance and situational awareness by all persons operating on the airfield.

The FAA is encouraging that all pilots review the Best Practices and incorporate them into their flight operations.

The Think Global Flight Initiative has received funding from the Wolf Aviation Fund as it gears up for a circumnavigation flight in support of a global effort to promote STEM education.  Flight organizers have already involved 10,000 students in 10 countries (including 25 states in the U.S.) with projects to help with flight planning, navigation and logistics of the flight.  Donors who want to be involved can buy a "Skyway" that will fund fuel for the flight.  Judy Rice will be the pilot and she will be accompanied by navigator and relief pilot Fred Nauer.  Rice said in an interview with AVweb the goal is to inspire and enthuse students all over the world in the "hard" subjects.

The flight's Cirrus SR22 will launch from Sun 'n Fun 2014 and head west.  Rice will fly alone from California to Hawaii for weight considerations and then she and Nauer will hit dozens of stops from there.  The duo will visit each of 25 "student command centers" that are now busy with projects related to the flight. Numerous aviation organizations and companies, including AVweb and iFlightPlanner, are sponsoring the flight.

The June 2013 digital issue of Avionics News Magazine is now available!

In this month's issue, you'll find:

• The View from Washington
• International News & Regulatory Updates
• Aircraft Electrical Systems Can Be More Automated
• Member Profile: Nav-Aids Ltd. Innovates Pitot-Static Test Adaptors
• Member Profile: Skylight Avionics of Melbourne, Victoria
• Highlighting the 2013 AEA International Convention & Trade Show
• Startup Stories: Four Pursuits of Avionics Opportunity
• A Conversation With Brad Hayden of Aspen Avionics
• AEAviators: William H. Elliott of Rockwell Collins

For more information on the Aircraft Electronics Association visit http://www.aea.net/.

This week's flight planning Quick Tip shows you how to modify your profile and customize your flight planning experience with iFlightPlanner.

In an open letter to the general aviation community sent just before the Memorial Day weekend, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta asked each pilot to "make sure you're ready -- really ready -- to fly."  The letter (PDF) noted that GA accident rates have remained "stubbornly flat" in recent years and asked everyone in the GA community, from pilots to mechanics to passengers, to share some simple messages.  Huerta's advice includes: Take advantage of all training opportunities, know the weather for every flight, help to grow a safety culture among your local contacts, and intervene if you see someone doing something unsafe.

» Full Article on AVweb