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Twitter CEO, Dick Costolo, recently appeared on the TODAY show to talk about the social media giant's redesign, but what caught the eye of the iFlightPlanner Crew was their user feedback strategy and how closely it mirrors that of iFlightPlanner.

Know that every feature that is now part of iFlightPlanner.com, mobile.iFlightPlanner.com and iFlightPlanner for iPad is the result of user feedback.  Those of you who have contacted us can attest to the fact that we ackknowledge every message that we receive, and we appreciate your contined support in shaping the future of iFlightPlanner!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
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This flight planning Quick Tip shows you how to find and use FAA preferred routes with the iFlightPlanner Flight Wizard.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Trade-A-Plane, which was founded by Cosby Harrison back in 1937.  "Since 1937, Trade-A-Plane has served General Aviation as the first choice among active buyers and sellers," said current publisher Cosby Stone.  "We are now a fourth-generation, family business and our roots go deep in aviation."

The first issue of Trade-A-Plane contained 76 ads and was mailed on October 5, 1937, to 9,000 transport pilots registered in the United States.  An original copy is housed in the Ramsey Room of the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Trade-A-Plane is now published three times a month for pilots and aircraft owners in every state of the U.S. and more than 130 other countries.  The non-editorial print edition contains sections for jets, turboprops, multi-engines, single engines, experimentals and homebuilts, helicopters and special types of aircraft.  Many aircraft parts for sale, products and services are also included, as well as real estate by region.

Trade-A-Plane.com, launched in 1997, compliments the print edition with sections for aircraft, engines, parts and products, real estate and aviation services.  Buyers can use a number of detailed search techniques.  Continuously updated, the site also features the NAAA Evaluator and Aircraft Value Trends.  A mobile web edition is available, as well as free apps for iPhone and Android.

We congratulate our friends at Trade-A-Plane and wish them well in their next 75 years!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
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The AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released a new interactive online course, entitled “ADS-B for General Aviation: The Basics.”

The course, developed in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration, offers a primer on the fundamentals of ADS-B and will help pilots become familiar with the technology and associated terminology. The course includes a downloadable reference guide to help pilots decide how they should implement ADS-B technology.

Take the Course: www.airsafetyinstitute.org/ads-b

iFlightPlanner will be adding ADS-B capability via portable receivers in a future version of iFlightPlanner for iPad.  Stay tuned to the iFlightPlanner Blog for the latest updates on iFlightPlanner!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
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The iFlightPlanner Crew is excited to announce the addition of iFlightPlanner Premium Business, a multi-user platform designed for charter operators, corporate flight departments and flying organizations with the need to seamlessly share flight and aircraft information amongst their respective pilots, dispatchers, and members.

iFlightPlanner Premium Business maximizes the versatility of iFlightPlanner’s web-based flight planning with the mobility and in-flight capabilities of iFlightPlanner for iPad presented by Sennheiser.  Pilots whose organizations employ an iFlightPlanner Premium Business account have the ability to view flights and flight details that are created by an associate via wireless data connection between iFlightPlanner.com and iFlightPlanner for iPad.  This setup creates a safe and efficient collaborative dispatch environment for any organization, large or small.

» FULL PRESS RELEASE

We continue to rely on member feedback in the development of iFlightPlanner.com and iFlightPlanner for iPad and are seeking multi-pilot organizations interested in the continued development of iFlightPlanner Premium Business.  While iFlightPlanner awaits QICP Certification for approved use by charter and corporate flight departments, we encourage organizations who believe they can benefit from these new features to contact us!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™

This flight planning Quick Tip shows you how to use the custom and auto-routing features available in the iFlightPlanner Flight Wizard.

EDIT: Due to unfavorable weather, Endeavor's departure has been delayed until tomorrow (Tuesday, September 18).

Space shuttle Endeavor's final journey is set to begin today at sunrise.  Riding atop the modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, the spacecraft will take off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KTTS) in Florida on a multi-day, cross-country journey to Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX).  Click the map to see the Endeavor's route displayed over iFlightPlanner's FREE Aviation Charts.

Although the exact timing and path of the ferry flight will depend on weather conditions and operational constraints, there are several low-level flyovers scheuled along the planned flight path.  These include the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base (KCOF), in and around the Florida spaceport; NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans; Houston, Clear Lake and Galveston, near NASA's Johnson Space Center; White Sands Test Facility near Las Cruces, N.M.; NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base (KEDW), Ames Research Center at Moffett Field (KNUQ), and various landmarks in multiple California cities.

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™

Are you interested in expanding your aviation horizons while sharpening your skills?  Then check out James Williams’ article “Beyond the $100 Hamburger” on page 20 in the July/Aug 2012 issue of FAA Safety Briefing.  Williams outlines three tactics that can not only make your aviation world bigger, but also improve your basic piloting skills for everyday flights.

According to Williams, learning to operate from something other than a paved runway (like a grass strip, nearby lake, or snowy field) opens up new aviation frontiers you may have never considered.  The article also looks at learning the more complicated logistics of long range flying and explores the added dimension of more complex and powerful aircraft.  Together these new talents can be molded into a “choose your own adventure” story that creates a fun environment to maintain proficiency!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™

See just how easy it is to search and find airports in the Airport/Facility Directory in this iFlightPlanner Quick Tip.

Effective October 1, 2012, the FAA will discontinue the use of the paper version of FAA Form 8500-8 for pilot medical applications. 

The FAA MedXPress system allows anyone requiring an FAA Medical Certificate or Student Pilot Medical Certificate to electronically complete the FAA Form 8500-8. Information entered into MedXPress will be transmitted to the FAA and will be available for your AME to review at the time of your medical examination.

Kathy Dondzila, Technical Communications Manager at AOPA, recently wrote on her first experience using MedXpress and offers some tips to make the process easier for first-time users.

The iFlightPlanner Crew
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The September 2012 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 as Antenna Farm
• Member Profile: Southeast Aerospace Inc.
• Member Profile: DAVWIRE
• Understated Success: Temple Electronics Stands Strong
• Hooking Up With Aspen's Connected Panel
• Meet the AEA Board: Tim Shaw of Rocky Mountain Aircraft
• Business Basics: Implementing a Company Wellness Program.
• Theory & Practice: Changes in Approach
• Legal Ease: Counterfeit Electronic Parts

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

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™

The September/October 2012 issue of FAA Safety Briefing is now available and explores the role of the aviation educator.

The articles in this issue focus on on flight instructor requirements and best practices, as well as the many tools and educational resources that can help sharpen teaching skills.

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™

The FAA’s 34th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Survey for 2011 data is underway and available online at http://www.aviationsurvey.org.

"Reducing GA fatalities is a top priority of the FAA and our goal is to reduce the GA fatal accident rate by 10 percent by 2018,” said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta.  “By taking the time to participate in the FAA’s GA survey, owners and operators share valuable data that help the entire GA community.”

Aircraft owners and operators who received a postcard invitation or survey by mail should respond as soon as possible by completing the online survey at http://form.aviationsurvey.org/s/2011 (use aircraft N-Number to login) or by mail with the postage-paid envelope.  The survey closes on November 30, 2012.

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.™