Incentive Provides 37 Minutes of Practical Information to Pilots

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently announced that it is providing new and renewing members with complimentary copies of the 37-minute CD, “Flying Tips.” Produced and donated to SAFE by GoldSealFlight.com, the CD features sixteen audio tips recorded by SAFE member and Master Instructor Rich Stowell on subjects ranging from human factors, to the fundamentals of aircraft control, to flying in the traffic pattern, and more.

The next 200 aviation educators to join or renew with SAFE will each receive three copies of the CD. According to SAFE Executive Director Doug Stewart, “We are grateful to Gold Seal for personalizing the CDs with the SAFE logo, and hope that our new and renewing members will pass the extra copies along to their students.”

SAFE represents nearly 700 of the industry’s top aviation educators in 49 states and nine foreign countries. The membership includes the majority of Master Instructors as well as numerous local, regional, and national General Aviation Awards winners. SAFE also administers a needs-based, mentoring program for aviation educators and is leading the Pilot Training Reform Initiative.

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FMI:     http://www.safepilots.org/join-safe/reasons/

Donations to Help SAFE Accomplish its Education Mandates

In cooperation with Stallion 51 of Kissimmee, FL, the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has launched a fundraising campaign that offers donors a shot at an introductory flight in the dual-control P-51TF Mustang known as The Little Witch. Valued at $3250, the session includes two hours of pre- and post-flight briefings, plus one hour in the aircraft with a Stallion 51 instructor.

According to SAFE Executive Director Doug Stewart, “We are extremely grateful to The Little Witch owner Jim Goodwin for offering his beautifully restored aircraft to us for this campaign, and to the wonderful folks at Stallion 51.” The winning ticket will be selected at random on Saturday, March 31, 2012 during Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, FL.  The winner will not only help create the flight’s mission profile, but will also be given the opportunity to do most of the flying. A maximum of 2,000 tickets will be issued for donations of $20 per ticket. Tickets are available exclusively through the SAFE website.

SAFE represents nearly 700 of the industry’s top aviation educators in 49 states and nine foreign countries. The organization offers a needs-based mentoring program as well as a premier CFI Liability Insurance program, and is leading the Pilot Training Reform Initiative. SAFE is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

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About SAFE — About Stallion 51

Responses from Key Stakeholders were Substantive, Positive

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has published a progress report based on comments received from key industry and FAA stakeholders to the six proposed projects distilled from the Pilot Training Reform Symposium held earlier this year. The ten-page update summarizes the responses received from stakeholders and SAFE’s analysis of those responses, and identifies additional concerns and recommendations.

According to the progress report, “SAFE is encouraged by the comments received [and] the related training reforms that are currently underway.” AOPA, Aviation Supplies & Academics, Cessna Aircraft, CFI Professional Accreditation Committee, Cirrus Aircraft, Diamond Aircraft, EAA, FAA, FAA Safety Team, Flight School Association of North America, GAMA, Gleim Publications, King Schools, MCFI Jeanne MacPherson, and Sporty’s Academy all provided responses to SAFE.

The report goes on to commend AOPA for instituting its Flight Training Student Retention Initiative; the GA Joint Steering Committee for implementing the Safety Analysis Team; the FAA for initiating the knowledge test Aviation Rulemaking Committee; and representatives from AOPA, Cessna, Master Instructors LLC, and the University Aviation Association for forming the CFI Professional Accreditation Committee.

However, the SAFE report also warns that the long-term success of training reform depends on defined benchmarks, greater collaboration, and grassroots implementation. Engaged stakeholders are encouraged to press on with their initiatives. Stakeholders who have thus far chosen not to participate in the reform process are urged to commit to this effort in a meaningful way.

SAFE plans to issue another progress report in 2012.

Download the progress report

FMI: www.PilotTrainingReform.org, www.SafePilots.org, http://vimeo.com/channels/safe/

In a letter from the IRS dated July 7, 2011, the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has learned that its application for tax exempt status has been approved. SAFE is now officially a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, classified as public charity under sub-section 509(a)(2). The effective date of the tax exempt status is October 8, 2010.

SAFE will soon announce several initiatives aimed at receiving tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers, and gifts consistent with its tax exempt status.

SAFE to Present Progress Report on July 29th

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has scheduled a short meeting to give a progress report on its Pilot Training Reform initiative. The meeting will convene at 4:50 pm on Friday, July 29th at the FAA Aviation Center.

According to Symposium Chair Bob Wright, “It’s been nearly 90 days since our productive symposium in Atlanta. SAFE issued its preliminary report ahead of schedule, and we’ve seen positive results already from a number of courseware providers.” Wright continued, “The FAA Aviation Center at AirVenture is a perfect venue for a progress report and will keep the spotlight on the need for training reform.”

Attendance is open to anyone who is interested in contributing to the training reform process, as well as those who participated in the Pilot Training Reform Symposium and those who have been tasked with responding to SAFE regarding the six core projects stemming from the symposium.

A 35-page preliminary report and other symposium-related material is available on the symposium website (http://www.pilottrainingreform.org/symposium-output/). Additionally, video of the symposium proceedings is available courtesy of the Aero-News Network on the 2011 SAFE Symposium channel (http://vimeo.com/channels/safe/).

Six Projects Consolidated from Symposium Recommendations

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has announced the publication of its preliminary report stemming from the Pilot Training Reform Symposium. Thirty recommendations generated during the symposium have been consolidated into six project proposals intended to improve and modernize accident root cause analysis, flight reviews, doctrine and standards, flight instructor training and testing, flight instructor accreditation, and training curricula.

According to the Executive Summary, “the changes that may result from the proposed work require no lengthy regulatory change. Rather, they may be implemented via changes in policy, publications, and procedures.” The Summary continues, “it is important to acknowledge that these six projects do not constitute the whole of pilot training reform. Instead, these projects represent the beginning of a multi-year process that likely will branch off into other projects necessary to effect reform.”

Symposium protocols called for issuance of a preliminary report within 60 days of the event; SAFE volunteers, however, produced the document in half the scheduled time. Copies of the report will be transmitted to stakeholders identified as potential project leads/co-leads by June 15, 2011. Stakeholders will have until the end of September to respond regarding their involvement in the proposed projects. The 35-page report is available at http://www.pilottrainingreform.org/documents/Symposium_Prelim_Report_06Jun2011.pdf.

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Additional Background Information: Excerpt from Appendix A. Consolidated Symposium Recommendations

The Pilot Training Reform Symposium breakout groups generated thirty recommendations addressing safety, industry growth, doctrine, standards, curricula, and aviation educators. Each of the six groups reported out on their five top recommendations either to reduce fatal accidents, or to increase student starts and retention, or to serve both goals.

SAFE consolidated the thirty recommendations into six specific projects that can be acted on and implemented by FAA and/or industry groups. It is important to note that these projects can be achieved by non-regulatory FAA and industry actions, with an emphasis on correlation with accident root cause analysis, impact on the current pilot population as well as new entrants to general aviation, and implementation in a reasonable time frame.

Although SAFE did not want to lose the goals contained in the individual recommendations, we wanted to avoid duplication to ensure that scarce industry and FAA resources are properly and efficiently allocated, while still allowing symposium attendees to clearly see how their recommendations are being acted on. Thus the six projects incorporate all of the breakout group recommendations as individual elements. SAFE believes such consolidation offers the best means for accomplishing the objectives contained in the various recommendations.

The general aviation pilot training system is a crucial element that influences fatal accident causality, student pilot intake and retention, and the activities of the current pilot population. Accordingly, the following proposals focus on new pilot trainees, existing pilots, and the flight training community as a whole:

1. Conduct a thorough general aviation fatal accident root cause analysis to pinpoint underlying accident causality as a means to create effective remedial actions.
2. Create a new flight review option that can be enabled as an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency award program.
3. Revise FAA doctrine and standards to implement scenario-based testing, risk management, and other higher order pilot skills.
4. Modify flight instructor doctrine, initial testing, and renewal procedures to include the teaching of higher order pilot skills.
5. Implement voluntary flight instructor professional accreditation programs and continuing education that emphasize higher order pilot skills, scenario training, and interpersonal relationship skills.
6. Create and implement model curricula that incorporate higher order pilot skills, scenario-based training, and integration of simulation and other teaching methods to include interpersonal relationship skills.

Incumbents Rewarded with Another Term

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently announced results of its annual election to fill three seats on its Board of Directors. Incumbents Tom Benenson, John Dorcey, and Donna Wilt were reelected to three-year terms. Benenson has been involved in aviation education for 35 years and writes training-related articles for Flying magazine. Dorcey has experience in aviation maintenance and airport management, and has been involved in K–12 aviation education for 25 years. Wilt is a collegiate faculty member and head of a flight training department, and spearheaded the development of SAFE’s Aviation Educator Mentoring Program.

According to Governance Committee Chair Mark Adams, “We had a field of nine exceptional candidates running for the Board, undoubtedly making for some tough decisions by our members.” He continued, “But the membership has spoken. We thank all of the candidates for their desire to further improve SAFE’s standing as a World Class organization, and we congratulate the three Board members on their reelection.”

The Directors will commence their new terms at the annual SAFE member dinner meeting held during AirVenture. SAFE is currently the only organization representing instructors and other aviation educators where the entire Board of nine Directors is openly elected by the membership. Terms are staggered, with three seats expiring annually.

FMI:     http://www.SafePilots.org/

Training Reform Symposium Continues to Yield Positive Results

As founding members and an early provider of member benefits of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), Qref recently announced its support for the goals of pilot training reform. Consequently, Qref is now offering PDF versions of its syllabi and acclaimed checkride checklists at no charge.

Acting on a recommendation from the training reform symposium, Qref joins ASA, Sporty’s, and SAFE in providing free syllabi. According to a Qref representative, “We praise ASA’s and Sporty’s lead on this and challenge other courseware providers to similarly offer online versions of their syllabi at no charge. With a wide selection of syllabi freely available, instructors and students should be able to find syllabi that work best for them. All of aviation will benefit from this.”

Qref syllabi address all FAA requirements as well as the reality of learning to fly in today’s complex and highly regulated environment. With a combined thirty years of flight instructing experience, the syllabi have been excerpted from Flight Instructor Notebooks created by Bridgette Doremire and Gene Hudson. Additionally, Qref’s Instrument Rating Syllabus was designed for use with flight simulators, allowing students to practice in a simulator before proving their knowledge and skills in flight, thereby reducing costly flight hours. The free Qref syllabi and checklists for Private, Instrument, and Commercial are available at http://www.qref.com/aviation/lesson-plans/

FMI: www.PilotTrainingReform.org, www.qref.com

Safety Panel Available, Others to Follow

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has announced that the first in a series of high-definition videos of its Pilot Training Reform Symposium is now available for online viewing. Produced by the symposium’s official media partner, Aero-News Network, the Safety Panel has successfully been uploaded. In time, the entire symposium will be available for viewing.

The symposium proceedings were recorded using two HD cameras. Even with a high-speed Internet connection, the massive 62-minute Safety Panel video file alone required the better part of a day to upload. Additional segments are currently being uploaded and will populate a unique 2011 SAFE Symposium channel created on Vimeo.com. Viewers can select a number of options as well, including full screen, like, embed, and share.

Other post-symposium information is being posted to the training reform website as it becomes available. Moreover, the symposium committee is in the process of generating a preliminary report that will soon be publicly released.