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

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/).

Response by Industry has been Impressive

SAFE recently issued its list of sponsors for the Pilot Training Reform Symposium. According to Symposium Committee Chair Bob Wright, “The reaction to our call for sponsors has been wonderful. The willingness of organizations to step forward to support this event shows the depth of commitment to solve the issues facing our industry.”

Symposium sponsors currently include: Lightspeed Aviation, Garmin, Cessna Aircraft Company, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Avemco, Redbird Flight Simulations, Diamond Aircraft, Sporty’s Pilot Shop, Aviation Insurance Resources, Remos Aircraft, Wright Aviation Solutions, King Schools, Pilot Workshops, NFlightcam, Rich Stowell, and Starr Aviation. Other corporations and individuals interested in providing financial support for this landmark gathering are encouraged to contact SAFE Chair Doug Stewart.

The Pilot Training Reform Symposium will convene at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, GA on May 4-5, 2011. The invitation-only event is expected to draw the industry’s top aviation professionals in a collaborative effort to secure a healthy future for general aviation.

For more information: www.PilotTrainingReform.org, www.SafePilots.org

Industry Stakeholders to Meet in Atlanta on May 4-5, 2011

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) reports steady progress toward the GA Pilot Training Reform Symposium it will chair, including the hiring of a professional event planner. Building on the AOPA Flight Training Summit held last November, the symposium will focus on training reform as a cornerstone for reducing fatal accidents, increasing student pilot starts, and improving student retention.

Participation in the symposium is by invitation from SAFE as well as by request from stakeholders in the pilot training process. At least 150 top aviation professionals are expected to convene at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, GA on May 4-5, 2011. According to Symposium Committee Chair, Bob Wright, “We could expand to accommodate up to 300 attendees if demand dictates.”

In addition to finalizing keynote speakers, SAFE is assembling as many as 24 distinguished individuals drawn from industry, academia, the flight instructor community, and FAA who will be divided among six moderated panels. The panelists will propose necessary changes to training doctrine, standards, and curricula, as well as flight instructor training, testing, and accreditation that will ensure a robust future for general aviation.

Breakout groups, charged with further analyzing the issues raised and crafting additional recommendations, will convene on day two of the event. Summary reports from the breakout sessions will be presented to a special Industry Leadership Panel. Critical recommendations will be forwarded to specific organizations, including the FAA, for further action against an established timeline. A more detailed report will be transmitted to interested parties and posted on the symposium website 60 days after the event.

For more information, see www.PilotTrainingReform.org

Countdown to SAFE-Chaired Symposium Officially Begins

Approximately 25 people attended the November 11th press conference held by the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators in Long Beach, CA. Both SAFE Chair Doug Stewart and Symposium Committee Chair Bob Wright delivered opening remarks. The time and place for the symposium were set as well: May 4-5, 2011 in Atlanta, GA.

Participating with SAFE at the head of the press conference were John and Martha King of King Schools, Julie Filucci of Cessna Aircraft Company, Matt Mathias of Lightspeed Aviation, and Hal Shevers of Sporty’s. The audience included numerous National and Regional General Aviation Award recipients and Master Instructors, as well as representatives from Avemco, Aviation Insurance Resources, and Master Instructors, LLC.

Aero-News TV conducted several on-camera interviews that will be aired on the Aero-News Network in the near future.

FMI, or to volunteer to help with the symposium: www.PilotTrainingReform.org

Dear SAFE Members,

The Governance Committee is seeking nominations for the following board positions for 2010. You may nominate yourself or someone else, if the person is agreeable to run for the specified terms and meets the requirements listed below. The prospective candidate should provide Sherry Rossiter, member, Governance Committee, at ssrossiter@aol.com  a one to two page resume that highlights their expertise and experience that you feel would qualify them for consideration as a Board member including participation activities and any awards or recognition received in the Aviation industry. When emailing your resume to Sherry please include SAFE NOMINATING COMMITTEE in the subject line. No more than one person from one institution will be represented on the Board at one time.  All nominations will be considered up through Tuesday, February 16th, 2010.
The following positions are open for nominations: 

Three Directors. Three year term to begin July 2010. New Board members will be seated at the Annual Members meeting to be held at Air Venture 2010.  The following describes the duties required from the members of the Board of Directors: Board of Directors

 Function

• As representatives of the membership, be the primary force pressing the organization to the realization of its opportunities for service and the fulfillment of its obligations to all its constituencies.

 Duties

 Planning:

• Approve the organization’s philosophy and review management’s performance in achieving it.

• Annually assess the ever-changing environment and approve the organization’s strategy in relation to it.

• Annually review and approve the organization’s plans for funding its strategy. Review and approve the organization’s five-year financial goals.

• Annually review and approve the organization’s budget.

• Approve major policies.

 Organization:

• Elect, monitor, appraise, advise, stimulate, support, reward and, if deemed necessary or desirable, change top management. Regularly discuss with the Executive Director matters that are of concern to him or her or to the board.

• Be assured that management succession is being properly planned and provided.

• Be assured that the status of organizational strength and human resources planning is equal to the requirements of the long-range goals.

• Approve appropriate compensation and benefit policies and practices. Propose a slate of directors to members and fill vacancies as needed.

• Annually approve the performance review of the Executive Director and establish his or her compensation on recommendations of the personnel committee and chair of the board.

• Determine eligibility for and appoint board committees in response to recommendations of the governance committee.

• Annually review the performance of the board and take steps (including its composition, organization, and responsibilities) to improve its performance.

Operations:

• Review the results achieved by management as compared with the organization’s philosophy, annual and long-range goals, and the performance of similar organizations.

• Confirm that the financial structure of the organization is adequate for its current needs and its long-range strategy.

• Provide candid and constructive criticism, advice and comments. Approve major actions of the organization, such as capital expenditures on all projects over authorized limits and major changes in programs and services.

Audit:

• Ensure that the board and its committees are adequately and currently informed—through reports and other methods—of the condition of the Organization and its operations.

• Confirm that published reports properly reflect the operating results and financial condition of the organization.

• Ascertain that management has established appropriate policies to define and identify conflict of interest throughout the organization, and that it is diligently administering and enforcing those policies.

• Appoint independent auditors subject to approval by members.

• Review compliance with relevant material laws affecting the organization.

The ideal candidate should possess excellent leadership and teamwork skills, a strong desire to further the mission of SAFE and the ability to commit the necessary time required to fulfill these requirements. Successful nominees will be contacted to set up a time for a phone interview by the members of the Nominating group.

Thank you, in advance, for providing qualified nominations to the committee!

Mark R. Adams

Governance Committee Chairman

Society of Aviation and Flight Educators

In addition to the SAFE gathering that will be held during the AOPA Summit, on Friday, from 1 – 3 PM, SAFE has secured a slot in the “meetup” area in the exhibit hall of AOPA Summit. The “meetup” will be held on Thursday, 11/05 from 2:30 – 3:00 PM.

AOPA intends the meetups to provide an opportunity for pilots with shared interests to gather briefly and exchange information.Whata great opportunity to introduce SAFE to those members of the aviation community who have heard of us, and would like to know more.

If you are going to be at the AOPA Summit, please mark your calendars for this event, and be sure to bring along anyone you know who might be interested in learning more about SAFE.

Meetups will be held in booth 1045 in the exhibit hall. This is a 20’x30’ space located near the food court and adjacent to the AOPA Learn to Fly Center. Meetups will be live streamed to the Internet via AOPA.

I hope to see you there!

SAFE has been able to arrange a place and time for a gathering of SAFE Members and Supporters during the AOPA Summit being held in Tampa. The gathering will be held on Friday, November 6th, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM in the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, 700 S. Florida Avenue, right beside the Tampa Convention Center (room number to be announced). Please plan on attending, and bringing along some of your peers.

About a hundred lively and smiling people attended SAFE’s first annual dinner-meeting during AirVenture. Read more & see the photos.