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

Mentors to be Paired with Mentees Based on Needs

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has formally launched its industry-anticipated Aviation Educator Mentoring Program. This first-ever, nationwide effort provides support, leadership, and professional guidance for aviation educators. The program is currently available only to SAFE members, but may be expanded in the future.

“We are very excited about this program,” said Donna Wilt, Chair of the Mentoring Governing Committee, adding, “The Mentoring Program was developed based on input from members who participated in a needs survey last year.” The goal is to match those seeking mentoring with experienced educators who have the specific expertise being sought.

The success of this program depends on experienced mentors sharing their expertise with others. According to SAFE’s Chief Mentor Arlynn McMahon, “We anticipate that many of our more experienced members will sign up to become mentors, and that our less experienced members will appreciate the benefits associated with interacting with mentors.”

To learn more about the SAFE Mentoring Program, visit http://www.safepilots.org/programs/safe-initiatives/mentoring-program.

SAFE represents more than 550 of the industry’s top aviation educators, including numerous local and national General Aviation Award winners in the flight instructor, aviation maintenance, avionics, and FAA Safety Team categories. SAFE is also chairing the GA Pilot Training Reform Symposium in Atlanta, GA on May 4-5, 2011.

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The FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-11-17 on January 18, 2011 to clarify the definition of design maneuvering speed and its importance vis-à-vis airplane design limits. All pilots, but especially aviation educators need to understand that this speed is not a static value. By its very definition, an airplane’s design maneuvering speed is fluid, varying with weight. It is equally important to appreciate that design limits are fluid as well, and when listed, are applicable to a specific set of conditions.

Download the document now (PDF, 300 KB).

Discounts Could Easily Add Up to Hundreds of Dollars

In an ongoing effort to expand and improve the benefits available to its membership, the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently added King Schools and ForeFlight to a list of more than two dozen providers of discounts on products and services. Existing benefits providers PilotWorkshops and Sporty’s have expanded their offerings to members as well.

King Schools now extends a 20 percent discount to SAFE members on all King Courses, while ForeFlight offers members a 33 percent discount on annual subscriptions for the iPad and iPhone. In addition to discounts already offered, PilotWorskshops has added a substantial discount on its IFR Mastery Series, and members can now purchase quality apparel embroidered with the SAFE logo directly from Sporty’s, with a portion of the embroidery sales donated back to SAFE.

According to SAFE Chair Doug Stewart, “Taking advantage of just a few of our available benefits could save up to ten times the cost of a Regular annual membership.” To access these and other benefits, members should log in to the SAFE website and follow the path Members Only > Member Benefits for promo codes and other information.

SAFE Drafting a Response, Urges Others to do the Same

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has taken a leadership role to address a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that could add up to $210 to the cost of pilot certificates. On November 19, 2010, the FAA issued an NPRM entitled, Photo Requirements for Pilot Certificates (Docket No. FAA-2010-1127; Notice No. 2010-16). Key elements in this NPRM and in other documents include:

• A proposed fee to the FAA of $50 per new certificate and $25 per replacement.
• A requirement that student pilots wait 6-8 weeks to get a certificate before solo.
• A claim that the new certificate fee represents no net cost to society.
• An assertion that the proposed photo procedure is “in the interest of reducing burdens on the certificate holder…”
• A claim that foreign pilots holding U.S. certificates would incur no additional travel expense as a result of having to visit a testing center, FSDO, or DPE.
• An FAA estimated total cost of $718.7 million to implement photo certificates.

Taking all associated costs into account (e.g., FAA and testing center fees, pilot time, photo and travel expenses, etc.), the FAA estimates the financial burden on pilots to be $210 per new certificate. Under the current NPRM, flight instructors will have the added burden of needing to procure a new, $210 photo certificate every two years when they renew their CFIs.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) now requires the FAA to issue pilot’s licenses with photographs. According to concerned SAFE member Robert Hadow, “The FAA has a legal reason to replace the certificate system for the second time in six years, and apparently sees this as an opportunity to increase fees and staffing.” A flight school owner and instructor, Hadow added, “The aviation community needs to get engaged in this issue to get something that works, rather than a regression to a paper-based 8710 system requiring a physical visit to a FSDO or testing center.”

Failing to respond to the NPRM is likely to result in a process that adds up to $210 every time a pilot certificate or flight instructor certificate is issued. General comments are due at the Department of Transportation on or before February 17, 2011; however, comments related to data collection and cost need to be submitted no later than January 18, 2011.

SAFE is preparing an official response to the NPRM based on input from its membership. Pilots, flight schools, and other aviation organizations are urged to weigh in on this issue before the appropriate due dates as well.

Read the NPRM – http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2010-1127-0001

Notice Number: NOTC2732

During this holiday season, the federal agencies tasked with protecting our nation’s skies are asking for your help. Though there is no specific threat, events since 9/11 remind us those who wish to do harm to America are persistent in their attempts to use aircraft as a desired method of attack. We ask you–as fellow air professionals–to partner with us and practice increased vigilance in and around our airports and aircraft throughout this holiday season. Please ensure your aircraft is secure. Additionally, pay close attention to your surroundings and report any suspicious aviation related activities to local authorities right away. Thanks again, Fly Safe and Happy Holidays from America’s Continental NORAD Region Air Operations Center, Tyndall AFB, FL.

Query by SAFE Answered by Office of Chief Counsel

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently received guidance from the FAA’s Office of Chief Counsel concerning VFR operations in Restricted airspace. While reviewing an article for inclusion in its online Library, members of SAFE’s Library Editorial Review Committee (LERC) raised a key question: “Is a clearance in fact required to fly through a Restricted Area when that area is not in use?” When further research, which included interviews with instructors, the FAA, and ATC, failed to yield a consistent answer, SAFE turned to the FAA’s Office of Chief Counsel. After a four-month-long process, the following official response was received:

A clearance is not required to operate VFR through a restricted area when the controlling or using agency, as applicable, has made a determination that the restricted area is “cold”. [Cold = Not Active]

SAFE provides its members with access to online reference materials that include articles contributed by some of the industry’s top aviation educators. Each article undergoes peer review and approval by the LERC. According to LERC Chair Alan Davis, “This is a perfect example of the diligence with which our volunteer committee reviews potential articles for the SAFE Library.” He added, “Going the extra mile in this instance resulted in the clarification of an important operational detail for pilots.”

SAFE has posted a free training aid on its website that includes the two-page article, Teaching MOAs and Restricted Areas as well as the response received from the Office of Chief Counsel. To access the training aid, see http://www.SafePilots.org/documents/SAFE_Training_Aid_MOAs.pdf

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

SAFE, AOPA, Others Provide Persuasive Testimony

Representing the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), Master Instructor Mike Coligny was the first of many to address the Arizona State Board for Private and Postsecondary Education (ASBPPE) in opposition to a proposal that sought to regulate Arizona flight instructors.

During a hearing held on Thursday, Coligny argued that it was beyond the scope of the ASBPPE’s charter to attempt to regulate fraud in flight school operations. Coligny stated that claims of fraud “are clearly the jurisdiction of the State’s Attorney General.”

With convincing arguments presented by SAFE’s Coligny, AOPA’s Stacey Howard, and others, as well as the tenuous status of a similar law in California, the ASBPPE concluded that the proposed regulation of flight instructors was not within their purview.

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Latest Benefit Adds Print Media to Growing Member Resources

Flying is now including subscriptions to its monthly magazine as another great benefit of membership in SAFE. Promoted as “the world’s leading aviation magazine”, Flying delivers reliable information on aircraft evaluation, safety, new product development, and the latest technology. Comprehensive coverage of general aviation along with popular columns such as “I Learned About Flying From That” provide a useful resource for SAFE members in their roles as aviation educators.

Your membership benefits now include a one-year subscription (12 great issues) to FLYING Magazine as part of your annual dues.

Members — watch for Flying magazine in your mail boxes soon!