Flight School also Celebrates 25 Years in Business

NEWS—The Chamber of Commerce for the City of Santa Paula, CA recently named CP Aviation, Inc. its 2011 Business of the Year. Presented annually since 1983, CP Aviation is only the second airport business in Santa Paula to receive such recognition. The flight school will be honored at an awards luncheon on February 7, 2012.

Started by Clay Phelps in 1987, this year also marks CP Aviation’s 25th anniversary on the Santa Paula Airport. The business has thrived through five U.S. Presidencies, two significant economic downturns, the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and a flood that washed away one-third of the airport’s only runway. Perhaps best known for its world-renowned Emergency Maneuver Training and tailwheel transition programs, CP Aviation is a full-service, Part 61 FBO and Cessna Pilot Center.

Nowadays, Phelps manages the maintenance side of the business, while wife Judy Phelps manages the flight school side. The operation currently has 25 employees and 19 aircraft. Rental aircraft range from the Cessna 162 Skycatcher to the Cessna 182RG, and from the 7ECA Citabria to the Pitts S-2B. The fleet logs 6,000 hours annually. CP Aviation has a Designated Pilot Examiner on staff, and is home to two National Flight Instructors of the Year: Judy Phelps (2011) and Rich Stowell (2006), both of whom are Master Aerobatic Instructors and Charter Members of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE).

According to Clay Phelps, “Our business is really about building relationships. We have been privileged to operate from an historic general aviation airport located in a scenic valley, work with a very supportive local community, attract wonderful employees, and enjoy the best customers a business could ask for.” CP Aviation is planning a 25th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 2nd.

The National General Aviation Awards Committee takes great pride in announcing this year’s regional General Aviation Awards winners.  They are all finalists for the national awards.  The mission of the General Aviation Awards program is to recognize individual aviation professionals on the local, regional, and national levels for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety.  The national judging is currently underway and national winners will be announced not later than March 1st.

The GA Awards program is a cooperative effort between more than 17 general aviation industry sponsors and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“These awards highlight the important role played by these individuals in promoting aviation education and flight safety,” said JoAnn Hill, General Aviation Awards Committee chair.  “The awards program sponsors and supporters are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals are receiving the recognition they so richly deserve.”

This year’s regional winners are:

2012 Regional Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) of the Year

Patrick Michael “Pat” Carey of Redondo Beach, California represents the Los Angeles FSDO and the Western Pacific Region.  He works for Security Aviation in Hawthorne, California  (Pat00343@aol.com).

Jack Lynn Haun of Port Orange, Florida was recognized by the Orlando FSDO and the Southern Region.  Jack is employed by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s maintenance center in Daytona Beach (HaunJ@ERAU.edu).

Robert Lee Hensley lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and represents the Oklahoma City FSDO as well as the Southwest Region.  Robert works at Metro Technology Aviation Career Center and owns H & H Aircraft Maintenance (Robert.Hensley@MetroTech.edu)

Marvin Hornbostel lives and works in Junction City, Kansas.  Marvin represents the Wichita FSDO and the Central Region.  He owns Raven Aero Services   (RavenAS@flinthills.com).

Jacob Rama “Jake” Milstein from Boulder, Colorado represents the Denver FSDO and Northwest Mountain Region.  Jake is employed by Redstone College in Broomfield and owns Lila Aviation is Boulder. (Tele.Skiing@gmail.com)

Steven Nelson “Steve” Skinner from Northfield, Vermont represents the Portland, Maine FSDO and the Eastern Region.  Steve works for Vermont Flying Services in Barre, Vermont (SNSMiniMansion@hotmail.com).

Janese Valerie Thatcher-Buzzell lives in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.  She represents the Minneapolis FSDO and the Great Lakes Region.  Janese is employed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in Saint Paul  (JVThatcher@gmail.com)

2012 Regional Avionics Technicians of the Year

John Tildon Austin Jr of Honolulu, Hawaii represents the Honolulu FSDO and the Western Pacific Region.  John is an avionics technician and repairman for Honolulu’s Island Air  (To_JohnnyT@yahoo.com).

William David “Bill” Betts is from Smithfield, North Carolina and represented the Greensboro FSDO as well as the Eastern Region.  Bill is president and co-owner of Sparkchasers Aircraft Services (Sparkchasers@mindspring.com).

James Andrew “Jim” Lightfoot, Sr is from Milliken, Colorado.  Jim represents the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region.  He works as an avionics / maintenance technician, designated maintenance examiner, and master instructor at Redstone College in Broomfield  (SJLightfoot1@aol.com).

Eric Christopher “Rick” Ochs of Gahanna, Ohio represents the Columbus FSDO and the Great Lakes Region.  Chris is president and chief inspector for Spirit Avionics in Columbus (Rick@SpiritAvionics.com).

2012 Regional Certificated Flight Instructors (CFIs) of the Year

Lambert Charles “Bert” Mackentepe of Cullman, Alabama represents the Birmingham FSDO and the Southern Region.  Bert is the Aviation Department Chair at Wallace State Community College Flight School (BertMackentepe@hotmail.com).

MCFI Lynnwood Karl “Woody” Minar of Dresser, Wisconsin represents the Minneapolis FSDO and the Great Lakes Region.  A 3-time Master, Woody is an independent contractor at Osceola Aerosport (Woody.Minar@CenturyTel.net).

Dave William Pressy of Saint Louis, Missouri represents the Saint Louis FSDO and the Central Region.  Dave is chief flight instructor at the Saint Charles Flying Service in Portage Des Sioux (DaveWPressy@gmail.com).

Robert Lindsay “Bob” Stedman of Parker, Colorado represents the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region.  Bob is the owner of Independence Aviation at Centennial Airport (BobStedman@IA-KAPA.com).

MCFI Hobart Caleb “Hobie” Tomlinson of Huntington, Vermont represents the Portland, Maine FSDO and the Eastern Region.  Hobie, a 5-time Master CFI, is a flight instructor and designated pilot examiner (DPE) at Heritage Aviation in South Burlington (HobieTW@att.net).

Christopher Charles ‘Chris” Webb from Garland, Texas represents the Dallas FSDO and the Southwest Region.  Chris is chief flight instructor at American Flyers in Addison  (ChrisCWebb@hotmail.com).

Donna Marie Webster of Bakersfield, California represents the Fresno FSDO and the Western Pacific Region.  Donna is a DPE and instructs for Lloyd’s Aviation in Bakersfield (ADF332@yahoo.com).

2012 Regional FAASTeam Representatives of the Year

Mark Alan “Mordechai” Levin of Richmond, Illinois is the DuPage FSDO and Great Lakes Region Representative of the Year.  A former 2-time Master CFI, Mordechai is employed by the Masterflight Foundation (MordechaiLevin@hotmail.com).

Richard Lawrence “Rich” Martindell of San Diego, California represents the San Diego FSDO and the Western Pacific Region.  Rich works with King Schools (Rich.Martindell@earthlink.net, RMart@KingSchools.com).

Betty Grace Meyer of Clanton, Alabama represents the Birmingham FSDO and the Southern Region.  Betty owns and operates the Alabama Aviator, an aviation news source for Alabama’s aviation industry, and volunteers at the FAA Production Studios in Lakeland (BMeyer@AlabamaAviator.com, BMeyer5114@Charter.net).

MCFI Megan Roberta Sayre of Bennett, Colorado was selected by the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region.  Megan is a 2-time Master and an adjunct instructor at Denver’s Metropolitan State College as well as a flight and ground instructor at Alliance Flight Training in Watkins.  (SayreMegan@ymail.com).

Arthur Robert “Art” Tarola of Kutztown, Pennsylvania is the Allentown FSDO and the Eastern Region winner.  Art operates AB Flight LLC providing flight instruction, DPE services, and aircraft sales in support of the experimental amateur built and light sport communities (ArtAirSports@aol.com, Art@ABFlight.com).
Harry Lee Weatherford of Mustang, Oklahoma was selected by the Oklahoma City FSDO and the Southwest Region.  Harry is a flight, ground, and simulator instructor who owns Precision Flight LLC (Weatherfordco@aol.com).

Jeanne Carole Willerth from Lee’s Summit, Missouri is the Kansas City FSDO and Central Region winner.  Jeanne is a flight and ground instructor at Air Associates of Kansas, a Cessna Pilot Center in Olathe, Kansas  (Willerth1@zcomcast.net).

Support and sponsorship for the General Aviation Awards program is provided by Women in Aviation International (WAI), the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), the Professional Aviation Maintenance Ass’n (PAMA), the National Business Aviation Ass’n (NBAA), the National Ass’n of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), the National Air Transportation Ass’n (NATA), the Ninety-Nines International (The 99s), the General Aviation Manufacturers Ass’n (GAMA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Experimental Aircraft Ass’n (EAA), the Aircraft Maintenance Technology Society (AMT Society), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Ass’n (AOPA), and the Aeronautical Repair Station Ass’n (ARSA).

Additional support is being provided by Advocates for Aviation Safety Foundation (AFASF), Aeronautical Proficiency Training LLC (AVTrain), Master Instructors LLC (MI LLC), National Aviation Safety Foundation (NASF), Rich Stowell Consulting (RichStowell.com), Flight School Association of North America (FSANA), Aviation Training Consultants (ATC), and Glenna Blackwell’s photography.

Industry donors include Garmin, Jeppesen, King Schools, Rod Machado, Belvoir Media Group, Bose, ASA, Duncan Aviation, Gleim Publications, Gulfstream Aerospace, Cessna, and Universal Avionics.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alexander “Sandy” Hill, Communications Director
GA Awards Program
Office: 303-485-8136  /  C: 303-475-6008
GenAviationAwds@aol.com
http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/

“GA Awards:  FAA & Industry Recognizing Excellence”

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.

END

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.

Purchase Tickets Now

More Information

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/

SAFE to Provide Detailed Report-Out in 30 Days

Following the Pilot Training Reform Symposium in Atlanta last May, SAFE issued a 35-page preliminary report to government and industry stakeholders with a request for action. Recipients were given 90 days to respond to the six projects distilled from two days of intense work by more than 150 symposium attendees.

According to Training Reform Committee Chair Bob Wright, “By the September 30th deadline, SAFE has received substantive responses from various segments of the aviation industry, with commitments from FAA, AOPA, and a few others to provide their responses in a matter of days.” Once the outstanding responses have been received, SAFE will issue another public report in 30 days. That report will include the next set of action items and milestones in the reform process. Wright noted, “SAFE will continue to push training reform with our stakeholder partners on an aggressive timetable.”

As the organization spearheading the Training Reform Initiative, SAFE represents nearly 700 of the industry’s top aviation educators from 49 states and nine foreign countries, including the majority of Master Instructors as well as numerous local, regional, and national General Aviation Awards winners.

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

Application Packets due at Local FSDOs by September 30th

The deadline for applications for the 2012 General Aviation Awards Program (GAAP) is September 30, 2011. Begun in 1963, the GA Awards program has evolved into a joint program between the aviation industry and the FAA to recognize excellence in four categories: Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year, Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year, FAASTeam Representative of the Year, and Avionics Technician of the Year. Applicants are evaluated against at least four required metrics: professional involvement, pro bono service to the aviation community, continuing education, and the strength of three letters of recommendation.

The annual awards process begins at local Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs), where applications are collected and local FAA personnel select their FSDO winners. FSDO winners are forwarded to FAA Regional offices where FAA personnel then select their Regional winners. Regional winners are then forwarded to the GAAP committee, which passes that information on to four panels of judges (one panel for each awards category). These industry judges—themselves previous National GAAP winners—then select the year’s National winners.

Those wishing to nominate deserving individuals in any of the four awards categories must ensure that application packets are received by their local FSDOs no later than September 30, 2011. Eligibility information and nomination forms are available at http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/page/nomination-forms.

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) presented its 2011 awards during the organization’s annual dinner meeting held in Oshkosh, WI. More than 120 members and guests applauded the efforts of the following individuals:

• Robert Wright, Founders Award, in recognition for selfless service in support of SAFE’s Mission and Vision. Wright chairs SAFE’s Pilot Training Reform Symposium committee, which not only orchestrated a highly publicized gathering of key government and industry stakeholders in Atlanta last May, but also continues to advance the training reform initiative.
• Glenna Blackwell, Service Award, in recognition for outstanding contribution and selfless service to SAFE. Blackwell designed the logos, graphics, and promotional materials for SAFE as well as the Pilot Training Reform Symposium.

According to SAFE Chair Doug Stewart, who presented plaques to the recipients, “Our Awards program recognizes outstanding or unique contributions to the growth and promotion of the organization in particular, or to the broader aviation community as a whole.” He continued, “Bob Wright and Glenna Blackwell are volunteers, and SAFE greatly appreciates their tremendous contributions of time and talent.”

SAFE represents nearly 700 of the industry’s top aviation educators, including the majority of Master Instructors as well as numerous local and national General Aviation Awards winners. SAFE is also leading the Pilot Training Reform initiative.

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/).