Getting to Know RON DONAHUE
Ron Donahue SAFE #: 0092 Hometown: Lunenburg, MA Home Airport: KFIT Occupation: Pilot Pilot Certificates: ATP MEL; CL-30, G-IV, HS-125, CE-500, CE-560XL; Comm. Priv. SEL, ROTORCRAFT-HELICOPTER, INSTUMENT- HELICOPTER; CFI – AIRPLANE SEL, MEL, INSTUMENT AIRPLANE Airplanes Flying/Flown: Most Cessna Single Engine Series including conventional gear; Most Beechcraft Multi-Engine from Duchess to King Air 200 including Beech 18; All of the type rated AC above, Robinson R-22, Bell Jet Ranger & Long Ranger Educational Specialty: Instrument and Conventional Gear |
Q & A
| What drew you to aviation? My 5th grade teacher.
How long have you been involved in aviation education? Since 1973. What’s your favorite part of what you do in aviation education? Teaching advanced students. What’s your least favorite part of what you do in aviation education? Primary Students. Why did you join SAFE? Not happy with the attitude of other organizations towards instructors. What would you like to see change in aviation? CFIs become professional and virtually eliminate part timers like myself. Any suggestions on how the above might be accomplished? We need to raise the bar to require a minimum of 2,000 hours for instructors and one year under a Master Instructor. Require a flight check by an FAA examiner for the 2-year renewal and a minimum of 200 hours of instruction given during renewal periods. Instructors not meeting the 200 hour minimum would be given a provisional certificate and required to work under a Master CFI until the next renewal. Anything else you’d like to add? SAFE needs to be pro-active and raise the bar for instructors. We need to remove SAFE from the AOPA/EAA umbrella of protection from the manufacturers and AC suppliers who dictate ridiculously low hours for pilots and instructors and who minimize currency requirements. |
