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SAFE Strategies

June 2022

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SAFE Dinner At OSH

Thursday, July 28th 6PM

In EAA "Partner Resource Center"

Please join us Thursday July 28 for an *elegant* SAFE dinner at the Partner Resource Center right on OSH main boulevard, Gather and socialize at 6, dinner at 6:30 PM. Standby for details on menu and pricing, more information coming soon!

The EASA-certified Pipistrel Velis "will be onsite to view and other attractions from the show. (This more-convenient location allows more sharing of local resources)

SAFE Supports 'Sensible'

Conversion To Unleaded Fuel

The conversion of ubiquitous 100LL aviation gasoline to an unleaded fuel must be done soon, but not at the expense of pilots already skewered by exploding gas prices, SAFE said today. 100LL sales have already been halted at two California airports.

It's not as easy an issue as some would like to think, SAFE Executive Director David St George reported. Although the small General Aviation Modifications Inc (GAMI) group has developed an unleaded avgas that has been successfully tested in many GA engines, the FAA recently launched a separate effort called EAGLE to remove lead from aviation fuel by 2030. Why? A commentary in GA News explains this puzzling situation.

Is The Training Boom Fading?

Research by CFI and DPE Jason Blair indicates that new pilot certificates and ratings peaked in 2020 and showed a significant slip in 2021, believed to be mostly Covid-related.

"The pilot shortage remains critical," said SAFE executive director David St George. "The market has been growing since 2010 and we think there's still a lot of life in the flight training boom."

ATC CFI Saves Non-Pilot

CFI Robert Morgan (left) last month talked non-pilot Darren Harrison to a near-perfect landing in a Cessna 208 at KPBI.

There are important lessons for CFIs in this save. Here is the Harrison interview with NBC Today and here is the NBC Today Show segment. The inspiring non-accident has some flight schools looking into offering Pinch Hitter courses for non-pilot companions.

Pipistrel's Velis Electro:

Savings for Flight Schools!

The two-place Velis Electro all-electric training airplane is made in Slovenia and is the first electric training aircraft certified by EASA. Full certification by the FAA is expected soon, but the Velis Electro is currently approved for pilot training in day VFR conditions.

New pilot Shane Fisher was first to earn an FAA private certificate in an experimental Velis last month.

The US distributor of the Pipistrel Velis Electro airplane is Right Rudder Aviation of Inverness FL. Full disclosure: owner Andrew Chan also serves as a SAFE Board member.

Former SAFE Board member Cres WIse shared his impressions of the Velis in this SAFEblog. Julie Boatman reviewed the plane for Flying Magazine HERE

Electric power is handled by a 345 VDC electric system with liquid-cooled high performance batteries in a redundant 2-unit arrangement with a total nominal capacity 24.8 kWh. The batteries are crashworthy, thermal runaway inhibiting and HIRF/EMI tolerant. One battery pack is located in the nose of the airplane and the second behind the cabin. This ensures redundancy of the power source: in case of battery failure, the malfunctioning battery would get automatically disconnected from the system. A single battery is capable of standalone operation and has enough power capability to support climbing and continuation of flight.

The aircraft has an empty weight of 944 pounds and a gross weight of 1,300 pounds for a useful load of 379 pounds. According to an AOPA review of the airplane, the battery allows one hour of flying plus a 30-minute reserve. Then the batteries must be charged for at least 50 minutes.

SAFE Quick Takes

For Professional CFIs

Career Pilot News

Regional carrier Republic wants FAA to lower pilot hour requirements for its R-ATP program from 1,500 to 750. A military exemption allows 750 hours.

The Air Line Pilots Association says raising the retirement age for pilots is no magic bullet for the current shortage and it will oppose any attempt to make the change.

Worried about washing out of airline flight training, especially at one of the large ab initio classes? Major airline captain and long-time CFI Jenny Beatty explains how to survive.

DOT proposes adding saliva as an alternative to urine for drug tests; would affect schools and CFIs with approved drug testing programs

The latest American Airlines new-hire class includes 22 women; previous classes typically had between one and five women. NPR offers a review of women's progress in aviation. But it's not all smooth sailing for X-chromosome pilots.

A former airline pilot returns to the CFI life and explains why he quit the airlines.

New CFI Tools, Apps

Giving PIREPs is easy with Virga, the free App Store offering to increase the number of PIREPs. Originally iOS only, the app is now in the Google Play Store for Androids.

Sporty's has an updated Light Sport training module; includes new videos on the use of ADS-B transponders and datalink weather. Video preview of module.

New FAA Safety Briefing resources for making the most of an online FSS briefing; how to surf the digital atmosphere; avoid turbulence; good weather briefing habits and maximizing benefits of ADS-B.

Students keep asking for a 'cheat sheet' for decoding SAs and FTs. It's here. It includes characteristics of barometer tendencies in higher or lower pressure.

What does FAR 61 require for pilot certificates? This summary answers many of the most common CFI questions.

Leidos FSS dashboard revamped for easier pilot, CFI use. Forecast maps can now be stepped through future days.

ASI releases video on the May 20 MayDay STOL accident in Wayne NE; includes suggestions to avoid such accidents.

Download the Free "SAFE Toolkit App!"

The "SAFE Toolkit" app (free on App store) has all the required experience and endorsements, knowledge test codes, and weekly articles and blog for CFIs and safety-conscious pilots.

The new #OSH22 tab has just been added to help you navigate the show and provide up-to-the-minute changes and alerts (allow notifications!)

"CFI NOTAMS" on the SAFE App

Electric Aircraft Training

Pipistrel says it expects a smooth path to FAA certification for its Velis Electro electric-powered trainer. Velis previously OK'd by EASA.

Diamond eDA-40 will be the first certificated electric trainer airplane rechargeable in under 20 minutes, company says. Full charge endurance promised 90 minutes; certification expected next year.

Colorado-based Bye Aerospace bumps up its timeline to certify the eFlyer 2 electric trainer. FAA approval is expected at the end of this year.

Rolls-Royce to release a hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft as early as 2025.

FAA is shifting gears on certification for urban air taxi pilots, says rules didn't anticipate eVTOL aircraft. AvWeb's Paul Bertorelli says 'tilt rotor' certification standards are likely.

Joby Aviation says its acquisition of Avionyx will support Joby's effort to achieve Federal Aviation Administration type certification for its electric-powered air taxi.

Drones And

Urban Mobility Flying

FAA has issued a Part 135 certificate to Joby Aviation in late May. That will allow the company to fly its eVTOL aircraft as air taxis across the US.

Electric trainer hopeful Pyka raises $37 million to produce its fully autonomous airplane. The fully autonomous machines spray crops for about a fifth the cost of a piloted aircraft.

New deployment sites for testing autonomous drones approved in LA, CA, NM, ND, NV and SC.

SkySpecs, an artificial intelligence startup developing a drone to inspect wind turbines, raised $80 million to enhance its software tools.

House panel approved a bill to develop a drone infrastructure inspection grant program and related education and workforce training, also money for vertiport development.

The Wall Street Journal reports that five urban mobility air taxi companies say creating landing areas will be an issue for eVTOLs.

Walmart is expanding its drone delivery experiment to six states, hoping to provide the unmanned delivery service to about 4 million households by the end of the year. There's a $3.99 fee per order and a weight limit of 10 pounds.

SAFE CFI Continuing

Education, Resources

What are the tricks for using radar for weather avoidance? IFR Magazine has a free article explaining that and more about aviation radar.

YouTube and other social media sources of aviation training information are not always reliable. Here is how to avoid YouTube roulette, a SAFE blog by executive director David St George.

FAA is finally standardizing Hot Spot symbology on charts, other references.

Many new pilots fear banking more than 30 degrees. The dangers of timid piloting are detailed in this SAFE blog.

Have a learner who wants to fly the New York skyline, following the Hudson River corridor? A podcast from Stuck Mic AvCast tells how to do it safely.

Sleep apnea is a medical condition affecting pilot medical certification. The FAA may ask for one of two studies, detailed here.

Students (and some CFIs) don't understand the FAA's definitions of "owner" or "operator" when it comes to aircraft accidents.

The annual NOTAM for OSH arrivals, departures July 21 - Aug 1 is now available on EAA's web site.

SAFE CFI Marketing

Today (June 1) at noon eastern, AOPA's You Can Fly team will present an HR expert on creating a strong team-building and staff culture at your flight school. Register here.

Roughly three-quarters of beginning pilots quit before earning a pilot certificate. Fly With The Guys has a six-minute video explaining how to keep students flying.

A new blog by AOPA's Jill Tallman suggests inviting potential new students to local aviation gatherings. Who will get Carl's money?" she asks.

Aviation gatherings sometimes involve a food truck. A food truck event isn't necessarily easy, but it can be profitable.

CFI William Woodbury suggests that flight schools are wasting intro flights and suggests a better way to do Discovery flights.

SAFE Sponsors

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"The Master Instructor accreditation singles out the best the right seat has to offer."

FAA Administrator Jane Garvey

SAFE Blog on Master Qualification

Master Instructor Achievements

The Master Instructor designation is a national FAA-recognized professional accreditation and parallels other professionals' continuing education regimens to increase their professionalism. The Master's designation must be renewed biennially and significantly surpasses FAA requirements for renewing the candidate's flight instructor certificate. Of the 122,000 flight instructors in the US, fewer than 800 have earned the Master Instructor designation, Most are SAFE members.

Michael Traud, MCFI

Michael Traud, based in Sacramento California, has earned his Ninth Master CFI designation.

SAFE Member Mike provides initial and recurrent training to owners/operators of TAA and turbine aircraft. He also mentors newly certificated CFIs and is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner who serves on the Master Instructor Board of Review. He has participated in the Reno National Championship Air Races the past 13 years as a Pylon Judge and has attended the event the past 42 years. Mike is a member of Sacramento County Sheriff's Air Squadron and owns a 1971 Cessna 150 which he flies for both work and pleasure. Mike's home base of operations is the Sacramento Mather Airport (KMHR) in addition to conducting work at several Northern California airports.

SAFE is a 501(c)(3) educational, not-for-profit professional organization building aviation educator excellence and aviation safety. Our more than 4,100 members include many of the best-known, best-credentialed and most experienced CFIs as well as many FAA Designated Pilot Examiners.

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