CFIs aspiring to be "the best of the best" now have an easier online path for submitting documents and other information showing their fitness for designation as a Master Flight Instructor. SAFE Executive Director David St George said, "if you are an active professional CFI, you probably already qualify for Master Instructor accreditation." Benefits include national recognition as a Master Instructor.

SAFE fully supports the clarification requested on a CFI's status during flight instruction. AOPA, EAA and GAMA appealed to the FAA after the recent U.S. Court of Appeals ruling stated that a CFI giving flight instruction is "carrying persons for compensation or hire." That's diametrically opposed to the FAA's years-long position that a CFI is being paid for giving instruction, not for piloting.

SAFE Executive Director David St George explained that the Court’s characterization of instructor compensation as payment for carriage of persons is contrary to the FAA’s longstanding position. Historically, the FAA has distinguished between compensation for instruction and compensation for carriage of persons or property in regulations, guidance, and multiple FAA Chief Counsel legal interpretations. The pay received by a flight instructor for instruction is compensation for the instruction rather than for carriage of persons or property for hire (and hence the third class medical).

"This important distinction is not only recognition of the fact that flight instructors are being compensated for their professional knowledge and skill as instructors, but also the importance of access to training to maintain aviation safety," he said. "This ruling has serious implications for every part of flight training and opens extensive liability and regulatory questions. Additionally, owners of limited category aircraft may be unable to obtain flight instruction in their own airplanes unless they have an exemption, or if the instructor is not paid,"

The letter also explained that aircraft are used for flight training in a variety of contexts, including individual ownership, shared ownership, flying clubs, flight schools and even air carriers.

When we signed up for Sun 'N Fun it seemed like a long shot but the show was well attended and one of our best ever. Thanks to all the members who pitched in at the last minute to set-up and help with the show, we were busy every day from opening until closing; in total over 100 new members and renewals!

The Spring Sweepstakes continues until May 15th. Every person joining, renewing, stepping up or donating will get a chance to win the Lightspeed Zulu 3 headsets or a Sporty's handheld radio. Raul Salazar added 2 Gyro Intro rides to the prizes and more are still coming in. The Spring Sweepstakes winners will be chosen on May 15th; join the fun!

The most conspicuous absence at Sun 'N Fun was the FAA. Additionally, despite the presence and participation of the many FAA Safety Team representatives, none of the many forums or presentations were eligible for WINGS credit (according to a last-minute statement from the FAA). This last-minute national policy statement was especially embarrassing to the many hard-working FAA personnel who attended the show.

The official FAA statement read, "The FAA will have no presence at Sun ‘N Fun this year. We cannot approve WINGS credit for any presentation done there, whether that credit is real-time or adjusted. We are not advocating gatherings of groups at this time due to public health concerns and as such cannot issue WINGS credit for these events."

In government parlance, new AC 91-92 on Preflight Briefing 'provides guidance for required preflight actions under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91.103.'

"This brand-new AC is actually a HUGE repository of online resources," enthused David St George, SAFE Executive Director. "Using it almost ensures a successful oral for diligent pilot applicants preparing a sample flight on the practical exam."

The March 15 AC compiles any pilot's top resources for proper preflight planning and links many of them. For example, westbound from Denver through the Berthoud Pass, where would you look for real-time weather in the pass? It's FAA's Weathercams website, of course, along with hundreds of other cams showing difficult weather locations in the US and Canada. "And that's just one small example from literally hundreds of preflight resources," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications Director. "This 21-page AC may be the single most immediately useful AC the FAA has ever published. For CFIs with responsibility for teaching what all available preflight information means, it's invaluable."

FAA Posts New Test Questions

Sample Knowledge Test Questions Deemed

The FAA last month posted brand new sample knowledge test questions for pilots, instructors, mechanics, and others on the training and testing section of its website.

The questions are free and meant to help knowledge test applicants prepare for the FAA knowledge test. Unfortunately, the FAA did not include answers, leading many students to rely on commercially available manuals, all of which provide answers, references and explanations, such as ASA (right).

After practicing with the sample questions, applicants can take another practice test on PSI's website and receive a score before taking the official knowledge test.

One little-known feature of the FAA's new sample knowledge test questions is that they include topic codes. For private pilot applicants, for example, the code links the subject matter to a task element in the Private Pilot—Airplane ACS. All incorrect knowledge test questions are required to be reviewed and signed off by your CFI before your practical test.

For flight instructors, though, the report includes PTS-era 'learning statement' codes that can be matched with codes listed on airman knowledge test reports. The CFI is the only commonly-sought rating still using PTS practical exam standards, but it is set to be upgraded to the new ACS requirements before the year is over. The delay was due to a rulemaking tangle in the Department of Transportation while it attempted to comply with a presidential order to limit new rules.

The FAA said the new CFI sample knowledge test questions are good for all the flight Instructor rating tests, including helicopters, gliders and gyroplanes. Before any knowledge test, review the new FAA Knowledge Testing Matrix for what you can bring into the test (no iPhones) and what ID requirements are current (street address).

The first FAA noise survey in nearly 30 years found more people are bothered by aircraft noise than ever before, even as jets have gotten quieter. And though the survey was of people near large airports, increased public annoyance with aircraft noise means flight instruction-friendly airports will continue to be lost, said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications Director.

The FAA survey reported aircraft noise annoyance levels a remarkable five times higher since the last review in 1992. People said they considered noise from aircraft far more annoying than that from cars, trucks and their neighbors.

"Any GA airport you've seen with a sign warning to avoid a nearby community means that airport is already under assault," said Murphy. "To extend the airport's life span, follow the noise abatement advice." He also suggested reading AOPA's Airport Support Program page for practical advice on slowing the loss of GA airports.

AOPA, with its Airport Support Program, has been leading the effort to reduce loss of GA airports, which until recent years has been as high as one public-use airport lost per week. "CFIs at smaller airports can help build support for the airport while prospecting for new students," Murphy said.

No, seriously, folks, the latest post in the SAFE Blog provides a heads-up for CFIs of the critical control lost when pilot skills deteriorate and attention wanders on autopilot. Read the SAFEblog #flySAFE #SAFEpilots #CFIpro.

Your client owns a to-die-for turbocharged single, complete with installed oxygen, and she's offering to share flight expenses with you on her next business trip to Las Vegas, splitting the operational expenses of the airplane, mostly gas and oil. Plus the $20 ramp fee charged by the airport, of course.

On the trip, you spend considerable time above 10,000, enjoying the novelty of supplemental oxygen and marveling at how it sharpens your wits and dries your sinuses. But your dream trip sours when your client insists that your half of the flight's operational expenses includes the cost of the inboard oxygen you used. According to the FAA, can she do that?

The results of the poll will be posted on SAFE's Facebook page. If you can't wait to see if you were right, the official AC 61-142 has the answer in paragraph 7.3 on page 5.

A long-standing pilot shortage in the US Air Force has military recruiters ready to shop in the civilian pilot market, according to a report in the March 27 military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

“Somebody who is exceptional and extremely well qualified might be able to bypass undergraduate pilot training altogether," explained Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, in charge of training pilots at the 19th Air Force Air Education and Training Command in Austin TX.

The Air Force is attempting to fill its pilot shortage and create a more diverse pilot workforce, but Wills said, "you still have to be willing to fight and kill and potentially die for your country to serve as an Air Force officer, and that's a pretty big lift."

SAFE's Bob Wright, a former FAA executive and well-known CFI, is featured in a free article from the April 2021 Aviation Safety magazine on how local terrain and weather can trap unwary pilots.

Wright compares his previous experience flying on the East Coast with that of his experience in his current home in the Pacific Northwest. He draws some startling and thought-provoking comparisons with the flight planning and real-life operational issues pilots face in different parts of the country.

"If you are using your airplane for business or personal transportation, you will find that schedule flexibility is one of your best risk mitigation tools," says Wright, particularly given the erratic weather acting on the area. "It's likely your mission can be accomplished with the piston single, perhaps just not on the schedule you want."

Nicholas Marcantonio (center) of Fleming Island, FL earned accreditation as a Master CFI for the first time in March. Nicholas is a U.S. Naval Officer who has flown more than 1650 hours in a variety of roles. He also is dedicated to serving his community through aviation.

He has flown as an instructor in California, Alabama, Florida, and Japan, and has volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol for 13 years and counting.

The recently expanded Master Instructors program became part of SAFE earlier this year. To learn more, go to Master Instructors.

Raymond F. Spengler Jr. of Longview, Texas, has successfully completed accreditation as a Master Flight Instructor for the eighth time.

A SAFE member and former board member, Ray recently renewed his MCFI accreditation in March through SAFE's Master Instructors Continuing Education Program (MICEP).

Ray has served in the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and is a FAASTeam Lead Representative in the FAA's North Texas FSDO area. He is also the president of Skypark Aviation LLC at the East Texas Regional Airport (KGGG). With more than 11,000 hours of pilot time, he specializes in primary, instrument, and advanced flight training.

The recently expanded Master Instructors program became part of SAFE earlier this year. To learn more, go to Master Instructors.

Master Instructors is pleased to announce the designation of Jonathan Logan of Albuquerque NM as a Master CFI (MCFI) for the first time. 

Jonathan's passion for flight began as a Boy Scout when he earned an aviation merit badge with a family friend who was a pilot. He not only did a preflight inspection of the airplane, he got to fly it – and fell in love with aviation as soon as the wheels left the ground. 

Since that day, he has tried to experience flight in as many different ways as possible, first through his initial flight training, then learning to fly aerobatics, seaplanes, multi-engine planes and now crewing a hot air balloon team. As a CFI, he provides a diverse array of training from student pilots to CFIs and remote pilots.

The recently expanded Master Instructors program became part of SAFE earlier this year. To learn more, go to Master Instructors.

SAFE is a 501(c)(3) educational, not-for-profit professional organization building aviation educator excellence and aviation safety. Our more than 3,600 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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