Thanks to all of you for participating during SnF22 at the booth, at the free breakfast and online. We had an amazing show with lots of new members, renewals and educational presentations.

We were particularly excited to sign-up so many new CFIs interested in receiving mentoring! Learn more about SAFE's Mentoring Program (and volunteer) here.

Like to see more SAFE photos from SnF22? This was a wonderful opportunity to see our current members and meet our new members. The innovations in aviation were also evident with electric training aircraft and the newest corporate cruisers.

The original CFI Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic was created in 1958 in the state of Montana. Then run by the FAA until 1967 when AOPA acquired and expanded this FAA program to a nationally-available option (originally three days). This program was the "gold standard" for in-person CFI renewal clinics until 2021 when ASI shut down in-person FIRCs as attendance declined and Covid ravaged the nation.

The resurrected in-person FIRCs will be staffed by SAFE instructors using ASI's advanced presentation materials. St George said popular elements of the SAFE CFI-PRO™ program will be incorporated in the FAA-approved course, further raising its value.

The AOPA Air Safety Institute is mounting a year-long campaign to encourage pilots and CFIs to pay special awareness of the risks of VFR into IMC. Among the resources available will be videos, courses, podcasts, articles, webinars, studies, and other educational material, events, and programs.

A pilot blunders into IMC conditions every other week, on average, and resulting accidents have a very low survival rate. Year over year, VFR into IMC remains one of the top five causes of fatal GA fatal accidents. Surprisingly, about one-third of accidents involve instrument-rated pilots. It also plays a role in several other types of accidents, including loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).

"But because nearly all primary flight lessons are on 'blue sky' days, few new private pilots learn about weather and have experienced the insidious nature of VFR into IMC," said David St George, SAFE Executive Director. "Training students in actual deteriorating conditions isn't common for obvious reasons, but simulators ought to be effective in demonstrating how pilot decision-making applies to weather flying."

Stunts involving GA airplanes - including the now-infamous 'plane swap' sponsored by the Red Bull energy drink company - always seem to get more publicity than GA events done for a good cause.

So here's an under-reported 'stunt' bright spot: Leesburg, Virginia-based Aviation Adventures flight school raised more than $17,000 for Ukraine by hosting an event in which pilots could drop bean bags on ground targets at the airport. School owner Bob Hepp said early coordination with the local FSDO was key in planning the successful event. In the photo, pilot Mike Stenzler (left) flew while Gordon Landale and his daughters Amelia and Caroline tossed out a bean bag.

The FAA's agonizingly-slow medical certification process, especially for special issuance certificates, has been the cause of angst among pilots for years. All that is now in the past.

Effective April 15, new FAA MedXPress users were able to see the real-time status of their application. Those with applications prior to that date are able to see when new action is taken on their case.

The FAA said the changes to the MedXPress program are an attempt to be more transparent with the aviation community. “If you can track where your ridesharing car is or the status of a company delivering your package, pilots should be able to see online the real-time status of their application,” said Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup. Unfortunately, she added, the new process will not alleviate the current backlog of medical applications.

The story was reported by AOPA.

More experience can lead pilots (and CFIs) to be safer but also toward complacency and accidents. There's a substantial hump - some call it "Mount Stupid" - that Lifetime learners - FAA WINGS participation - correlate with fewer accidents (join the program) Read this SAFEblog. 

Most pilots misjudge the aerodynamic threat of bank angle, and "timid piloting" has consequences. This SAFE blog, posted March 26, has generated several insightful comments in the members-only SAFE Faculty Lounge.

Read the SAFEblog and practice beyond your comfort zone with a good CFI for confidence (and safety).

A free new FAA video titled "Angle Of Attack In 57 Seconds" is now available. According to the FAA announcement, having an angle of attack indicator can help GA pilots avoid stalling and losing control of their aircraft.

Resources for learning about AoA include an FAA blog, a printable fact sheet and the aforementioned 57-second video.

If you fly or instruct in a Cirrus SR-22T, you should be aware that six recent SR-22T accidents have shown fuel flows of as much as 50 gallons per hour just before loss of engine power. The NTSB is warning pilots and asking the FAA and Cirrus Aircraft to investigate the unexplained loss of power during takeoff climb in an SR-22T.

"We encourage all pilots and operators with Cirrus Aircraft to read this AIR and review the circumstances of the six accidents investigated by the NTSB," said an agency release.

Amy Hoover, Ellensburg WA, was named the 2022 National CFI of the year. She is a college professor who wrote the book Mountain, Canyon and Backcountry Flying. She was one of the first to adopt SAFE co-founder Rich Stowell's "Learn To Turn" program.

Michael Everhart of Charlotte, North Carolina, was named 2022 National Aviation Technician of the Year, and Laura Hermann of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, was named 2022 FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year.

The General Aviation Awards program recognizes aviation professionals in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, avionics, and flight safety for their contributions to the GA community. National winners are recognized during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

An illustration used in a UK flight training manual shows expected aircraft behavior at various points of vortex development and dissipation.

"Students sometimes have trouble visualizing the effects of vortices on aircraft following," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications Director. "Most learners think in terms only of roll, but big pitch excursions are possible, too."

Various training aids, articles, videos and other CFI-usable education on wake turbulence are available at any time in SAFE's members-only Resource Center.

A free service offered by King Schools can help flight schools that are developing an FAA-approved Part 141 training course. King already has the Cessna Flight Training System, which it advertises as the "most complete Part 141 training system available."

King Schools senior VP Brian Hough said, "An FAA letter coupled with our expertise can have you up and running in little time." He added that the courses and syllabi offered to new schools meet 141 requirements and have been reviewed by the FAA.

Kyle Vincent Thomas of the Sooner State has renewed his Master Instructor accreditation for the ninth time, representing 18 years of professional growth, excellence and commitment to providing quality education to the aviation community.

Kyle currently serves as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner for the Will Rogers FSDO in Oklahoma City. He is also the Chief Flight Instructor, Flight Operations Manager and an Associate Professor in Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Aviation Sciences Institute. He began his flying career in 1986 and has held this position at the university for 25 years. He resides in Durant Oklahoma with his wife Traci and daughters, Allyson and Chloe.

Master Instructors is honored to recognize Daniel Keen of Lafayette, IN as a Twelve Time Master Instructor. With this most recent designation, Dan has decided to adopt Emeritus Master status, which recognizes when a Master steps back from active instruction.

Dan has been the Part 141 Chief Flight Instructor for Aretz Flying Service, DPE and Aviation Education Specialist for Purdue University's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Indianapolis FSDO), Managing Specialist for Designed Pilot Examiner Program, Safety Officer for Indianapolis FSDO, Inspector in Charge for airshows and Red Bull Air Race. He is Owner/Chief Pilot for KeenAire, Inc., an on-demand charter service and prisoner transport for local law enforcement agencies.

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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