The original Master Instructor program, which set the standard of excellence in aviation education when first introduced in 1997, has settled comfortably in the SAFE nest as the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program^TM (MICEP) for all aviation educators.

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The original Master Instructor Program, written and introduced by professional educators Sandy and JoAnn Hill of Colorado, celebrates its 24th year representing what then-FAA Administrator Marion Blakey called "the best the right seat has to offer" in aviation. In 2009, though, Sandy and JoAnn expanded their iconic Master Instructor program, adding Master CFI accreditations for two specialty instructional areas, aerobatic (MCFI-A) and helicopter (MCFI-H).  

Studies show that earning Master Certificated Flight Instructor credentials adds to aviation community recognition, respect and business. According to SAFE Executive Director David St George (12 time Master CFI), annual savings on aircraft insurance for MCFIs more than pays the Master Instructor application fee.

Although SAFE membership is not a requirement for MICEP certification, most Master Instructors are SAFE members. More information is at Master Instructors.

A new partner relationship with CFI Bootcamp now allows SAFE members to save 20% on any of the CFI training company's products or services. Online courses are 10% off.

Also, SAFE members are eligible for 40% off monthly membership in the company's Advanced CFI Level group (only $13 per month instead of the regular $22 per month). This online package includes Bootcamp's Power Hours, two short subject videos each week, deep dives into CFI practices and standards with 'tribal knowledge' videos. Also, part of the Advanced CFI Group is an online community area used by CFIs for sharing and advice.

But wait! That's not all! CFI Bootcamp is also offering a scholarship for aspiring CFIs in the coming year, worth $2,338. It will include the company's CFI online course, all course materials and a week-long class in Miami, FL learning how to solo students and build training outlines. The scholarship also includes membership in the "Pro Level" CFI group.

"CFI Bootcamp's main mission is training initial and advanced flight instructors while imbuing them with a sense of professionalism," said SAFE Executive Director David St George. "We're delighted to have them as professional partners in raising the standards for flight instruction."

The Bootcamp training programs are extensive and are provided as an in-person and or online experience in the Miami and Palo Alto areas. Both locations offer very talented and experienced instructors. CFI Bootcamp maintains an amazing 90% pass rate, with a whole group of different examiners. Go to www.CFIBootcamp.com and preview their offerings: tailored for the working professional.

I am so happy that Master Instructors LLC has decided to collaborate more closely with SAFE after all these years of working together. This program, the brilliant creation of Sandy and JoAnn Hill, is the perfect expression of everything SAFE stands for - aviation educator professionalism (and recognition) in all areas of aviation - from aerobatics to helicopters and includes ground and maintenance instructors. Full disclosure, I have personally renewed my Master CFI twelve times now; total believer! This "advanced degree of excellence" allowed me to become a DPE many years ago and continue to learn and grow as an educator and pilot.

This month we also welcome the amazing resources of CFI Bootcamp to support and improve our SAFE members' professionalism. This training system is the brainchild of former DPE Mike Shiflett and focuses on creating (and supporting) the best CFIs in the business. The Bootcamp training courses are extensive and provided both online and as in-person courses in both Miami and Palo Alto. Very experienced instructors provide ground and flight training in both locations. On check rides, Bootcamp maintains an amazing 90% pass rate with a whole group of different examiners. Visit the CFIbootcamp website and preview the offerings tailored for the working professional.

DPE renewal rides are delayed substantially and Part 135 checkrides are "way behind" due to COVID complications. Most FAA ASIs are not current in piston aircraft and are also restricted from flying in close quarters with the pandemic. Being a DPE myself and talking with many of our DPE members, I see that a GoPro-type camera for a 'virtual checkride' *could* be a way to ease the DPE shortage crisis in the short term. SAFE would only support this if strict controls were applied regarding the videos' use and disposition to protect pilot/DPE privacy and future liability; one time viewing "Mission Impossible Style." This approach is consistent with international privacy rules; data is stored only long enough to complete the immediate task. We advocate that GoPro oversight material would be viewed only once, just like sitting in the back seat during the ride. This is not supposed to be an endless football game instant replay for nit-picking and subsequent fault finding.

The NTSB has postponed the March 9 unveiling of its 2021-2022 Most Wanted List (MWL) of transportation safety improvements, with no future announcements set. The agency said only it will post the new date on the NTSB Board Calendar. SAFE has long advocated for flight training reform based on educator improvement. SAFE convened the GA Pilot Training Reform Symposium in 2011. This event led to the creation of the FAA ACS. SAFE members including Rich Stowell and Doug Stewart (in photos), testified at NTSB hearings.

"The MVL press release says the postponement is to let them 'further refine' the safety items on their next two-year MWL," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications Director. "Thanks to that Hawaii King Air crash with skydivers last year, I think that questions about flight instructor competence will show up on the new MWL." He noted that the NTSB has already recommended closer FAA surveillance of CFIs, with an automatic alert to the FAA when a local CFI's 'pass rate' for initial certification falls below 80 percent. SAFE advocates for a less statistical and more systemic approach to improving CFI professionalism.

"We hope for a more nuanced approach to improving aviation educator professionalism, not a statistical tripwire," said SAFE Executive Director David St George. "So far the NTSB has offered a knee-jerk solution to the FAA that could be counterproductive and viewed as punitive. We encourage a more comprehensive approach. Both Rich Stowell and Doug Stewart have testified in front of the NTSB supporting and defining SAFE's view of flight training reform."

SAFE member and entrepreneur Billy Winburn of Community Aviation has just introduced a novel way to learn from aviation from experts, virtually, in a one-on-one setting or a small group with aviation training's elite. This service coordinates Zoom meetings between experts and pilots.

For instance, a lively hour-long chat with 'Spin Doctor' Rich Stowell on aspects of all-attitude flying can be yours for $19.95, with you and no more than nine of your fellow pilots in the session. The first small-group session is on March 23.

One-on-one private sessions with experts are more, of course, but an individual half-hour session learning the Garmin GNS navigation from Captain Mike Jesch is only $39. His recent online webinar had more than 2K people attending.

Besides Stowell and Jesch, Community Aviation experts include retired 737 captain Gary Shank specializing in Airline Best Practices; Larry Jarkey on remote instruction setup and using Garmin's Pilot EFB; Kevin Meyers assisting PC Flight Sim builders and setups for complex simulators; SAFE co-founder and ED Emeritus Doug Stewart.

The brand-new Code of Conduct for Designated Flight Examiners was released on Valentine's Day by developer Secureav.com. It offers recommendations for professionalism and safety in the conduct of FAA practical tests. SAFE participated in the development of the latest edition.

The DPE version is similar to others in the Model Code of Conduct (MCOC) series, including MCOCs for Aviators, AMTs, CFIs and others. The new DPE-specific text includes seven distinct sections: (1) General Responsibilities of DPEs; (2) Flight Test Safety; (3) DPE Training and Proficiency; (4) Security; (5) Environmental Issues; (6) Use of Technology; and (7) DPE Professionalism and Safety Culture.

“Professionalism in any field is by necessity aspirational – what we could and should be on our best day to fully express our mission, said SAFE Executive Director David St. George, "Carefully crafted, collaborative guidance, like this document, inspires and calibrates our quest.”

The AOPA Air Safety Institute, a long-time SAFE supporter, is offering the first 18 of the new Safety Spotlights, collections of ASI's best material on flight training topics, in various formats. As with most ASI material, Safety Spotlights is free.

"For students who want to dig deeper in an area, these new offerings are a gift," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications Director. "For instance, ASI's Fuel Management Safety Spotlight has sections on fuel quality controls, inflight fuel management, systems, and the fueling process. In each section are multiple articles, blogs, statistics, facts, ASI studies and more."

The rampage of COVID and other upper respiratory diseases during the winter months has raised the question: can I carry a person who uses oxygen? No, if they use an oxygen tank with compressed air or liquid oxygen. The FAA classifies both of those substances as hazardous.

But the answer is yes if they use modern, small "Portable Oxygen Concentrators" (POC), electric units that separate oxygen from the 70 percent nitrogen atmosphere and feed it to the user. Since there is no high-pressure storage of oxygen or use of liquid gas, the FAA allows 'approved' POCs for passengers in GA aircraft. Batteries in these units typically last about 2 - 4 hours. Learn more in the FAA Advisory Circular for use of POC in aircraft.

In response to member requests, selected columns from the SAFE blog dealing with training techniques and CFI insights are being converted to SAFE CFI Training Flipbooks, and SAFE is making them available to any CFI or member pilot..

The new single-subject Flipbooks share advice on professional instruction's practical aspects, drawn from SAFE blogs of senior CFIs and FAA DPEs. Many of the subjects are adapted from SAFE's acclaimed CFI-PRO^tm in-person classes, halted in June by the Coronavirus epidemic. (In-person CFI-PRO^tm sessions are expected to resume in 2022.)

Further SAFE CFI Training Flipbooks will be produced, said SAFE Communications Director Kevin D Murphy. He said SAFE was allowing the new Flipbooks to be shared with the entire flight instruction community, not just limited to SAFE members, as part of its mission to promote CFI professionalism.

"Perfect Picture From Lesson One," on the importance of ensuring the learner's line-of-sight position in the airplane is correct before starting instruction.

SAFE CFI-PRO™ Flying is *NOT* Driving! aka More Right Rudder. Flying is not driving.

"Landing Magic" a focused compendium. Let us know what you think?

The Future Aviation Aerospace Workforce (FAAW), a Florida-based group, has compiled what it calls a "comprehensive" list of resources for anyone seeking a career in aviation. The resources range from airline career pathway programs to scholarships for ab initio learners.

It lists programs, government agencies, and companies involved in building an aviation workforce, not only pilot training but also instruction for maintenance professionals and other aviation careers. Kathryn B. Creedy, the developer, said she culled items from hundreds of articles touting local programs to promote aviation/aerospace education and manufacturing careers. Creedy asked readers to help expand the list by contacting her.

CDC has issued new guidance for transportation of known or suspected Covid-19 infected Individuals in airplanes, though there's little new.

"It's common sense these days," explained Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications Director. "The CDC would much rather people self-quarantine and not travel, anyway. If they must travel, it could be on a GA flight since known or suspected Covid carriers are banned from airline flights."

Various regional nonprofit compassion groups, such as Patient Airlift Services, have established pilot pre and post-flight procedures for minimizing chances of Covid on the volunteer flights since they routinely fly patients to non-emergency medical treatment. They do not allow confirmed or suspected Covid patients to fly, similar to commercial flight protocols.

"Here are the latest CDC prohibitions on travel," said Kevin, "which will give you some idea of what the official thinking is on flying potentially Covid-positive people. It'll help you make an informed decision."

Master Instructors is pleased to announce William E. Dubois's designation as Master Ground Instructor (MGI) for the first time. William, of Las Vegas, is a CFI Academy ground instructor for Airline Transport Professionals (ATP) at its KAPA location, where he helps prepare new CFI candidates for their initial practical test. Dubois serves largely in a “teach the teacher” role, helping future instructors hone their classroom and cockpit education skills during ten-day intensive ground courses. He also travels the country for AOPA’s You Can Fly initiative, teaching Rusty Pilot seminars nationally. The aviation author and air racer has been an FAA Certified Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor since 1984.

The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA. Candidates must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth and service to the aviation community, as well as a rigorous evaluation by a peer Board of Review. 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 3,300 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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