Strategies

For CFIs, Aviation Educators

Happy New Year! 🎉 January 2025

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Reminder For All CFIs

 New FAA, TSA Rules

In case you've been living in a cave, we are not pleased to tell you that there are two significant new rules affecting flight instructors. One is from TSA and the other is from FAA.

TSA rewrote their directive 1552.17 last year, dramatically expanding the number of CFIs who require TSA registration and use of TSA's FTSP portal. Now even CFIs who never train foreign nationals must register with TSA, and any activity as a CFI - even just one flight review a year - requires TSA registration. SAFE is working with TSA officials to amend the rule.

FAA finally removed the expiration date from flight instructor certificates, effective December 1, but left some instructors confused about the need to renew their instructor certificates. The answer is, yes, you must renew every two years or lose your instructional privileges, just as before. The AOPA Air Safety Institute offers full change information.

In addition, the final rule-making from the Warbird Adventures debacle in FL has finally been published (remember all those LODAs?). The Warbird operator was using the broad definition of "flight instruction" to fly warbird flights while calling them "instructional." The ensuing litigation highlighted the need for more specific rules clarifying "instruction" (why "passenger" was changed to "person"). "Flight instruction" was clarified as "flight for compensation and hire" with the long-standing exception under CFR 14.119. Many minor changes in many regs were implemented Federal Register Here.

Two other CFI-specific Part 61 rules changed last month. FAR 61.57(a) and (b) required 3 takeoffs and landings within 90 days to carry passengers. The rule is now refers to 'persons' rather than 'passengers,' and a new exception allows a non-current CFI to provide instruction to a non-current trainee if the trainee is regaining currency and can otherwise act as PIC, no other 'persons' allowed on the training flight.

Clarifying amendments to 61.193 and 61.413 specify that CFIs may give instruction in ground, flight and for certain checking events, in addition to issuing endorsements. Previously, rule said that CFIs could only "train and issue endorsements."

SAFE Resource Center

Possibly The Best CFI-Specific Advice In The World

Free For SAFE Members

SAFE members who are the most experienced aviation educators have contributed dozens of articles, quizzes, explanations and even full courses to the SAFE members-only Resource Center on the SAFE website. Please login as a member to access these resources. They're all CFI-oriented and can provide insight that your flight school never mentioned. See our YouTube Channel with our recent Multi-Engine Webinar HERE.

These real-life offerings are free for SAFE members only. SAFE membership is $55 a year, and allows savings up to $120 a year on ForeFlight, big savings on additional CFI products and services plus the CFI-specific resources here.

Topics include:

• Aerodynamics.
• Airspace.
• Airwork, including takeoff and landing.
• Emergency procedures.
• Human factors.
• IFR procedures and Instruction.
• Maintenance and maintenance training.
• Materials for K-12 classrooms.
• Medical.
• Navigation.
• Performance.
• Professionalism.
• Regulations.
• Risk assessment.
• CFI Open Forums.
• Safety.
• Syllabi.
• Teaching techniques.
• Testing.
• Training Aids.
• Weather.

Joel Weaner, MCFI

Master Instructors is honored to announce that Joel Weaner of Jacksonville FL has received his Twelfth accreditation as a Master Instructor.

The achievement recognizes his long-term commitment to education excellence for more than twenty-five years.

Joel serves as a lead FAASTeam Rep for the FAA’s Orlando / North Florida FSDO. He also owns and operates Beach Banners based at Jacksonville’s Craig Municipal Airport, providing aerial advertising services and aircraft rental while offering flight training in technically advanced aircraft and tailwheels. Joel also added a type rating in the King Air 360 to his credentials.

Shane Vande Voort, MCFI

Shane Vande Voort of Pella, IA has achieved the Master Instructor accreditation for the 11th time. Shane is a second-generation flight instructor who owns and operates Classic Aviation, Inc. at Pella and Oskaloosa Municipal airports.

Shane is a DPE for the Des Moines FSDO and flies as a contract pilot while also instructing in a variety of aircraft from vintage taildraggers to high-performance technically advanced aircraft as part of the award-winning Cirrus Pilot Proficiency Program.

New Instructional Aids/ Info

TSA's new 1552.17 rule is confusing. AOPA has Q&As on the new rule. Yes, you must register with TSA if you're active even if not training foreign students. No, it doesn't make sense, and SAFE is pointing out the absurdity of the rule to TSA.

Enhanced Vision System (EVS) allows pilots to land in low clouds or ground fog. SAFE member Rob Mark explains.

ICARUS releases second gen view limiting hood; allows CFIs to dial in poor visibility, select transition time to simulate VFR into IMC. $1,250 from ICARUSdevices.com.

Transition to unleaded avgas is explained with new 2.5 page PDF from the EAGLE group.

New ASI 3:30 video on recognizing poor runway conditions with the Runway Condition Assessment Index. Free.

Spatial disorientation recognition can be hard to teach. ASI's latest accident case study video, 16 minutes, focuses on just that issue. WINGS credit available.

FAA's 8710 was revised in early December.

.Helpful CFI Information

Automatic denial of deferred medicals without all necessary paperwork is set to start March 1, 2025. FAA postponed the move after protests from SAFE, other GA organizations.

New legislation would make pilot certificates digital rather than on plastic was proposed last month by Rep Tim Burchett, R-TN.

G100LL still on Textron's "no-no" list; company says it wants more testing. Separately, California A&P Michael Lurara says his own testing of G100UL shows some paint and nitrile O ring damage. GAMI says all high aromatic gasoline are hard on paint.

Drone sighting near Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio closed the Class D airspace for about 4 hours last month.

Want to be an ATC controller? SAFE member Rob Mark, a former controller, writes about it.

TSA has opened a "one-stop shop" for CFI questions about their Flight Training Security Program.

CFI Educational Malpractice is explained in an article by AOPA's lawyers.

Starting today, AMEs must use computer testing for color blindness. The long-used Ishihara color testing book is no longer permitted.

AOPA's Rusty Pilot seminars will be held January 18 in New Iberia LA and Jacksonville FL.

OSH 2025 tickets available; $65 daily, $150 weekly.

Michael Whitaker, current FAA Administrator, resigns ahead of Trump inauguration.

Tupelo Aviation in MS will sell G100UL starting this month.

Instructional Aircraft News

Bizjet sales up 10.1%, piston sales up 7.5% in 2024.

A January 28 court hearing will decide if 100LL will be available in California, replaced with G100UL.

New business Flight Club starts program for peer-to-peer sharing aircraft.

Airbus proposes flight deck potty as part of the air carrier single-pilot initiative. Pilot unions not thrilled.

Oxygen supplier and SAFE-supporting company Aerox won Manufacturer Of The Year at the Industry Appreciation Awards.

"Miracle On The Hudson" FO Jeff Skiles retires; he continues to fly 135 for Wisconsin Aviation.

Former FAA manager in charge of GA and Commercial issues James Viola named as new GAMA head, replacing Pete Bunce.

EV airplanes are coming, and BAF in MA will be ready for them, with a Level 3 fast charger for electric aircraft.

SAFE is projected to reach 7,000 active members this month. In the early 2000s there were fewer than 100 members. Our goal remains improving safety through better instruction.

Blast From the Past: Enjoy the original SAFE Magazine!

The SAFE Mentorship Connection group needs you - as an experienced CFI -.to help newer CFIs learn the ropes and improve their instructional professionalism. Zoom sessions are on Tuesdays from 7:00 pm Eastern (23Z) and last up to two hours.SAFE Mentorship Connector director Dorothy Schick hosts each meeting.

Weekly roundtable discussions with the CFI Study Group on CFI topics often have prominent guest speakers, most recently CFI Bootcamp's Mike Shiflett. The 20 or so CFIs and CFI-wannabes who attend each study session can get into one-on-one conversations with DPEs.

SAFE member CFIs get 1/3 off any ForeFlight subscription. Potential yearly savings: $133+

SAFE member CFIs get 25% off all Gleim Aviation products except kits, ATP, FIRC, IARC or sim hardware. Call 800-874-5346 for the discount.

SAFE member CFIs get $100 off Zulu3 and Tango Wireless ANR headsets or $75 off Sierra ANRs.

SAFE members get 20% off select merchandise.

Platinum Cirrus Training Center provides flight training, aircraft rentals and sales at KAXH.

SAFE member CFIs qualify for a $100 rebate on Bose A30 or ProFlight Series 2 aviation headset.

SAFE members get a 20% discount on ASA products.



SAFE members get 10% off any MyGoFlight product.



SAFE members receive a 20% discount on all King Schools Training products.

SAFE members get 20% off all books/CDs by Max Trescott, Cirrus Platinum CSIP and author of several guides on using advanced avionics.

SAFE members get 5% off any Qref checklists. Use code SAFE5.

SAFE members get 20% off the Artful Flying book by Michael Maya Charles.

SAFE is a 501(c)(3) educational, not-for-profit professional organization building aviation educator excellence and aviation safety. Our 7,000-some 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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