Strategies

For CFIs and Aviation Educators

October 2024


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Congress's Letter to FAA: July 12, 2024

DPE "Supply Chain Problems"


Does anyone remember COVID? Besides a shortage of *everything* and supply chains still in disruption, everyone was in lockdown. Roads were empty (I liked that part) and 2/3rds of airliners were mothballed. Record numbers of senior pilots were offered retirement to save the airlines a$$e$. Gov't $$ No one was flying.

Read Full Letter to FAA Here...

Then just as suddenly, COVID ended and airlines experienced a sudden resurgence of travel like we have never seen; oops no pilots! And overnight there was a huge demand for many new pilots. So lower hiring minimums and big money!! If you had a pilot's certificate and a pulse you were suddenly in the right seat of an airliner. Accelerated flight training academies were overflowing with "instant pilots!"


Do you think it is just as easy to create new DPEs? Maybe we can create fast training for them too? I know the response is "there are plenty of qualified people" is waiting in the wings. But maybe the DPE job is not exactly what everyone thinks? And remember you can be fired tomorrow (there is no HR in this game people) DPE Myths.


And who the heck is Congress after all to tell anyone how to "operate efficiently" anyway? 🤮 They are doing such a great job? If I remember the 1500 hour rule also originated here.


So yes, the FAA got caught by surprise here (as did the airlines, the cargo shippers, and everyone else). And it was a double whammy because FAA inspectors (who manage DPEs) left the FAA for flying jobs (remember pilot and big $$$). This was the heart of the problem: no ASIs = no DPEs. Both are finally on a serious upswing in numbers.


But it takes a little longer to create a good DPE than it does to create a new co-pilot. I am personally OK with that. In aviation, I vote for quality over quantity (in pilots too). And if you think those 200 DPEs doing 50% of all the chekrides are "heroes" doing the best job out of the goodness of their hearts, I have a bridge in NYC to sell you. But that is just my opinion. DStG.

SAFE's "YouTube Renaissance" Debuts

SAFE Webinars; CFI's "Missing Manual" Available!

SAFE's new "YouTube Renaissance" channel adds easy access to more than two dozen advanced videos for instructors, including the CFI Missing Manual. There are several SAFE CFI-PRO™ lessons, too, most of which have until now been almost impossible to find.


The revived resources are free to all CFIs. Members of SAFE can also access the organization's Resource Center which has hundreds of other resources for CFIs in a variety of formats.


"It's the CFI 'Missing Manual' that's the real gem in this collection," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications. "It lays out all the instructional techniques not taught in FAA training, to take you from just 'good' to truly 'great' as an instructor."


The program is based on the technique that cut instructional accidents in a Florida FSDO district by 60% in only two years. The CFI Missing Manual video has a transcript to follow along

Want To Be CFI Of The Year?

AOPA Flight Training Experience

Awards Now Easier To Enter

AOPA has made it easier for flight schools and CFIs to enter the Flight Training Experience Awards this year. Applications due by October 31.


Awards include Best Flight School and Best Instructor on both regional and national levels. The winners will be announced March 5, 2025 at the annual Redbird Migration.


"CFIs and schools recognized as best in the region, and then best in the nation, provide the industry-wide recognition that sets you apart," said David St George, SAFE Executive Director. "It's for CFIs and schools who go the extra mile to inspire, motivate and lead their students to success."


To enter, complete the AOPA application online, then ask for reviews of your instructional goodness from students you've taught in the last 12 months. Your requests are included in the application process. To see winners in the 2024 contest click here.

SAFE Members Get $100 Off Live

CFI Renewal With Aviation Seminars

SAFE members receive a $100 discount on the regular cost of $299 live CFI revalidation clinics conducted by Aviation Seminars nationwide.


Aviation Seminars live classroom CFI Revalidation course is an interactive, dynamic experience for CFIs who prefer live sessions to online courses. Aviation Seminars offers over 175 live FIRCs year for CFIs who prefer the human touch for CFI renewals instead of an online course.


"You and the FIRC presenters discuss not only FAA-required topics, but also the latest changes and training requirements that are important for every CFI to know," said David St George, SAFE Executive Director. Aviation Seminars processes your FAA renewal application via IACRA, saving you from mailing or having to visit a local FSDO office. The school can renew your CFI certificate up to 3 calendar months before its expiration month – allowing for a nearly 120 day renewal period.

"Extended Envelope Training;" Antidote to LOC-I

Loss of control inflight (LOC-I) tops the NTSB list of fatal accident causes and is prominent on that agency's yearly requests for 'most wanted" safety improvements..


LOC-I is a many-headed monster. Pilots lose control after icing up in the clouds or encountering turbulence from wake or weather. But they also inexplicably lose control and crash on sunny days turning base to final in their home traffic pattern.


In almost all cases these encounters are fatal; they mostly occur down low with no room for recovery. Spoiler alert: nearly all these accidents come back to the same cause of insufficient flying skill and/or knowledge in a challenging situation.

We must also include judgment in the causal chain because pilots usually get into a desperate situation and lose aircraft command before they lose aircraft control. They wander into dangerous, often avoidable situations. The end result is pilots are put to an extreme test requiring our greatest piloting skills and unfortunately run out of talent.


As a DPE, I always advise successful new pilots, “This flight test was not the *real* test; flying in life is the ‘real test’; stay current and sharp out there!” We are not doing well passing the “real test” in aviation.


One antidote for LOC-I is "Full Control Maneuvering," a course that trains pilots who normally stay in their comfort zone, using perhaps 7%- 10% of the available envelope. Attend our next SAFE Webinar on October 27th for more information.

Bird Strike Tool Available

Interactive Map Of Bird Migration Routes

Bird strikes worrying you? The Audubon Society has produced a free interactive map on the web that shows specific migration routes that various species of birds take.


Using the map, a pilot can see the most common tracks of birds as they migrate from north to south and vice-versa. The map allows displays by species of the birds and by locations. Free.

Set SAFE as a home page (working on it): <http://safepilots.org>

or get the FREE "SAFE Toolkit" App <http://bit.ly/SAFEtoolkit>

Or better yet, both. They're free for all CFIs, not just SAFE members.

SAFE Members In The News

Jared Sebesta, Sandwich IL

MASTER INSTRUCTOR


Master Instructors is pleased to announce that Jared Sebesta of Sandwich, IL has received his second accreditation as a Master Instructor-Aerobatic.


Jared is a CFI specializing in Basic to Unlimited Aerobatics Training, Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT), Loss of Control In Flight (LOC-I), Advanced Spin Series, Radial Engine and Jet Warbird Training, High Performance Taildragger Transition Training, and more through his company, Gambit Aviation.


His objective is to provide the most honest, safe, and enjoyable flight school experience with a turn-key, low-stress, and more importantly - low-ego solution for any taildragger/aerobatic/warbird needs.

Donald Kaye, Santa Clara CA MASTER INSTRUCTOR


Master Instructors is honored to recognize Donald Kaye, Santa Clara CA as a Master Instructor for the twelfth time.


This accreditation recognizes his more than 25 years as an aviation educator and a professional at the highest level. Donald was interested in aviation from an early age. After getting his Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, in 1968 he became a Private Pilot. He worked in real estate until 1992, when he turned his full attention to flying. He earned certificates and ratings through CFII, MEI and ATP and specialized in providing Mooney courses. The Citation CE-525S was added to his credentials and he now has 12,798 hours of total GA time, 7,007 hours have been devoted to teaching.

Toward More Knowledgeable CFIs...

New Instructional Aids/ Info


Infinite Flight, a mobile sim available on both IOS and Android, is now integrated with Sporty's Learn To Fly content. It provides additional scenarios.


Students complaining about hard landings? New AOPA 4.5 minute video may help them understand. Insurance claims for hard landings average $48,000.


Wrongful death lawsuit targets new CFI Timothy McKellar Jr, saying he showed 'gross negligence" training his student; CFI McKellar Jr was taking photos and posting derogatory information about his student Connor Quisenberry.


September/October FAA Safety Briefing focuses on the many facets of surface safety. Included are:

An online map showing on- and near-airport restaurants and hotels now has 398 on-airport eateries listed, another 528 within one-and-one-half miles from the airport. Good for planning dual cross-country flights.


What's it like to be an air traffic controller? This 18-minute video by Michelle Khare tells all.


AOPA Rusty Pilots seminars, excellent for recruiting new students, will be held October 5 in Elizabethtown, NC and Sebring FL On October 12, sessions will be held in Berkleley Township NJ and West Houston TX October 19 in Puyallup WA, Nashua NH and Aurora OR.


Community Aviation's "optimal learning" program at OSH this year is evaluated.



Unleaded Fuel Updates


Cessna 172 R and S models with Lycoming IO-360 L2A engines are now STC'd for Swift Fuels 100R.


GAMI G100UL AOPA test in a Baron shows no detectable performance difference from 100LL. But there were other things, pilots say.


California passes a ban on leaded avgas, starting 2031.



Technology Marches On


ERAU developing a method to use AI to teach standard aviation phraseology before live flights.



ADS-B Surveillance / Landing Fees


Florida cities, counties are preparing to impose takeoff and landing charges, other fees. It will adversely affect training in the Sunshine State.


While Florida airports are hoping to use ADS-B data to assess landing and other fees, GA interests including SAFE are opposing it. AOPA says it would be a virtual tollbooth on runways. Flight schools will be particularly hard-hit.


An AvWeb survey last month found that nearly a quarter of respondents were not worried at all by ADS-B Aviation Surveillance. Another quarter weren't worried but said monitoring is needed; while more than half said it should be closely scrutinized or banned.



Industry, Government Actions Affecting CFIs


Congressional bill threatens to cap veteran flight training benefits beginning next year. Nearly all GA organizations, including SAFE, are fighting the bill.


The annual NAFI Summit meeting will be October 15-17 in the ERAU Florida Event Center. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Susan Northrup, head of FAA Aeromedical.


Students with a history of leukemia or lymphoma can now get an FAA medical certificate, says Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup in this one minute video.


Large flight school CAU announced it will award continuing education credits for K-12 teachers who have completed training for the AOPA High School Aviation Curriculum.


ATC systems critically outdated, says GAO. Some systems could take more than 10 years to modernize.


FAA's Kortokrax legal interpretation of 2006 was rescinded in 2023. CFIs must now meet night currency requirements to train students at night.

Blast From the Past: Enjoy the original SAFE Magazine!

Do You Have What It

Takes To Mentor New CFIs?

Join SAFE's Mentor Connection

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.

Join SAFE's Mentorship Connection

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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.

Bose Headsets

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.

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

Please shop at these merchant supporters of CFI professionalism.

They make possible your SAFE privileges and benefits.

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