from Kurt Reesman 

 

Good news--the flight instructor practical test, and its variants, now count for more than just an instructor certificate!

 

For months, industry advocacy groups have argued to the FAA that the flight instructor certification covers much more than the regulatory requirements of a flight review and should be included in the exceptions listed in CFR 61.56(d).

 

The groups maintained that although a flight instructor practical test is chiefly focused on the pilot's instructional skills, the pilot must demonstrate satisfactory performance of the procedures and maneuvers selected by the examiner--at least to the commercial pilot skill level--while also providing effective instruction.

 

Therefore, the flight instructor practical test standards require the applicant to demonstrate not only the knowledge but also the skill required of pilots completing the practical tests that the FAA instructor is authorized to teach.

 

As with the other exceptions listed in CFR 61.56(d), the requirements for passing an FAA flight instructor practical test exceed those for a pilot accomplishing a flight review and meet the goal of ensuring that a pilot's competency is observed by a qualified individual.

 

This rule now modifies CFR 61.56(d) to allow an airman who passes a practical test for issuance of a flight instructor certificate, a practical test for the addition of a rating to a flight instructor certificate, a practical test for renewal of a flight instructor certificate, or a practical test for the reinstatement of a flight instructor certificate to meet the 24-calendar month flight review requirements of 14 CFR part 61.56. 

 

by Sherry Rossiter, Committee Chair 

 

There are many reasons why a person maintains membership in an organization. Those reasons are personal and vary with the individual, so I can only speak for myself.

 

I've been a SAFE member since the organization was founded in 2009. I previously served for three years on the Governance Committee and now am chairing the Membership Committee. I volunteer because I believe in SAFE's mission: "to create a safer aviation environment through enhanced education."

 

While I have not yet taken advantage of all the benefits available to SAFE members, I have taken advantage of the great discounts available on aviation training materials from Gleim, ASA, Sporty's, and King Schools. These discounts have amounted to far more than the modest cost of my annual membership dues.

 

Even though I am no longer working professionally in the aviation training arena, I am still actively involved with aviation education through state and local aviation groups. Having access to SAFE's online Resource Center has provided me with many valuable educational resources and several good ideas for local pilot presentations.

 

However, the biggest reason I maintain my SAFE membership (and continue to volunteer in positions where I feel I can best contribute) is because of the great people I have met. While I knew a few SAFE members when I first joined, I now know many more of you from the work I've done on committees and in volunteering to help with other SAFE projects. Our common bond as SAFE members is a love for aviation in general, and for excellence in aviation education in particular.

 

To those of you who have continued to renew your SAFE membership, I say THANK YOU. To those whose membership is coming up for renewal soon, I ask you to continue your support and to the extent possible, to become more involved in volunteer opportunities.

 

Speaking of volunteer opportunities, the SAFE Membership Committee is currently seeking another member who has expertise in marketing and/or advertising. If you think you might be the right person to fill this position, please contact me!

 

What began as a straightforward 10-mile ferry flight might never have gotten off the ground. The pilot, dealing with distractions during taxi, found himself on a runway without a clearance. And he learned a valuable lesson -- it can happen to anybody, even a high-time military and civilian pilot who's flown to the moon!

Read Eugene A. Cernan's story, "It Can Happen to You: A Runway Incursion Confession," in the fall issue of FAA Safety Briefing. Find it in the FAA/NTSB section of the Members-Only Resource Center.

The Member Section of SAFE's Resource Centers is an exclusive benefit for all who join. To make the most of YOUR membership, take advantage of the wide variety of instructional tools you'll find there. New resources are posted regularly, and you are encouraged to submit materials to the Resource Centers as well. Visit http://www.safepilots.org/resource-center/member-resource-center/ to learn more.

 

 

 Eight SAFE members participated on the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group (ATSTWG), which concluded its work in September. The  final report from the ATSTWG was accepted by the ARAC and passed on to the FAA just before the government shutdown, and is now available for public review.

 

The report contains specific recommendations for the adoption and implementation of an Airman Certification System, including standards, guidance and testing recommendations on effectively managing the system through both stakeholder participation and a comprehensive Quality Management System. The recommendations include:

• Transitioning from Practical Test Standards to Airman Certification Standards for the purpose of aligning and integrating all of the training and testing associated with earning an airman certificate
• Improvements to the FAA Knowledge Exams and FAA guidance documents such as handbooks and Advisory Circulars.
• A coding system that will provide applicants, instructors, and examiners with the ability to accurately identify areas of deficiencies in knowledge, skills, and risk management.

The FAA will publish Notice of this Final Report in the Federal Register in the near future, and we hope you will take that opportunity to comment on the recommendations and draft documents.

 

Until then, SAFE encourages you to review the recommendations, which will impact everyone involved in the aviation training community.

 

Not only have SAFE members provided considerable input to the creation of the proposed Airman Certification Standards proposed by the ATSTWG, but they also have served on the Knowledge Test Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) that led to the creation of the ACS.

 

These are not the only areas where SAFE members have been effective in advocating for improved aviation safety. For example, members also participate under the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC) on the Statistical Analysis Team (SAT) and in the first two Loss of Control Work Groups (LOCWG).

 

SAFE has now been invited to serve on the third LOCWG. Further, in recognition of SAFE's leadership role in aviation education and safety, Executive Director Doug Stewart has been invited to represent SAFE on the GAJSC itself!

 

The GAJSC is tasked with Strategic Guidance; Management/Approval of the Safety Plan; Providing Direction; Overseeing Membership Outreach; and Providing Linkage to the FAA Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) System.