SAFE_Banner_Logo
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators eNewsletter  
IN THIS ISSUE
Flight Instructor Open Forum
SAFE is Raising the Bar
Article Headline
Article Headline
Now in the Resource Center
Recent Master Instructors
ENEWS SPONSORS

FlyingMag.com

RedBird
Lightspeed Headsets
LightspeedAviation.com


sportys.com



Aviation Insurance Resources logo
SAFE's Exclusive CFI
Liability Insurance Program

Master_Instructors
 MasterInstructors.org

   SAFE_Logo

Become an

eNews Sponsor!


Have your logo & a link to
your website placed here

QUICK LINKS

SUBSCRIBE to eNEWS
Join Our Mailing List

Or text SAFE to 22828
(messaging and data
rates may apply)
 
January 2014 

SAFE represents more than 800 of the industry's top aviation educators in 49 states and nine foreign countries, including the majority of Master Instructors and numerous General Aviation Awards winners in all four awards categories. SAFE developed and is now offering Regional Pilot Proficiency Projects across the U.S.

 

Flight Instructor Open Forum Series Continues to Expand
 

The FAASTeam has accepted the most recent power point presentation created by SAFE for the Flight Instructor Open Forum series of seminars. Entitled: "Preparing For The Unexpected: Managing the "Startle Response" in Emergency and Abnormal Events", it is the thirteenth seminar in the ongoing series. 

 

These quarterly seminars are intended primarily for the CFI and DPE community. By using trigger questions designed to engage participants in open dialogue, guided discussions can ensue leading to ongoing sharing and learning by all who take part. The topics for these presentations are predicated on the safety enhancements arising out of the work of the Loss of Control Work Group (LOCWG) chartered by the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee. 

 

SAFE has exclusive permission from the FAASTeam to make all the presentations in the series available to SAFE members. Members can access these presentations in the resource center. The FAASTeam has additionally given SAFE the authority for members to offer these presentations to the general aviation pilot community.

 

The next forum topic assigned by the FAASTeam is "Teaching Aeronautical Decision Making". If this is a subject that you are passionate about, and if you are willing, and have the requisite expertise, to create a power point presentation and presenter's guide on this topic please contact Doug Stewart for more details.


Safe is Raising the Bar

Dear Editor,

 

As a master flight instructor friend of mine observed, SAFE is where you'll find the people really serious about improving flight training.  My experience with the organization has borne that out.  In addition to the normal member benefits you would expect from a professional group, like insurance, discounts, etc. the real value of SAFE to me and to the future of aviation is the willingness of its members to take bold initiatives to improve safety and raise piloting competence.  We all are aware of the forces pressing on general aviation but SAFE is actually doing something about them.  The Pilot Proficiency Project has excellent reviews from its first sessions.  The SAFE resource center, available to members, is a valuable trove of materials to use in flight training and other aviation subjects.  SAFE is rewarding the outstanding work of primary and secondary school teachers with educational grants to enrich their student's understanding of flight.  SAFE is democratically governed and very open to involvement by its members.  If you want to join the effort toward improving the profession of aviation, SAFE is the place for you.

 

Respectfully yours,

William "Bill" Wilson, CFI

Melbourne, FL

FAA Selects Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research and Test Sites

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced the selection of the six public entities that will develop unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research and test sites around the country. These congressionally-mandated test sites will conduct critical research into the certification and operational requirements necessary to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace over the next several years.

 

Today, UAS perform border and port surveillance, help with scientific research and environmental monitoring, support public safety by law enforcement agencies, help state universities conduct research, and support various other missions for government entities.

 

In selecting the six test site operators, the FAA considered geography, climate, location of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, safety, aviation experience and risk. In totality, these six test applications achieve cross-country geographic and climatic diversity and help the FAA meet its UAS research needs.

 

A brief description of the six test site operators and the research they will conduct into future UAS use are below:

 

University of Alaska. The University of Alaska proposal contained a diverse set of test site range locations in seven climatic zones as well as geographic diversity with test site range locations in Hawaii and Oregon.

The research plan includes the development of a set of standards for unmanned aircraft categories, state monitoring and navigation. Alaska also plans to work on safety standards for UAS operations.

 

State of Nevada. Nevada's project objectives concentrate on UAS standards and operations as well as operator standards and certification requirements. The applicant's research will also include a concentrated look at how air traffic control procedures will evolve with the introduction of UAS into the civil environment and how these aircraft will be integrated with NextGen. Nevada's selection contributes to geographic and climatic diversity.

 

New York's Griffiss International Airport. Griffiss International plans to work on developing test and evaluation as well as verification and validation processes under FAA safety oversight. The applicant also plans to focus its research on sense and avoid capabilities for UAS and its sites will aid in researching the complexities of integrating UAS into the congested, northeast airspace.

 

North Dakota Department of Commerce. North Dakota plans to develop UAS airworthiness essential data and validate high reliability link technology. This applicant will also conduct human factors research. North Dakota's application was the only one to offer a test range in the Temperate (continental) climate zone and included a variety of different airspace which will benefit multiple users.

 

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. Texas A&M plans to develop system safety requirements for UAS vehicles and operations with a goal of protocols and procedures for airworthiness testing. The selection of Texas A&M contributes to geographic and climactic diversity.

 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Virginia Tech plans to conduct UAS failure mode testing and identify and evaluate operational and technical risks areas. This proposal includes test site range locations in both Virginia and New Jersey.

 

Across the six applicants, the FAA is confident that the agency's research goals of System Safety & Data Gathering, Aircraft Certification, Command & Control Link Issues, Control Station Layout & Certification, Ground & Airborne Sense & Avoid, and Environmental Impacts will be met.

 

"These test sites will give us valuable information about how best to ensure the safe introduction of this advanced technology into our nation's skies," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

 

The FAA's role in the UAS program is to help the test site operators set up a safe testing environment and to provide oversight that ensures the sites operate under strict safety standards.

 

"Safety continues to be our first priority as we move forward with integrating unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. airspace," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "We have successfully brought new technology into the nation's aviation system for more than 50 years, and I have no doubt we will do the same with unmanned aircraft."

 

The FAA has established requirements for each test site that will help protect privacy. The requirements were developed with public input and the final requirements were published on November 14, 2013 in the Federal Register. This followed the February Federal Register notice that asked for public comments on the draft privacy requirements for the six test site operators. Among other requirements, test site operators will be required to comply with federal, state, and other laws protecting an individual's right to privacy; have publicly available privacy policies and a written plan for data use and retention; and conduct an annual review of privacy practices that allows for public comment.

 

On November 7, the FAA released its first annual Roadmap (http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/media/UAS_Roadmap_2013.pdf) outlining efforts needed to safely integrate UAS into the nation's airspace system. The Roadmap addresses current and future policies, regulations, technologies and procedures that will be required as demand moves the country from today's limited accommodation of UAS operations to the extensive future integration of UAS into the NextGen aviation system.

 

As required in the 2012 FAA Reauthorization, the Joint Planning and Development Office has developed a comprehensive plan to safely accelerate the integration of civil UAS into the national airspace system. That plan details a multi-agency approach to safe and timely UAS integration and coordination with the NextGen shift to satellite-based technologies and new procedures.

For more information go to http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/.

NTSB GA Safety Alerts -- Teaching Tools for CFIs
By SAFE Member Kurt Reesman
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Safety Alert is a brief information sheet that pinpoints a particular safety hazard and offers practical remedies to address the issue. The NTSB issued five new Safety Alerts in December - these five provide instructors with accident prevention strategies. Here are 
the five Safety Alerts issued in December:

 

  • Check Your Restraints
  • Engine Power Loss Due to Carburetor Icing
  • "Armed" for Safety: Emergency Locator Transmitters
  • All Secure, All Clear (securing items in the aircraft cabin)
  • Proper Use of Fiber or Nylon Self-Locking Nuts

 

These most recent Safety Alerts follow five others, issued in March, which focus on the most frequent types of general aviation accidents. A complete list of all Safety Alerts can be found at http://go.usa.gov/2BeA. This list also includes five short video Safety Alerts that you may find useful.

 

Between March and December, the NTSB announced the current "Most Wanted List." This list highlights the Board's priorities for increasing awareness of, and support for, the most critical changes needed to reduce transportation accidents. Unfortunately, General Aviation (GA) was included on the most recent list.

 

Regarding GAs inclusion on the "Most Want List," the NTSB states, "In many cases, pilots did not have the adequate knowledge, skills, or recurrent training to fly safely, particularly in questionable weather conditions. In addition, the more sophisticated 'glass' cockpit displays present a new layer of complications for general aviation pilots. And not only are pilots dying due to human error and inadequate training, but also they are frequently transporting their families who suffer the same tragic fate."

 

They go on to say, "In our general aviation accident investigations, the NTSB sees similar accident circumstances time after time. Adequate education and training and screening for risky behavior are critical to improving general aviation safety. For example, guidance materials should include information on the use of Internet, satellite, and other data sources for obtaining weather information. Training materials should include elements on electronic primary flight displays, and pilots should have access to flight simulators that provide equipment-specific electronic avionics displays. Knowledge tests and flight reviews should test for awareness of weather, use of instruments, and use of 'glass' cockpits. And there should be a mechanism for identifying at-risk pilots and addressing risks so that both the pilot and passengers can safely fly."

 

This is where we come in. Armed with this NTSB information, as instructors, one of our New Year's resolutions might consider how we could include NTSB Safety Alert subjects, as well as those General Aviation safety areas identified in the "Most Wanted List," into our lesson plans. If each instructor can do a small part by bringing attention to these areas of concern, then we may see significant improvements in the GA safety statistics. More importantly, we may save the lives of many people involved in these accidents. Fly safe!

Featured in the Members Only Resource Center

This month's feature: Holding Patterns 101

Holding procedures have long been a part of IFR training and currency, but they're usually taught as part of a lesson about instrument approaches. How about an entire class exploring the hold and the effects of wind in detail? SAFE member Les Glatt takes a whole new look at holds in his multi-part presentation, Holding Patterns 101.

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.

 

Recent Master Instructor Designations
Congratulations to these SAFE members!
 
Richard William "Rich" BARCLAY, Master CFI     
Elbert  CO
E-mail:   FFRichDana@msn.com 
 
Richard W Barclay, a 4-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Rich is a flight instructor as well as a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP) with Independence Aviation at Denver's Centennial Airport (APA).  He specializes in Cirrus, Diamond, and other technically advanced aircraft training and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Denver FSDO area.  
(Photo:  MCFI  Rich Barclay of Elbert, CO)  


Robert Kloman "Bob" GAWLER, Master CFI   
Bethesda  MD 
E-mail:   TreborAV8@gmail.com
Robert K Gawler, an 8-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Bob is an independent flight instructor at Montgomery County Airpark (GAI).  He also works with the Civil Air Patrol and serves as a FAASTeam representative as well as a pilot examiner (DPE) in the FAA's Baltimore FSDO area.   (Photo:  MCFI  Bob Gawler of Bethesda, MD)



Beverly Jean RUNNER, Master CFI   
Lakeside  CA 
E-mail:   HWRunner@earthlink.net 
Jean Runner, a 6-time Master and charter SAFE member, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus
 (MIE) 
status in recognition of her many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education.  Jean is an independent flight instructor 

Frank WAGENER, Master CFI-Aerobatic     
Gilbert  AZ
E-mail:   Frank.Wagener@APSTraining.com
 
Frank Wagener, a 1st-time Master as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.  A graduate of the German Air Force Academy, Frank is an instructor pilot with APS Emergency Maneuver Training (www.APSTraining.com), a Part 141 flight school at Mesa's Williams Gateway Airport (IWA).  He specializes in upset recovery, spin, and aerobatic training.   
(Photo:  MCFI-A Frank WagenerJon Counsell of Del Rio, TX)


 
Doug
Have a SAFE New Year!


Doug Stewart, Executive Director
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators
 
Copyright SAFE, Inc. 2014. All rights reserved.
SAFE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Public Charity

Editor@SafePilots.org -- Safe@SafePilots.org -- www.SafePilots.org