SAFE_Banner_Logo
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators eNewsletter  
ENEWS SPONSORS
QUICK LINKS
SUBSCRIBE to eNEWS
July 2017

SAFE represents more than 1,400 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.  

Chair's Corner

by David St. George, SAFE Chair

David St George
Hi, SAFE members and friends!  Welcome to another great summer flying season.  Let's all work to be better and safer pilots and instructors.
 
Oshkosh is in the air , less than a month away! . Please see our SAFE Oshkosh Page and join us for aviation fun and learning in Oshkosh, Wisconsin July 24th-30th.  Sign up for our special SAFE dinner at the terminal.  We have a new caterer this year, by popular demand. This year, our dinner will be sharing space with the   Blue Angels, which I think more than justifies the $7.00 complete dinner ticket cost.  We'll also have a large raffle with several headsets and a lot of surprises. (We're still collecting the goodies.) Door prizes will be given away this year too, so please join the fun.

We would love more volunteer help at
our member booth.   Also, CFIs please volunteer at the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center!  You can get free admission to the OSH show, and SAFE will provide you a SAFE-branded shirt and name tag!   Stop by our SAFE booth Hangar B 2093 and 2094  and  sign-up to help.
 
We are very pleased to announce that SAFE will be livestreaming a lively webinar on CFI Professionalism on Wednesday, July 12 with Rod Machado, Greg Brown and myself. Many thanks to   Gold Seal Groundschool, which is making it possible for us to bring the free webinar to our members.  The interactive show will allow you to send your questions and comments using #askgoldseal on Facebook or Twitter.  Please register on the FAA website and join us for this show.
 
Thanks for all you do for SAFE. Please use the special SAFE discounts on the member page and support our generous sponsors.

SAFE First: CFI Professionalism Streamed
Sign Up NOW

On Wednesday, July 12, for the first time ever, SAFE is live-streaming a national FAA webinar exclusively for flight instructors.  

Titled "CFI Professionalism, Get Your Game On,"  the program will feature celebrity Master Instructors Rod Machado Greg Brown and FAA Designated Pilot Examiner David St. George.
 
The webinar starts at 8:00 PM EDT (0000Z) with live-streaming on the Facebook pages of both SAFE and   Gold Seal Groundschools, and on YouTube.  SAFE member Russ Still, owner of Gold Seal Groundschools, is sponsoring this event.  The webinar is an expansion of SAFE's original CFI/DPE professionalism, developed in 2011 by SAFE co-founder Doug Stewart and Rich Stowell.
 
Although not required, registration w ill assure one of the limited seats for this FAA CFI webinar.  It will also qualify you to ask questions and comment during the event, using #askgoldseal on FaceBook or Twitter. 
 

2017 K-12 Teacher Grant Applications Available


Many members may not be aware that SAFE sponsors a grant competition annually for K-12 classroom teachers.  The first two $250 grants were awarded in 2013.  In 2017, due to the generosity of two SAFE Board members, four $250 grants will be awarded. Two of the grants will go to a teacher in Grades K-7 and two will go to a teacher in Grades 8-12.
 
The 2017 K-12 Classroom Teacher Grant Application is available on the SAFE website.  The application deadline is August 31, 2017.
 

SAFE Bylaws Revisions Passed

During the annual SAFE Board member election in May, SAFE members also voted on some Bylaws revisions with an "up or down" vote.  The Bylaws revisions passed by a margin of 203 to 10.  The changes to the Bylaws make the daily operation of SAFE more effective and clarify some previous wording. 

The SAFE Board of Directors, along with the members of the SAFE Governance Committee, thank all members who took the time to vote in this year's election.

Blue Angels Expected At SAFE Membership Dinner 

SAFE's annual membership dinner during this year's AirVenture, Thursday, July 27, is expected to feature the Air Force Blue Angels jets on display on the ramp immediately next to the dining room.  

The group will fly their full practice schedule the following day from 4:00 - 5:00 PM, and again on Saturday at 5:00 PM.

"Register for the dinner now!" said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications. "When was the last time you could have a delicious dinner while admiring the Blue Angels jets?"  He added that a new caterer was selected for the dinner this year, based on feedback from last year's attendees.

This year's annual meeting dinner is just $7.00 for SAFE members, Door prizes from several of SAFE's best supporters will be called, and the dinner raffle has prizes including  several aviation headsets.

Airlines To Hire 70 New Pilots Per Day Over 10 Years
...and half haven't even started their training.

The latest study from CAE, the large Canada-based international flight training organization, says the airline industry will require more than a quarter-million new type-rated pilots over the next ten years to meet the demand.
 
"That's about 70 new hires PER DAY, 365 days a year," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications, "and about half of those quarter-million people haven't even started their flight training yet.  Professional, serious CFIs can be riding the crest of a big training wave."
 
Read more...

CFI Job Listings Free To SAFE Members

Among the dozens of places to look for an aviation job, search   SAFE's Job Opportunities section on the organization's website.  It is a button under the Members Only heading, and requires a login with user ID and password. 
 
Some of the job listings are for more than "just an instructor."  For instance, Cochise College in southeastern Arizona is currently advertising for a faculty member in its active aviation department.  Called "Instructor of Professional Flight," the position requires a CFII, third-class medical and at least three years of experience.  Starting salary is from $46,819 to $70,170, and the job includes membership in the Arizona State Retirement System with a pension, paid health insurance, dental insurance, tuition exemptions for employees and dependents and tuition reimbursement.
 

 
Ameriflight Joins UPS To Encourage Flight Interns
 
A joint training program to create new and better pilots for both Part 135 operator Ameriflight and giant UPS Airlines was announced June 12.  Called The Gateway Program, it allows pilots in the UPS Airlines Intern Program to earn Part 135 turbojet experience by flying for large cargo operator Ameriflight.
 
With more than 215 turbine twins, Ameriflight is the largest single feeder operator for UPS Airlines and DHL and a significant provider for Fed Ex.  The operation, which was founded in 1968 in Burbank CA as California Air Charter, flies seven large turboprop types more than 100,000 per year.  Aircraft include the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, Fairchild SA227 Metroliner/Expediter, Beech 1900 Amerifreighter and the Beech 99. flying cargo more than 100,000 hours per year.

The program serves to emphasize the sudden onslaught of the pilot shortage, which is already forcing regional passenger carriers and feeder freight operators to cut routes and limit expansion.

 
Pilot Proficiency Center Needs Volunteers


Professional CFIs are needed to volunteer for the 2017 AirVenture Pilot Proficiency Center .  As of now, the weekend of Friday, July 28-30 has the most opportunities (see chart).   During the week-long AirVenture, 36 CFIs PER DAY are needed.

The EAA Pilot Proficiency Center is open to all certificated pilots who want to improve their flying skills as well as to CFIs that want to improve their teaching skills. It will feature both IFR and stick and rudder flight challenges, seminar presentations called "tech talks" and instructor training.
 
The Center will operate Monday July 24th - Sunday July 30th in two 4-hour sessions each day: from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.  A special training session for volunteer CFIs is scheduled at the Center on Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
 
SAFE volunteers for the longer shifts at the Center will receive free admission to this year's AirVenture, as well as new SAFE-branded shirts and name tags.  Please volunteer now .

ACS Document Errors Found
SAFE Members Asked To Report

A number of SAFE members have noticed that some information in the new and updated Airman Certification Standards (ACS) is missing or incorrect.  
 
"If you see what appear to be mistakes in the latest versions of the ACS, please write them down, "said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications, "and send the information to Paul Cairns, Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at Embry Riddle and FAA ACS Working Group member."
 
Cairns is collecting the information and says he will send a consolidated list to the FAA. 

FAA Publishes Explanation of ACS Changes

An official explanation of the changes wrought by the new FAA Airman Certification Standards has been published by the FAA and made available on the internet as a PDF document.  

Called What's New and Upcoming in Airman Testing , it traces development of the FAA's thinking in adopting the ACS changes and explains why those changes were made.  It also provides updates on the implementation schedule and background on their development.
 
Earlier, the agency had issued a   Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) that largely addresses the way the FAA recommends way slow flight be taught in primary training.


Easy Open/Close For VFR Flight Plans Via Web, Email, Text

Users of the FAA's online Flight Service Station are now automatically registered for three new services that let pilots activate or close a VFR flight plans by email, and get emailed reminder notices if a VFR flight plan has not been closed.
 
The new service defaults to email, but users can change the notification service to text notifications.  On the FSS web site, click on the EasyActivate/EasyClose link at the top of the Pilot Dashboard. 
 
"What pilot hasn't at some point asked himself, 'did I close my VFR flight plan?'" said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications.  "Please point out this free new service out to your students."


SAFE Drone CFIs: NASAO Drone Talk Publishes

A fresh e-publication by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) is making it easier to keep track of news in the world of drones.    Subscriptions are free.
 
Called "Drone Talk," the publication is meant to keep directors of individual state aviation departments current on changes in drone manufacture, drone rules and drone use.  For SAFE members who are already drone CFIs or have an interest in the rapidly-growing activity, the articles provide an overview of current drone events and include links for more information.
 
A recent issue included updates on the FAA's UAS Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee; news of an expanded wildfire location data-sharing program for drone operators; suggestions for integrating drone operations into a company flight department;  development of a new 'splash and dash' UAV that can land and recharge on water; an article on how drones will be changing healthcare and a report on how drones are revolutionizing mapping for a South Carolina county government.

New SAFE Blog Entries
 
Teaching PIC Through Incremental Mastery.  Far too many freshly-minted private pilots emerge from flight training excessively timid and dependent, thanks to CFIs who teach dependence without meaning to.  Much like parenting, it is essential in flight training to continuously foster independence and allow small mistakes so clients can have a chance to figure out a new experience.
 
Managing Risk: Cleared For Take-Off.     Steve Rossiter, a life member of SAFE as well as an ATP and instructor with more than 50 years of experience in both helicopters and airplanes, discusses how intersection takeoffs can add to risk. "When I've talked to pilots about intersection departures, I hear all sorts of rationales: it's faster, costs less, it's not unsafe, it's not illegal, I do it all the time," says Rossiter.  "So why the discussion?"  Well worth reading.

Master Instructor Activity


Paul Weston "BJ" Ransbury of Q ueen Creek  AZ in June renewed his Master CFI - Aerobatic accreditation through Master Instructors LLC.

Ransbury is a 6-time Master as well as SAFE and IAC member.  He is the president and CEO of
Aviation Performance Solutions LLC , a Part 61 and 141 flight school at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and several other national and international venues.  He is a published author, speaker and internationally recognized expert in Upset Prevention and Recovery Training  as well as in fighter aviation, stall / spin awareness, aerobatics, and loss of control intervention training.



 Ann-Margaret "Meg" Godlewski, a 7-time double Master CFI and Master Ground Instructor and SAFE member, renewed her accreditations this month through Master Instructors, LLC.   Meg is a flight, ground, and Redbird FMX simulator instructor with Spana Flight Aviation  at Puyallup's Pierce County Airport - Thun Field (PLU) as well as  Kent's Crest Airpark (S36)  
 
A noted aviation writer and photographer, her articles regularly appear in Women in Aviation and AOPA's Flight Training magazines.  She was recently published in SAFE eNews with an article explaining why she found an airline career disappointing and returned to full-time flight instruction. 
 

Fly SAFE!


David St. George, Chair
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators
Copyright SAFE, Inc. 2017. All rights reserved.
SAFE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Public Charity

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