SAFE eNews
The Monthly Bulletin of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators
SAFE is a 501(c)(3) educational, not-for-profit professional organization building aviation educator excellence and aviation safety. Our nearly 3,000 members include many of the best-known, best-credentialed and most experienced CFIs and many FAA Designated Pilot Examiners.
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Hope for the future of GA and flight instruction springs eternal. These historic photos of
Aviation Explorers Post 62 from Ithaca NY,
show youth actively involved in local flying. Both photos were from the pre-Covid era. An Ithaca-area local foundation still awards aviation scholarships to deserving individuals learning to fly at the local flying club.
This Explorer Post 62 outing featured a lovely WACO owned by long-time SAFE member Brent Chidsey. At the event, SAFE member Larry Baum (right), who usually flies an Aerostar, conferred with Jim Wells, noted aerobatic judge who had just sold his
Giles.
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SAFE Annual Meeting
Tuesday August 18th
Zoom In For 'State Of SAFE' Address
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SAFE's annual meeting, a historically jovial event held Thursday evening at AirVenture in the terminal, will be attempted online this year, using Zoom. It will start at 8 PM EDT on Tuesday, August 18.
Please sign up now to enter questions and comments and receive a login/password by e-mail before our annual meeting.
This meeting will be recorded and available later for SAFE members on the website. Like all professional organizations, SAFE has been limited in personal contact, especially since both Sun 'N Fun and Oshkosh were "virtualized" this year. "Yes, we all look forward to when we can actually meet in person," said David St George, SAFE Executive Director.
Though SAFE regularly reports to members on the "state of SAFE," St George urged members to "gather and share in real time;
enter your questions and comments on the form." This year our amazing treasurer, Parvez Dara will have a better forum to share his data than last year on a Mac Laptop," he continued.
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First 'Virtual' AirVenture
SAFE Adds Value To Week
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There were no sunburned shoulders or muddy shoes at this year's AirVenture, sadly. However, the
SAFE Booth (#2093) received many visits and views of the videos and PDF content offered throughout the week.
The
EAA Pilot Proficiency Center continues it's evolution into a year-round
EAA Proficiency 365 model. This year the proficiency center beta-tested the remote simulator model offering instruction to over 20 participants using
Redbird Connect to supply FAA WINGS-approved training. Former SAFE Board member Mike Phillips taught a client in Long Island from California with the new software. This training validated the evolution of the Pilot Proficiency model and opened up opportunities for pilots all over the country.
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As part of the virtual EAA Pilot Proficiency outreach, many pilots got involved flew the actual Oshkosh Fisk Arrival
virtually with
Pilot Edge in real time. At least some of the actual ATC controllers on the virtual ATC service work each year at Oshkosh.
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Now that the virtual AirVenture2020 is over, wouldn't you like to get involved with SAFE? If you are interested in serving on a committee or running for the board of directors next year, please
get in touch ASAP!
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Checkride Ready!™ Added
FREE SAFE Toolkit Gets Better And Better
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The
SAFE app
that has everything a CFI needs for professional flight instruction now includes comprehensive guidance for applicants preparing for their checkrides at various levels.
The original target audience for the "Toolkit App" was CFIs, providing all the necessary resources in one place to accurately prepare and recommend a student for testing.
Checkride Ready!™ takes this process a step further aiming directly at the applicant and revealing specific stumbling blocks DPEs mention as "problem areas."
Simple and avoidable problems often make the testing process difficult and uncomfortable for the applicant - like the common problem of not having the IACRA Login/PW available the FAA application can be signed (must be done in the DPE's presence). Another commonly mentioned problem is never having ever done (much less practiced) a
turning stall, which is in the private pilot ACS. This leads to the unhappy admonition “I guess this will be your first one.”
“Checkride Ready!™” prevents these surprises.
The
continuously updated SAFE Toolkit App is free in both Android and iOS formats. It includes quick reference guides for instructor endorsements, Test Codes Key, ACS/PTS/FAR/AIM, Tail Number Lookups, FAA Wings Decoder and more.
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"Transformative Insurance"
From SAFE Sponsor Starr
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SAFE Instructors now can get discounts on their CFI liability insurance premiums. Certain FAA WINGS participants also qualify when the insurance is purchased through
AIR at KFDK. Every insurance agent is a pilot.
"Only
SAFE CFI insurance from Starr Insurance covers you in everything you're rated to fly," said David St George, SAFE Executive Director.
Starr Insurance wrote the basic
SAFE CFI liability policy at the organization's founding 10 years ago and has improved it through the years. The policy also provides professional errors and omissions coverage for DPEs for significantly lower premiums, with one DPE reported saving $5,000 per year savings by switching to SAFE.
In addition, Starr has just introduced the new
StarrGate App that allows online binding and a a special
CloudAhoy link that allows pilots to win up to
35% discount for safe flying. For pilots uncertain of their flying schedule, renter's insurance is available on a month-by-month basis. The SAFE policy is only available to members.
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Free Redbird 'Connect'
Enables Remote Instruction
Used During AirVenture2020
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Simulator manufacturer Redbird last month debuted a remote flight instruction package that they say allows CFIs to instruct in and control any Redbird simulated flight session from home. Or from anywhere, the company says, just in time to allow CFIs to continue working despite COVID shutdowns.
The
Connect software system was used last week at the
EAA Pilot Proficiency Center to deliver over 20 instructional sessions during AirVenture2020. The software on the CFI's laptop allows the instructor to start, pause and end flights on the remote simulator, track flights with a split screen PDF and moving map and set and adjust weather, equipment failures, time and position.
Both the student and instructor need a reliable internet connection and a third-party video conferencing application. A
SAFE Blog entry in July described the remote learning system as a new professional opportunity for CFIs.
It's free to CFIs, enabling remote control of the web-based version of Redbird’s OS, called Redbird Navigator. An update for Navigator is required, but the remote control will work with any Redbird that has Navigator. Instructions for the software are
available here.
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CFI Employment Help Free
JSfirm Steps Up For Pilots, CFIs
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At least one aviation-oriented employment company is offering some of its services to CFIs and other pilots for free. Included are resume reviews and daily job alerts.
Users submit their resumes through a free account on the company’s website for review by one of
JSfirm's professional member advocates, who will rate its effectiveness. For job seekers needing extra assistance, additional resume services are available for purchase.
The company is also offering free Daily Job Alerts during this period of economic uncertainty. "(They're)...a fantastic way for job seekers to be sure they don’t miss jobs that are relevant to them in the locations they want to work,” JSfirm's Executive Director Abbey Hutter averred.
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New SAFE Member Benefit:
Popular "Pink Slip" Reports
First Edition On Private and IFR "Orals"
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Late last month, SAFE revealed a new series of reports that assemble opinions from FAA Designated Flight Examiners (DPEs) on why pilots fail checkrides. It's called
"The Pink Slip Report" on the
SAFE blog site.
The first of
Pink Slip Reports focus on the Private Pilot and Instrument Pilot checkrides. They include a virtual checklist of areas where applicants most often earn themselves a pink slip from the examiner. Many of the examples fall under "not well enough prepared," with basic knowledge missing. The blogs includes examples, a few horrifying.
Pink Slip Reports will be posted as they are developed for other certificates and ratings, and will be added to SAFE's CFI Toolkit regularly.
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FlightAware Adds Data
Current Traffic, Biz Av Arrivals. It's Free.
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Flight Aware, the ADS-B tracking service often used by CFIs to watch students going cross-country and by FBOs to track inbound traffic, is adding three dashboard displays, company officials announced last week. For subscribers, there is no additional cost. The three displays are:
- Current traffic in near-real time, with the breakdown of commercial, GA, business flights and cargo flights.
- Global arrivals per day separating the number of commercial and business aviation flights in the last week.
- Trends from last week, including changes in flight activity, most flown aircraft, and busiest airport.
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Relaxing, Or A Health Hazard?
SAFE Asks Members, Music Or No?
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What would you tell pilot seeking your guidance about listening to music, or a recorded book, or radio show while flying?
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Sure, listening to tunes while flying is fine.
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It's OK if VFR, X-C outside of congested airspace.
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Only OK in limited circumstances, such as a NORDO flight.
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No, never. It's distracting. Non-professional. No.
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News A CFI Might Find Useful
Or not.....
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Two-Seat Flying Cars
Molt Taylor's Aerocar Redeaux?
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Japanese startup
SkyDrive
expects to publicly demonstrate its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft sometime this month.
The futuristic vehicle, described by one pilot as "an upside-down Enterprise starship" is designed to carry a pilot and one passenger at about 37 mph for about 18 miles. The company believes "aerial tourism" and island-hopping will be the main markets for the vehicle, though SkyDrive's Chief Technical Officer Nobuo Kishi notes that intra-city transport -- a longer-term goal -- will require infrastructure that cities haven't yet built.
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Pilots Still Wanted
AOPA Suggests Employment Strategies
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An
AOPA article published in July compiles opinions of long-time pilots, instructors and industry officials and has advice for CFIs and others looking for a job in these Covid times.
“Aspiring pilots need several alternatives, as the career path is no longer a straight line,” said Art Jacob, an ATP with numerous Boeing, Airbus, and Cessna Citation type ratings, Jacob is also an CFI who has owned several flight training operations. He added that demand for commercial air travel could take between two and four years to recover.
Pilot training company ATP noted that airline recruiters always look for the most qualified candidates, and failing to use Covid-19 downtime to build your potential is a mistake. “Pilots who start training now will have a jump start on building their hours," said a company spokesman, "so they will be considered first. Flight time is almost always king.”
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Corona Layoffs Hit Textron
Trainer Manufacturer Lays Off 1,100
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Textron Aviation last month laid off 800 employees, most of whom are in Wichita. The manufacturer of Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft also noted these layoffs will affect hourly production workers. That pushes total Textron layoffs since the beginning of the Coronavirus-19 economic malaise to more than 1,100.
Textron had previously disclosed plans to eliminate nearly 2,000 jobs in three business segments, including manufacturing, specialized vehicles and flight simulation.
Before the layoffs, Textron Aviation employed nearly 10,000 in Kansas and 12,500 companywide.
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"The Master Instructor accreditation singles out the best that the right seat has to offer."
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey
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Master Instructor Achievements
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The Master Instructor designation is a national FAA-recognized professional accreditation and parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to increase their professionalism. The designation must be renewed biennially and significantly surpasses the FAA requirements for renewal of the candidate's flight instructor certificate. Of the 101,000 flight instructors in the US, fewer than 800 have earned the Master Instructor designation, and most are SAFE members.
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Dave Simpson has renewed his Master CFI designation for the 7th time, marking 14 years as a Master Instructor.
An active flight instructor with offices at KSEE, Dave owns a small flight school,
Take Flight San Diego. He is a Gold Seal CFI also affiliated with Plus One Flyers and Cirrus Aircraft.
Dave has been actively instructing for 15 years and is a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP). He owns two airplanes and manages a 2013 SR22T.
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Michael B. Traud of Gold River, California, a 9-time Master and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI accreditation in May, for 18 years as a Master Instructor.
A member of the Master Instructor Board of Review, Mike serves as a Designated Pilot Examiner in Northern California and operates MTAviation Services, LLC which provides aviation support and consultation services.
Additionally, Mike is a flight instructor providing annual recurrent training to support aviation insurance requirements. He is based at the Sacramento Mather (KMHR) Airport.
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Professor of Aviation Eric Shappee at Kansas State University Polytechnic has been designated a Master Flight Instructor for the eighth time, representing 16 years as a Master Instructor.
The long-time SAFE member has served as the Director of Flight Operations and Acting Department Head for the school's aviation department. Eric teaches numerous aviation courses, which include: Introduction to Aviation, Pilot Ground Schools, Aviation Safety, and Aviation Accident Investigation. In addition to his teaching he also serves as the Airman Certification Representative (ACR) for the Universities Part 141 program.
Eric holds a bachelors and a masters in aeronautical science and from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Eric Shappee has been flying since 1986, and teaching since 1995.
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Vicki Sherman of Deland FL last month renewed her Master CFI designation for the eighth time, for 16 years as a Master CFI. The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA.
Vicki has served as a FAASTeam Lead Representative for more than 30 years and an aviation educator for more than 40.
In 2011, she was named National FAASTeam Representative of the Year. As a flight instructor, safety counselor and speaker, she is committed to presenting programs for all pilots while advocating the involvement of youth and women in aviation.
The Master CFI Program is an essential part of SAFE's efforts to improve professionalism in flight instruction. For more information, see
Master Instructors.
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