Volume 10 | July 2019

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 more than 2,000 members include many of the best-known, best-credentialed and most experienced CFIs and many Designated Pilot Examiners. Join SAFE now! Donate to SAFE (tax deductible)

Lifetime SAFE member Mike Vivion, SAFE ED David St George , Kelly and AOPA CEO Mark Baker were some of the many who visited the SAFE booth at the Livermore CA AOPA Fly-In last month. SAFE will also participate in the last AOPA Fly-In of the year, September 13-14 at Tullahoma TN.

Register Now For First SAFE CFI-PRO™ KFDK October 2 And 3 Two-Day Class: $375

SAFE's initial SAFE CFI-PRO™ Clinic is set for Wednesday, October 2 and Thursday, October 3 at the AOPA Learn to Fly Center on the Frederick, MD airport. The two-day classroom tuition is only $375 and includes top-level learning from a team of the country's best aviation educators, led by SAFE founding member Rich Stowell, AKA "the spin doctor" and industry expert at the NTSB Loss of Control hearings (YouTube). Discounted rooms are planned at both Marriott and Hilton (pilots love points) and a dinner with AOPA people Oct. 2nd at the National Aviation Community Center. The focus of the SAFE CFI-PRO™ workshop is on improving aviation educator professionalism and increasing understanding of basic flight dynamics. The course includes SAFE ' Envelope Expansion' maneuvers. These are skill-building techniques that can (and should) be flown in any Part 23 trainer. "By improving aviation educators, we hope to move the needle on Loss of Control accidents" said St. George. He cited as a model the 60% reduction in accidents achieved by the Orlando FSDO CFI Special Emphasis Program. "The course will include Rich's "Learn to Turn" content,:" said St George. "That's because it's those basic issues that are central to Loss Of Control - Inflight, still the leading cause of fatal GA crashes." The weekly SAFEblog has covered many of the critical topics that will be handled in detail. "When we bring a CFI from good to great that can be a brand new CFI seeking the next level of professionalism, or a somewhat rusty long-time CFI looking for motivation and new ideas," he continued. "Our goal is to turbo-charge aviation educators, providing ideas and resources to improve and expand the skill and knowledge of every pilot flying."

More information here only 69 openings left in this first workshop!

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Oshkosh Bound July 21-28 Visit SAFE In Double Booth B 2093/4 "Help Us Celebrate Our 10th Birthday"

SAFE is exhibiting at AirVenture 2019, as you would expect, but this year is special. The organization is celebrating its 10th birthday, so balloons, party hats and slices of cake are possible at SAFE's annual member meeting and dinner at Oshkosh this year. To help celebrate the organization's spectacular growth - now north of 2,100 of some of the most knowledgeable and experienced CFIs and FAA DPEs in the nation - SAFE will be occupying a lavish double suite in hangar B at Oshkosh, spaces 2093 and 2094. As always, we need volunteers to help staff the booth. Benefits include free admission to AirVenture for the day and fun and networking with fellow CFIs and industry figures. SAFE was founded during Oshkosh 2009 to improve instructor knowledge and professionalism. It (and the pilot shortage) is raising the stature of the profession and reducing GA accident rates, of which 75 percent are judged "pilot error." The organization's latest push is the SAFE CFI-PROficiency (tm) Clinic, October 2-3 in Frederick MD. aimed at filling the knowledge gaps all CFIs have, moving CFIs from good to great.   The annual SAFE Member Meeting and Dinner is at the Wittman Field terminal on Thursday, July 25th, at 6 PM to socialize and 7 PM to eat. Dinner and desert is just $7,00, and major prizes donated by SAFE's generous supporters will be raffled off, "Here's a hint," said SAFE Executive Director David St George, "one of the door prizes is a new Lightspeed headset." Register here for the member dinner and annual meeting.

SAFE Board Gains Hart Hake, Dara Re-Elected

Joshua Hart of El Paso TX was elected to the SAFE Board of Directors in the 2019 election. Current directors Eric Hake and Parvez Dara were re-elected to three-year terms. Online voting ran June 1 - 10. Members are elected to three-year terms, staggered so three Board seats are up each year on the nine-member Board. One of SAFE's founding principles is continued member control of the organization. "We're lucky to get someone with Joshua's background and talent," said David St George, SAFE Executive Director. "He's eager to work with SAFE members." Like all SAFE Directors, Joshua is a volunteer.

Clearances Direct More CD Phone Access

A fondly-remembered part of aviation history is flickering to a close as ATC clearances relayed through an FSS dwindle. It's all part of a plan to increase efficiency of the National Airspace System Getting a clearance relayed is fraught with chances for mis-understood or mis-copied directions, so the Flight Service NAS Efficient Streamlined Services (FSNESS) initiative is installing direct-access phone numbers to clearance delivery positions rather than to FSSs. There are now direct clearance delivery phone numbers published for more than 600 public-use airports nationwide, and the number is growing. Eventually, the "can they give me a 15 minute window instead of 10?" dance with the FSS will be just another colorful part of aviation history. However, you can still get a clearance through the FSS for now, say FAA officials.

NTSB AK Roundtable Set Part 135 Safety In The Crosshairs

In a public display of support for embattled flight school operators beset by two recent high-profile seaplane crashes, the NTSB will host a roundtable in Anchorage AK in September specifically focused on Part 135 safety. NTSB Chair Robert Sumwalt will facilitate a discussion among Alaska-based Part 135 operators, safety experts, flight associations, and the FAA about ways to improve the safety of Part 135 aircraft flight operations, an issue in the Board's 2019-2020 Most Wanted List . "Since 2008, we have investigated 182 accidents involving fixed-wing scheduled/non-scheduled Part 135 operations in Alaska, resulting in 74 fatalities," said an NTSB spokesperson. "Unique terrain, challenging weather, and congested airspace are factors, but available solutions exist for mitigating Part 135 risks. Identifying them and putting them to work to save lives is the goal of this roundtable."

Two ATP ACS Webinars Left Live Streaming onJuly 10 and July 24

The last of four free webinars to introduce the new ATP-Airplane ACS to CFIs and DPEs will be held from noon to 2 PM EDT, July 10 and July 24. Register here. A previously-recorded ACS Explained webinar explains the general difference between the Practical Test Standards and the new ACS standards, while the new webinars specifically address the various areas of operations, tasks, elements and appendices for the ATP-Airplane ACS. The latest in the series of Airman Certification Standards publications (ATP) is now available on the FAA web site and will be effective June 28. The concept of ACS orginated at a SAFE-sponsored symposium in Atlanta in 2009 on problems in the flight instruction industry.

AI In The Right Seat? Artificial Intelligence CFI Now Available For Two PC Flight Sims

A CFI can save his or her student training time and cost and teach more effectively with new artificial intelligence software, claims TakeFlight Interactive, a four-year-old company based in Seattle. Company owner Brandon Seltz explained that the system, which works only with Microsoft Flight Simulator X (Steam Edition) or the Lockheed-Martin Prepar3d with the A2A Simulations C172 add-on, allows a new student to practice basic flight maneuvers at home on his own time, before meeting his CFI for a flight. "Imagine your flight students being able to learn each maneuver at home, to ACS standards, before even meeting with his/her flight instructor," he said. TakeFlight Interactive has the first two stages of training, 'fundamentals of flying' and 'pre-solo" available for purchase at an 'early access' cost of $60 for both.

AOPA Flight Training Survey See How You Rate As A CFI

AOPA's annual Flight Training Experience Survey is available until noon July 31. Results help identify and monitor trends in flight training, and reward top CFIs and flight schools with national recognition. The survey solicits input from students and pilots who have taken flight training, asking about their experience with the school or CFI. To be eligible, the school or CFI must receive at least five valid entries. Awards will be given to the best flight school and best instructor in each of the six FAA regions. Each regional winner will receive a Zulu 3 headset, compliments of SAFE backer Lightspeed.

Last Call For PPP Volunteers Volunteer now for Pilot Proficiency Program

Volunteer CFIs are still needed for Airventure 2019's EAA Pilot Proficiency Center, which will operate Monday July 22 to Sunday, July 28. Admission to AirVenture 2019 is paid, lodging is available and lunch may be provided volunteers. SAFE and NAFI members may complete the sign-up form here. The public service outreach, with a variety of flight simulation scenarios, allows pilots to improve their skills under the watchful eye of a SAFE or NAFI member at the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center. This joint outreach at each year's AirVenture is staffed solely by SAFE and NAFI members. David St George, SAFE Executive Director, said, "It's not easy, but many of the volunteers say it's the best fun they've had in years and keep coming back."

Free Drone Webinars FAA Sponsored-Education Series July-Sept

Four free FAA webinars on various aspects of flying drones are scheduled for July, August and September. Registrations open two weeks before the scheduled webinar date. All are set to begin at 4 PM ET. July 18: What is the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability? August 1: How to navigation UAS facility maps. August 13: How to use the FAA Drone App. September 12: How public safety agencies can fly drones during emergencies. Participating in the webinars requires GoToWebinar software on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Once registered for the webinar, you will receive a unique URL for admittance on the day of the event.

SAFE Sponsors ‌

New Focused Flight Review Maximizes Benefit. And it's FREE! The Focused Flight Review series from AOPA's AIr Safety Institute is offering well-thought-out, simple programs to maximize the benefit of a flight review. It's free for both client and CFI. The step-by-step guides available so far include: Positive Aircraft Control Weather and CFI Fuel, Engine and Other Systems Instrument Proficiency, Takeoffs Landings and Go-Arounds Mountain and BackCountry Flying Seaplanes. A client picks a profile to work on and shares that profile with his CFI. The client reviews the preflight materials, flies the filght review with the CFI and learns more than he probably thought possible. "Sadly, many pilots still think of a flight review as something to be endured as lightly as possible," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communicatnions Director. "Those students won't like this approach ASI has devised, but those serious about using a review to improve their skills will love it." FAA Hears Droning Sound Pressure Ramps Up From Commercial Operators The Wall Street Journal reports that the FAA and European regulatory agencies are being pressured by commercial drone manufacturers and operators for further drone access in congested areas where they could interfere with training and other commercial and military aircraft. "We hear the urgency from all our applicants," said Jay Merkle of the FAA. All FAA ACSs Updated Current ACS Change Notices Issued As part of SAFE's efforts to promote CFI safety and professionalism, we note that the "Change 1" versions of all the current Airman Certificate Standards documents are now available. The changes - all considered minor - are shown just before the Table of Contents page in each ACS publication, with links to the affected section. ACS publications with Change 1 are Private Pilot-Airplane, Instrument Rating-Airplane, Commercial Pilot-Airplane and ATP-Airplane. "Nothing urgent in these," said David St George. "Just routine fixes for a host of small mistakes, typos and an occasional information 'oops.'"

July SAFE CFI Poll It's been a year since PSI CATS won the FAA contract for nationwide testing centers. At the time, SAFE expressed fears that award could lead to relocation of airport testing centers, perhaps to more distant downtown locations. So this month's poll question is:

Is FAA testing center availability now better or worse than a year ago? Better. More convenient access for FAA tests now. Select The same. FAA testing center hasn't moved recently. Select Worse. Testing center now significantly less convenient than a year ago. Select

Last Month's SAFE Poll Where Do You Instruct?

The four choices for answers in the June eNews survey were: 1) Large academic school, 3% 2) Large non-academic 7% 3) Local flight school 33% 4) Independent CFI 57% "The majority of SAFE members who answered the survey consider themselves independent CFIs, while another third were affiliated with a local flight school," said SAFE Executive Director David St George. "Only 10 percent were from the large flight training academies, academic or not."

"The Master Instructor accreditation singles out the best that the right seat has to offer." FAA Administrator Jane Garvey

Master Instructor Achievements

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.

Matt Johnson, MCFI-H

Matthew Johnson of Hamilton OH, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI-Helicopter accreditation May 31 through Master Instructors LLC    A full time air medical pilot, Matt also operates MattJohnsonHeliCFI where he provides emergency procedures and instrument training in several makes and models of helicopters.  Matt also serves as a check airman, an FAA designated pilot examiner (DPE) and a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Cincinnati (CVG) FSDO.

Paul Weston "BJ" Ransbury, MCFI

Paul "BJ" Ransbury of Queen Creek AZ, a 7-time Master as well as SAFE and IAC member, renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation May 31 through  Master Instructors LLC .   BJ is a widely published author, speaker and internationally recognized expert in Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) as well as fighter aviation, stall / spin awareness, aerobatics, and loss of control intervention training.  He is the president & CEO of Aviation Performance Solutions LLC , a Part 61 and Part 141 flight school at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) , along with several other national and international venues.