More than anyone, CFIs have both the opportunity and responsibility to assure their clients adopt an attitude of lifelong learning. Without this fundamental of flying, a learner might prepare for a check-ride under the guidance of a CFI and pass. But what happens after the check-ride, after earning a “license to learn”?

The FAA Safety Team created the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program specifically to provide free or low-cost proficiency training materials to all aviators. Supported by the largest assembly of training providers in the industry, the WINGS program has hosted over 781,000 Flight, Seminar, and Course activities in a 24-month period. The WINGS learning management system helps learners and instructors find courses and events while establishing a record of these safety-related learning experiences.

Recognizing that CFIs are key stakeholders in the value of providing this free program for their clients, and as an active means to reduce CFI liability, we offer these numbers to establish a baseline for growth opportunities.

Imagine the following scenario: You are a retired commercial helicopter pilot who no longer flies helicopters, and have not flown at all in more than two years. You may have even lost your medical certificate, as often happens to aging pilots. You still want to keep flying, and you discover the amazing world of gliders and soaring! You seek to have a Commercial Glider add-on category rating to your existing Commercial RH pilot certificate. You accomplish dual flight training with your glider instructor, and now it’s time to solo. Your instructor knows you need a flight review before he can endorse you to solo. According to a 2015 legal interpretation, you are supposed to first get a flight review in an aircraft for which you are already rated – in other words, the helicopter. Yikes! What’s a poor pilot to do?

The Orlando FSDO, in partnership with members of the local DPE community, has initiated a minor but significant proposal to change Advisory Circular AC 61-91J, the Advisory Circular describing the WINGS program. The proposed change would remove a regulatory road block without even changing any regulatory language. The proposal is currently under review by policy-makers within the FAA. It has not yet been adopted, but if it is adopted, it will provide regulatory relief to pilots caught-up in the above scenario, and others. The proposal works like this: Any rated pilot seeking an add-on category or class rating, could earn a Phase of WINGS while under the supervision of the instructor in the add-on aircraft, in this case, the glider. The pilot trainee demonstrates PTS / ACS proficiency in the prescribed tasks, and the instructor validates their WINGS flight credit. Voila! The trainee earns a new Phase of WINGS, accomplishes the required flight review, earns the necessary solo endorsement, and can now complete their training!

We recognized the burdens that are unintentionally placed on rated pilots who have not flown in a while, and who want to earn a rating in a new category or class of aircraft. There are financial, logistical, and even safety-of-flight risks inherent in the aforementioned legal interpretation, and we are trying to fix these issues. Orlando’s proposal will do just that! Moreover, if the proposed change is approved, our beloved WINGS program will have added demonstrably to its versatility, becoming an important tool to a group of pilots who may never have even used the WINGS program in the past!

Keep your fingers crossed!

Bob Jex, FPM Orlando FSDO