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Mission: To create a safer aviation environment through enhanced education. SAFE provides aviation educators with mentoring, support, and professional accreditation. By providing quality educational materials and other resources, we seek a reduction in aviation accidents, increased professionalism among aviation educators, and lifelong learning by everyone involved in aviation. |
FAA Reviews FIRCs and Part 61.197
| | SAFE Provides Response During Special Meeting in DC
by Doug Stewart, ChairIn a meeting held on December 6th and 7th, the FAA stated that it had no intention of making any regulatory changes to the way flight instructors can renew their certificates. Going into the meeting however, which was hastily announced to the public just one week prior, many of us in the industry feared that the FAA had other intentions. Even with the short notice, there was a large turnout of FIRC providers, aviation organizations, and other interested parties. Consequently, the outcome was positive and the industry should see Flight Instructor Renewal Clinics receiving new guidance that leads to improved aviation safety. Based on input from SAFE and other attendees, the FAA will be revising the core topic modules, putting greater emphasis on aeronautical decision making throughout. FIRC providers should also see greater latitude in the way they structure their clinics, including the opportunity to offer more elective modules. Many SAFE members participated by forwarding their comments to me, which were incorporated into the official response I presented to the FAA on behalf of the SAFE membership. Those responses were also forwarded to Gregory French, the National FIRC Program Manager and moderator of the meeting. According to French, the outpouring by SAFE members played a positive role in the outcome of the meeting and was "exactly what we were looking for."
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FAA Provides Guidance on Restricted Areas
| | Query by SAFE Answered by Office of Chief Counsel
SAFE recently received guidance from the FAA's Office of Chief Counsel concerning VFR operations in Restricted airspace. While reviewing an article for inclusion in our online Library, members of SAFE's Library Editorial Review Committee (LERC) raised a key question: "Is a clearance in fact required to fly through a Restricted Area when that area is not in use?" When further research, which included interviews with instructors, the FAA, and ATC, failed to yield a consistent answer, SAFE turned to the FAA's Office of Chief Counsel. After a four-month-long process, the following official response was received:
A clearance is not required to operate VFR through a restricted area when the controlling or using agency, as applicable, has made a determination that the restricted area is "cold". [Cold = Not Active] According to LERC Chair Alan Davis, "This is a perfect example of the diligence with which our volunteer committee reviews potential articles for the SAFE Library." He added, "Going the extra mile in this instance resulted in the clarification of an important operational detail for pilots."
 We have posted a free training aid on the website that includes the two-page article, Teaching MOAs and Restricted Areas as well as the response received from the Office of Chief Counsel.
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SAFE Delivers CFI Forum #2 to the FAASTeam
| | "Teaching Spins" Created by MCFI-A Rich Stowell
SAFE recently delivered the second of eight planned "Seminar-in-a-Box" (SIB) products for use by the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam). Entitled, Maneuvering at Low Altitude: SPINS, the SIB was created by SAFE Charter Member Rich Stowell, a noted expert on the subject who has logged nearly 32,000 spins with students. AvWeb Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli contributed a video reconstruction of a common stall/spin accident as well.
Other SAFE members have likewise volunteered to develop and present topics in this new forum series. The forums are designed to facilitate interactive discussion among instructors, examiners, and FAASTeam members in areas related to training techniques that can aid in accident prevention. WINGS credit is available at the Master level for participating CFIs and DPEs as well. CFI Forum #1 - Stalls has already been deployed by the FAASTeam and has been well received by the target audience so far. Forum #3 - Go-Arounds is currently under development. Prior to nationwide deployment, each SIB is reviewed and accepted by AFS-850.
Help with a topic or volunteer to be a presenter
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Recent Master Instructor Designations
| | Congratulations to These SAFE Members
Matt Blythe, Orange Park, FL -- Initial MCFI
Jim Casper, Vallejo, CA -- 3-time MCFI
Lonnie Hilkemeier, Boulder, CO -- 7-time MCFI
Ivan Manoogian, Phoenix, AZ -- Initial MCFI
Shane Vande Voort, Pella, IA -- 3-time MCFI
Dwain Watson, Grand Junction, CO -- 3-time MCFI
All recently earned their designations through SAFE benefits provider Master Instructors LLC. |
Excerpt from the SAFE Library
| | Resources Available to Members
From Making the Most of the Flight Review (Part I - Ground) by Elaine Kauh:
I make it a practice to e-mail written tests upon scheduling Flight Reviews.... It's open-book, requiring a FAR/AIM, a POH for the aircraft to be used in the flight portion, and other references. It is not meant to be a pass/fail exam, but a learning exercise that achieves several objectives for the instructor and the pilot. First, it's a great way for the pilot to brush up on knowledge topics.... Second, a take-home test saves time on rehashing the basics during your ground session.... Third, the test can reveal strengths and weaknesses in the pilot's knowledge, helping the instructor do his job.
To access this member-only resource, log onto the SAFE website and follow Members Only > Library > Enter > Member Contributed > Testing - Written, Oral, Practical. |
Volunteer for the Training Reform Symposium
| | SAFE Needs You!
 To all those who have volunteered to assist with the symposium already, a heartfelt "thank you!" We will soon be contacting you with job assignments. However, we can still use more volunteers! We're looking for additional help with pre- and post-symposium logistics as well as assistance during the event itself. Specific areas include planning/coordination, promotion, audio/visuals, document prep/publishing, and enlisting supporters/sponsors. The GA Pilot Training Reform Symposium is a cooperative effort among industry stakeholders. SAFE is driving the process and chairing the event. The symposium will be held May 4-5, 2011 in Atlanta, GA at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Atlanta International Airport. Please contact us if you are able to help out during the planning stages and/or during the symposium itself. |
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