If you will be attending AirVenture July 25-31, 2011 and can spend some time helping out in the SAFE Booth, please submit a volunteer form.

Learn more about SAFE at AirVenture 

SAFE is currently the only organization representing aviation educators where members choose all those who serve on the Board of Directors. The current voting cycle runs until May 29th. Members in good standing should have received emails from https://votingplace.net/safe. If you have not, or if you have had difficulty casting your vote, please contact Mark Adams ASAP.

Learn more about the candidates and voting procedure  

In light of concerns raised about recent changes to the FAA's Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) knowledge test, the FAA recently announced that six test questions have been withdrawn. This action comes as a result of consultation with academics and others who have expertise in test writing and validation. According to an email from FAA's Stanley Roberts, "the FAA intends to involve the flight training industry and academia in the process of developing future revisions to testing and guidance documents." The email continued, "The FAA is also developing more detailed knowledge test guides to assist airmen and aviation instructors in preparing for knowledge exams."

The announcement is consistent with key recommendations presented by SAFE to the Airman Testing Standards Branch (AFS 630) on April 20th, as well as recommendations made during the SAFE-chaired Pilot Training Reform Symposium on May 4-5. 

Have you visited the members-only Library recently? The Library Editorial Review Committee (LERC) has been busy adding new material. Under "Training Aids" for example, member Jeff Serpas has contributed the file, "Timed Turns - Performing Basic Math Under Pressure." Serpas describes an app he has written for the iPhone that generates a timed turn quiz. He also provides a link to a flashcard program for timed turns that can be used on any computer. Follow the path Members Only > Library > Enter > Member-Contributed > Training Aids. View the Library Index

SAFE also offers links to public documents under the "Syllabi, Training Aids, Etc." menu tab, including syllabi for instructors and students that individuals and organizations have now made available free of charge as a direct result of SAFE's Pilot Training Reform symposium.

Central Jersey Collaborative Receives Grant: A collaborative that includes SAFE members Linda Castner and Sue Stafford has received a $100,000 grant from the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program. One of the goals of the collaborative is to demonstrate how a local airport can be transformed into a "Living Laboratory" by partnering with local school districts to create a strong aviation ecosystem to introduce, educate, and guide young people into STEM-related careers in aviation. Among other things, the grant will be used to provide two special Leaders Take Flight Workshops that have been developed by Castner and Stafford specifically for women.  

SAFE is Now on Twitter: See our Twitter profile page and follow us @SAFEPilots. We have also added a Tweet button on the right sidebar of the SAFE website. Tweet about us! 

 

New Facebook Page: SAFE has a new Facebook page. In the Facebook hierarchy, we are now set up as a Page and listed as an organization. This gives SAFE more flexibility and greater options over the old Facebook Group listing, which Facebook is in the process of archiving.