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SAFE represents nearly 700 of the industry's top aviation educators in 49 states and nine foreign countries, including the majority of Master Instructors and numerous General Aviation Awards winners in all four awards categories. SAFE is also leading the Pilot Training Reform Initiative.
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| AirVenture 2012 -- What a Week for SAFE! | | |
What a week SAFE had at AirVenture 2012! Although official reports say attendance was slightly off this year, SAFE experienced the opposite. Between the tent, the Pilot Proficiency Project, and the annual dinner, we have never, in our short history had such incredible activity and presence.
All in all, AirVenture 2012 was a fantastic event for SAFE. As I said in my remarks at the annual dinner, our infancy is over. We have laid a solid foundation, and are now moving into our adolescence. The energy and excitement of this next phase for SAFE was palpable throughout the entire weeklong event. I eagerly look forward to our new phase of growth, and the many things we are capable of accomplishing.
Stay tuned for many new and invigorating initiatives in the upcoming months. SAFE will be expanding its services and outreach to the aviation educator community as we continue to fulfill our Vision and Mission!
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| Record Setting SAFE Dinner-Meeting | | |
THE DINNER: Records were set at the annual member's dinner and meeting. Close to 160 people attended the dinner and enjoyed great company, good food and fun times. Guest speakers included: NTSB Board member, Dr. Earl Weener; AFS 800 manager, Mel Cintron and outgoing SAFE Board member Alan Davis. The recipient of the annual SAFE Founder's Award was Jim Goodwin, who donated "The Little Witch" P-51 Mustang . This fund raiser for SAFE helped us raise over $20,000.
This year's SAFE Service award went to two very deserving people: Sherry Rossiter, who led SAFE through it's strategic planning and is now chairing a new and invigorated membership committee. Plus, Alan Davis for chairing the Library Editorial Review Committee and for his countless hours spent processing new and renewing members not only at this year's AirVenture and Sun 'N Fun, but in prior years as well.
As SAFE chairman Mark Adams read the list of those who had volunteered during AirVenture, both in the SAFE tent as well as at the Pilot Proficiency Project. It proved an eye-opening experience to see how many SAFE members were standing once Mark finished the list. It was a visible testament to the SAFE motto of "We're all about our members." My gratitude goes out to all those who gave of their time and energy; not only to help promote SAFE, but to serve the pilot community as well. Thanks for a fantastic, well-done job!
The dinner was concluded with a fund-raising door prize raffle, which raised over $750. My thanks to the many contributors of prizes, which included two FIRCs from King Schools; a Brightline 'FLEX' flight bag; an iPad deluxe kit from Sporty's; an ASA Private Pilot kit; a Gleim online course; a signed Stearman print; watches, tools, and more.
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| Pilot Proficiency Project at AirVenture | | |
THE PILOT PROFICIENCY PROJECT: When SAFE originally approached EAA with the idea of our Pilot Proficiency Project, seeking our own separate venue to present it in, we were offered space in the Learn to Fly Center to "prove our concept". Well we proved it and then some!
Conceived by SAFE, presented in partnership with Redbird Flight Simulations, and hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), SAFE member-instructors presented a total of fourteen forums to more than 650 attendees, at times to overflow crowds in the limited venue. All 58 simulator training sessions in the Redbird FMX were filled as well, with daily slots booking completely within the first two hours each day, while more than 50 pilots received instruction in Redbird's Crosswind Trainer. Pilots who participated in the project also qualified for WINGS credit.
Feedback from project participants included comments such as:
* I have attended forums here all week and this has been the most educational and dynamic of any of them.
* I attended four pilot proficiency program forums and liked them all.
* Great presentation! Helps me connect the dots with my flight training.
* Excellent knowledge and engaging presentation skills.
SAFE's Pilot Proficiency Project offers targeted forums as well as simulator training sessions that address key safety of flight topics such as angle of attack awareness, type-specific aircraft issues, glass panels, aeronautical decision making, CFIT, and much more. The simulator sessions are co-developed by SAFE and Redbird educators, and present a variety of challenging scenarios for VFR and IFR pilots alike. Scenarios include high density altitude takeoffs and landings, instrument approaches requiring good decision making and attitude flying skills, and several scenarios that incorporate emergencies requiring solid stick and rudder skills as well as good decision making to achieve successful outcomes.
SAFE is now exploring other venues for the Pilot Proficiency Project.
None of this would have been possible without the fantastic support we received from Redbird. In particular, help from Jerry and Charlie Gregoire, Josh Harnegal, Roger Sharp and the rest of the Redbird crew. Our thanks as well to the seminar presenters: Mark Adams, Larry Bothe, Jeff Edwards, Tony Johnstone, John Krug, Michael Phillips, Mike Radomsky, Mark Robidoux, Doug Stewart, Rich Stowell and Hobie Tomlinson; and to the simulator instructors: Mark Adams, Bill Ervin, Meg Godlewski, Robert Lussow, Jeff Melau, Michael Phillips, Phillip Seizinger, Roger Sharp, Martin Sobel, Jack Vandeventer, and Radek Wyrzykowski.
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| The SAFE Tent -- SAFE's Focal Point at AirVenture! | | |
THE TENT: The tent was a beehive of activity. Between setting all time records for processing new and renewing members, to important visitors from both industry and government, such as Randy Babbitt, Mel Cintron, Dr. Earl Weener, and others stopping by -- there was rarely a dull moment in the SAFE tent. I had numerous opportunities to engage in preliminary discussions with representatives from a variety of organizations, corporations and agencies. All came to the tent seeking out SAFE for possible ways of working together to achieve mutual goals. The seeds for several very significant partnerships were planted in the tent over the seven days of AirVenture.
Our thanks go to Departing Board Director Alan Davis, who rarely got a moment to leave his station at the computer logging in the many who stopped by to join or renew. Thanks also go out to all those who volunteered to spend a morning, afternoon or more as SAFE representatives at the tent, including: Andy Miller, Bill Castlen, David Dempsey, David Ison, Don Knight, Donna Wilt, Elaine Kauh, Jack Vandeventer, Jeffrey Robert Moss, JoAnn Hill, John Dorcey, John Mahany, John Schmitz, Larry Bothe, Lou Wipotnik, Martin Sobel, Mary Ann Serian, Mary Holtschneider, Michael Garrison, Mike Vivion, Nathan Zucker, Sandy Hill, Sherry Rossiter, Soloman Shenouda, Steve Quigg, and Steve Rossiter.
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| SAFE Reaches out to K-12 Teachers at AirVenture | |
SAFE reached out to all of the K-12 teachers that participated in "Teacher's Day" at AirVenture. In addition to providing them with information about SAFE, we also asked them to fill out a brief survey to help us understand this important group of aviation educators and find out what services and resources we could provide them. SAFE director Susan Archer composed a short survey asking questions about the demographics of the group, i.e.: what type of school they taught in; what grades they taught; what subjects they taught; and their years of teaching experience. They were also asked to rank a list of 8 resources that SAFE could provide.
The response was beyond our wildest hopes. Quite typically, surveys of this type will garner a 5 - 7% response rate. We had over 33% of the attendees to Teacher's Day fill out and return the survey. The SAFE membership committee will now collate the data we collected and use this information to structure a concerted outreach effort to this important part of the aviation education community. |
| SAFE Members John and Martha King offer FREE Syllabi for Pvt. & Inst. | | |
John and Martha King are making free King flight training syllabi available for the Private Pilot Certificate and the Instrument Rating. The King syllabi are targeted at independent flight instructors and their customers, and include guidance on incorporating the King Schools Knowledge Test Courses, Practical Test Courses and special subject Takeoff video courses to create a comprehensive and easy to follow roadmap. Each syllabus is not only suitable for Part 61 training, but is also Part 141 approvable.
"The use of a syllabus increases learning effectiveness by ensuring that the instructor and their customer both have clearly defined, common goals for each flight lesson," commented John King. "When using a King Syllabus, customers will know what to expect, and will have the opportunity to learn new concepts at home rather than in the airplane," continued John. "This will increase customer satisfaction by helping them excel at each new task," commented Martha. "It will also save them money by reducing training hours required to reach their goal," John emphasized.
"Most significantly, this syllabus incorporates concepts of risk management and supports scenario-based training," continued John. "Making this important training tool available for free makes it easy for all flight instructors to use a professionally developed plan of action," concluded Martha.
More information can be found on the King Schools website.
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Recent Master Instructor Designations
| | Congratulations to these SAFE members!
 Stephen Frank "Steve" RIETHOF, Master Instructor Emeritus
Englewood NJ
Stephen F Riethof, a 4-time Master and charter SAFE member, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus status in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education. A retired US Air Force veteran, Steve is a vice president and recent inductee into the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Teterboro FSDO area.
 Clifton O'Neal "Cliff" WALTERS, Master CFI
Hamilton MT
Clifton O. Walters, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. A US Air Force veteran, Cliff is a flight and ground instructor with North Star Aviation a full service FBO at Hamilton's Ravalli County Airport (6S5). He specializes in primary, instrument, multiengine, and aerobatic flight training.
 Lance Michael VACULIN, Master CFI
Murray UT
Lance M. Vaculin, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Lance is an assistant chief flight instructor, a ground instructor, and director of flight operations with Westminster College at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Salt Lake FSDO area.
 Susan Kirstein PARSON, Master CFI
Oakton VASusan K Parson, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Susan is a special assistant to the FAA's Flight Standards director and editor of FAA Safety Briefing magazine as well as is an independent flight instructor in the Leesburg area. She also serves with the Civil Air Patrol's Virginia Wing and is a FAASTeam representative in the Washington FSDO area.
 Timothy John "Tim" BRILL, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Reno NV
Timothy J Brill, a 1st time Master as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Tim is the owner of the Aerobatic Company, a flight school specializing in emergency maneuver and aerobatic training at Reno Stead Airport (RTS). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Reno FSDO area.
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Have a SAFE day!
Doug Stewart, Executive Director
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators
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Copyright SAFE, Inc. 2012. All rights reserved.
SAFE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Public Charity
Editor@SafePilots.org -- Safe@SafePilots.org -- www.SafePilots.org |
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