Numerous SAFE members attended the Redbird Migration hosted by Redbird Flight Simulations at Skyport, the Redbird flight training laboratory in San Marcos, TX, in October. The event consisted of a day of presentations, a short field landing and crosswind landing simulated flight contest, and a series of breakout sessions.

SAFE member Roger Sharp, Chief Flight Instructor at Skyport, gave a review of the first year of operation. His engaging and informative presentation offered many new, and perhaps challenging (to old mentalities) ways of conducting flight instruction. Not only in the way simulation can be used to advantage, but also in the way we design the space in which we provide instruction and engage with our clients, and in the way we create and provide the materials learners will need in order to gain the requisite knowledge needed for the various ratings. Roger told the group that in some 10 months of operation, the lab has tested a number of assumptions designed to improve the student's training experience, including the design of the building itself, how people learn-or don't learn-and the sometimes daunting technical details of flying and how sim time can best be integrated with actual aircraft time. Redbird has found that much of what pilots are forced to learn is useless rote-and-repeat knowledge designed to meet now-outdated FAA standards.

In typical Redbird fashion, the two days in Texas were not all filled with hard work. The first day concluded with a short-field landing contest conducted in the FMX, as well as a cross-wind landing contest in the cross-wind simulator. The top ten finalists in the short field landing contest moved up to the cross-wind competition. SAFE members Bill Ervin, who had a perfect score landing in an amazing 170 feet, and Doug Stewart were in the top ten. But when all was said and done, it was Bill Ervin who emerged as the overall winner after landing in cross winds that were in the teens gusting into the twenties. And if that wasn't enough, Bill was also pummeled by ping pong ball hail as he "flew" down final. Our congratulations to Bill, not only for being one heck of a pilot, but also for all he has done for SAFE's Pilot Proficiency Project!

Bill Ervin (l.) Accepts the Trophy from Redbird's Josh Harnagel (r.) Both are SAFE Members.

Partnering with Redbird Media  

Jeff VanWest, former editor of IFR magazine, is now heading Redbird Media, a new  company that will produce curricula for flight training and proficiency in simulators, but not just for Redbird's complete Private Pilot and Instrument Rating courses. Redbird Media has plans for one-session trainings to accompany magazine articles or for free programs such as the ones conducted by SAFE during EAA AirVenture and AOPA Summit. There will also be monthly proficiency programs tailored to individual pilot needs.

SAFE plans on working with Redbird Media in two ways: First, SAFE will partner with Redbird Media on future pilot proficiency sessions, leveraging our experience in sim-based instruction and support materials. Second, SAFE will consult on the instructor materials for the programs to help create the best instructor guidance possible. 

by John Sweeney, Aviation Insurance Resources, phone 301-682-6200  

I often hear the statement, "As a CFI, I always require that I'm shown as a named pilot on my student's insurance policy. That way I know I'm covered." Unfortunately, this is a very wrong assumption.

Naming a pilot on the policy only activates the policy for the named insured, usually the aircraft owner. Naming a pilot on the policy does not make that pilot an insured person. While all aviation policies are not the same, the definition of "insured person" excludes anyone in a commercial use, such as providing dual instruction for hire. A named pilot does nothing to protect you as the CFI.  

Many CFIs want to be named as an Addition Insured with a waiver of subrogation on the owner's insurance policy. This is a good idea and recommended, but even this sometimes can create a problem. Some individual policies also have an exclusion in the liability section for bodily injury to a Named Insured. This means you may not have liability for bodily injury to the aircraft owner -- the person you are most likely instructing!

Do not rely on the owner's insurance policy to protect you; the standard Pleasure and Business (P&B) insurance policy simply is not designed to protect you, the CFI. The fact is, there is no substitution for having your own CFI insurance policy.

Learn more about SAFE's industry-best CFI liability insurance coverage available exclusively to SAFE member-instructors.

Six SAFE members will serve on the upcoming Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee's (ARAC's) Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group: Eric Crump, John King, Janeen Kochan, Kurt Reesman, Roger Sharp, and Doug Stewart will serve on this important committee, which is tasked with developing a system that contains structure, process, repeatability and sustainability for airman testing and training.

The FAA has tasked the ARAC Working Group with providing the following by September 30, 2013:

1. An integrated Airman Certification Standards document that aligns the aeronautical knowledge testing standards required by 14 CFR part 61 with the flight proficiency standards (Areas of Operation) set out in Part 61 and the existing Practical Test Standards (PTS) for-
1. The Private Pilot certificate,
2. Flight Instructor certificate, and
3. The Instrument rating
2. A detailed proposal to realign and, as appropriate, streamline and consolidate existing FAA guidance material with integrated Airman Certification Standards documents developed in accordance with item (1).
3. Proposed knowledge test item bank questions that are consistent with both the newly developed Airman Certification Standards documents and the test question development principles set forth in the ARC's recommendations.