DMS and What It Means for Flight Training Providers
In the past weeks, the FAA began implementing the use of the Designee Management System (DMS) to Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) around the United States. Implementation is set to continue over the coming months to the remaining DPEs around the country. This system was previously noted by FSANA as coming in the future, but the implementation is now a real thing and has very real impacts on flight training providers and how their instructors will source practical tests for customers.
The FAA notes that "The Designee Management System (DMS) is a web-based tool designed to standardize the management of designee's. The Designee Management Policy establishes the process and procedures for managing all aspects of administration including registration, application, selection, appointment, orientation, training, oversight, suspension, and termination." (
https://designee.faa.gov) A roll out schedule of this system as it applies to designees, pilot examiners included, can be found at
https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/designees_delegations/dms/deployment/ (however, note that at the time of this writing the link from this page that describes pilot examiner implementation is not working, contacting your FSDO staff can allow you to determine when your local area will implement this system in the interim).
This may sound a little bit broad, so for practical purposes, let's see what it means for you, DPEs and your students.
The DMS system is a new, stand-alone, system that the FAA has implemented to track all aspects of pilot examiner (and other designations) activities for practical tests. This does not currently integrate with IACRA and it requires the DPE to have entered data ahead of practical tests to be authorized to conduct any test.
24 Hour Ahead Scheduling Entry Required
For practical purposes, a test must be entered and have been in the system for more than 24 hours (This assumes the DPE is on automatic approval. If not, it will require a physical approval for the practical test from their managing office personnel). To enter a test being scheduled, the DPE will be required to have information available that has historically not been required. This means that the applicant or their recommending instructor MUST provide this information and the DPE must enter it into the new system for a practical test to take place.
The system also requires this 24-hour notice (if the examiner is going to remain compliant with their FAA Order guidance for operation) for any changes to the schedule, even if for weather or aircraft maintenance. Retests and continuances must also have this approval time period met.
Practically speaking, for training providers it means that test "shuffling" of applicants, aircraft, or times will be less common and require more documentation. It means that applicants must provide more information ahead of time, and that DPEs will need to enter that information with a lead time that historically has not been required for practical purposes.
More Information Required to be Entered by DPE
Some, but not all of the items we have noted that are required will include the obvious things like applicant name, but also their pilot certificate number (or student pilot when appropriate), the instructors name and certificate number, the airport to be used for the test and the physical building address at the airport that will be used, the proposed start time and date, the aircraft make and model and specific N-number to be used for the test, and the type of the test that will be provided. All of this information and some additional pieces the examiner will provide must be provided with no less than 24-hours of notice taking place in the DMS system prior to the beginning of the test. This data must be manually keyed into the new system by the DPE as it is not able to be pre-populated either from the FAA Airman Registry or the IACRA system.
This means for training providers your customer will need to be prepared to provide this information to the examiner at the time of scheduling of a practical test. It makes it significantly easier for the examiner if the applicant already has a submitted and signed off the IACRA application that will also allow reference to much of the requisite information.
The purpose of this system is to allow greater tracking of the FAA designee's in how they do their job and to track any behaviors that deviate from guidance policy provided to DPEs.
Now, the system isn't perfect, yet. The FAA knows this and wants feedback from stakeholders including applicants, training providers, and DPEs.
Feedback Wanted
Feedback from early users is being collected and updates to the system are already being planned and will be coded and made in the system in the near future. Any feedback that can be collected and fed to the FAA in a constructive manner has the potential to be included in updates and improve the administrative process of this system, so the FAA really does want input.
As this system is implemented in more locations, FSANA is interested in receiving feedback on the effects it has on test scheduling and provision. We encourage flight training providers to work closely with the DPEs they utilize to determine the best ways to provide the requisite information to keep the flow of testing for pilot certificates and ratings going in the United States. Any feedback you are also able to provide is welcome. Feel free to email us at [email protected] or call our office directly at 610-791-4359 with your experiences so we can help the FAA and DPEs around the country identify and remedy any challenges in the implementation of the DMS system.
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Aerocamper for Life and First FSANA Scholarship Created
On Sunday, October 1, 2018, 12 year old Andrew McMorris was killed by an intoxicated driver while on a walk with his Boy Scout Troupe from Wading River, NY on Long Island. An AeroCamp participant, Andrew had a passion for aviation that will unfortunately never be personally fulfilled.
Gail Mancuso, Vice President from Mid Island Flight School in Ronkonkoma, NY on Long Island and long time FSANA member was devastated when she heard the news. Andrew was 12 years old when his life was taken in a needless act in broad daylight.
Andrew, who wanted to be an astronaut, attended AeroCamp in 2018. Andrew had tremendous focus, paid attention and was serious when it came to his aviation and aerospace world stated Gail Mancuso.
FSANA is pleased to announce that the first FSANA AeroCamp scholarship has been named for Andrew McMorris. More information about this scholarship will be provided in the future.
All of us at FSANA were reminded of the words written by poet John, Gillespie Magee, Jr. in his poem
"High Flight." The words are as follows:
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Many people never get to experience aviation, have their lives cut short, or are unable to realize their dreams. Andrew's loss should serve as an inspiration to all of us to share our experiences, passions, and the wonderful personal and/or career path that aviation and aerospace offers.
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| To honor their son and brother, parents John and Alisa McMorris along with sister Arianna took to the skys on March 30, 2019 to experience first hand what Andrew so much enjoyed about flight. |
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 Piper Introduces the New Pilot 100 and Pilot 100i Trainer Aircraft as an Affordable, Proven Trainer Aircraft for Flight Schools
Piper Aircraft announced two new value priced additions to its trainer-class line, the Piper Pilot 100 and Pilot 100i. These new products enter the trainer segment at a competitive price point of $259,000 VFR equipped and offer the same rugged durability and functionality as its stablemate, the Archer TX.
The need for a new trainer aircraft at a price point that could support the growing demand for professionally trained pilots was identified following extensive research and the rapid expansion of trainer sales. To achieve optimal acquisition and operating costs and economics, Piper focused on proactive planning and collaboration with several key vendors. As a result, the Pilot 100 series features several new components like the Continental Prime IO-370-D3A engine, as well as Garmin G3X Touch Certified avionics in a standard two pilot interior configuration. The Pilot 100"i" adds an IFR capable upgrade package that includes the, Garmin G3X Touch, GFC500 autopilot, the new GNX 375 and is priced at $285,000 dollars Both aircraft will be available in limited quantities beginning in 2020.
"With the unprecedented demand for professional pilots, our team worked closely with several key suppliers to deliver an aggressively priced, proven trainer that offers the advanced systems and performance that flight schools and airline programs of all sizes desire," said Piper President and CEO, Simon Caldecott. "We are excited to add the Pilot 100 series to our training product line at a price point that provides optimal economics for all operators."
The new Piper Pilot 100 / 100i rounds off Piper's portfolio of training aircraft products. With five model series (Pilot 100, Archer TX, Archer DX, Arrow, and Seminole) the company offers the widest range of training aircraft of any aircraft manufacturer, and meets all the individual needs of its training operators and customers. The sales figures amply demonstrate how well Piper's training class of products are received by the industry: Since 2014, sales of the single engine Piper Archer have grown more than 93%. For 2018, sales of the robust single engine Archer grew by nearly 50% YOY, while twin engine Seminole deliveries rose 117%.
About the Piper Pilot 100 / 100i
The Piper Pilot 100/100i provides flight schools with professional training aircraft that offer a value proposition which translates into lower operating costs that can result in lower priced initial training courses. Standard instrumentation includes the Garmin G3X system, which offers all the advantages of a glass cockpit without the costs. The Pilot 100/100i is powered by the 180hp Continental Prime IO-370-D3A which offers 128 ktas / 237 km/h max cruise speed and 522 nm range with 45 minute reserve. The Pilot 100's interior is simple, yet functional and was specially crafted to withstand the of rigors flight training.
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2019 Women in Aviation Conference, FSANA Reps. Join In and Promote
Continuing its dedication to seeing aviation expand its inclusion of all participants, FSANA again exhibited the annual Women in Aviation annual conference in Long Beach, CA. This was WAI's 30th Anniversary.
The FSANA team was on hand to meet attendees and enjoyed many conversations about aviation and aerospace with a wide group of people.
Jessica Cox, FSANA's International Ambassador was a keynote speaker at the Noon luncheon on Saturday. After lunch, Jessica spent time at the FSANA booth and welcomed many of the young people who attended the event.
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FSANA NEWS
May is Learn to Fly Month - What Will You Do to Promote New Students in Aviation?
Learn to Fly Month, which starts May 1, 2019, is a continuation of the month-long initiative that FSANA has promoted for the last two years to facilitate flight training providers in attracting new potential entrants into the field of aviation. FSANA is again encouraging flight schools and organizations to collaborate and hold events and promotions focused on getting more people to learn to fly.
Mario Andretti, the world famous race car driver who has won Formula One, Indy Car, World Sports Car, and of course, NASCAR races was interview previously about his love of flight and his involvement as Learn to Fly Month Honorary Chairman.
During that interview, Andretti stressed that, as he says, "I could not have lived or could not have done [what he has done] without either general aviation, which of course I was part of, I owned aircraft since 1968, but also, commercial aviation."
He continues to note that aviation, "was a tool that allowed me to complete my career, not only [to] facilitate movements from event to event, but also to have a family with me. Otherwise, I think that even would have been impossible with the type of schedule that I was keeping."
Andretti has owned and flown aircraft such as Piper Navajos, the Mitsubishi Mu-2, and a few bigger corporate-style aircraft such as the Gulfstream IIB and Hawker 600 and 700. While Andretti did not get a pilot's certificate, he did have the opportunity to fly some unique aircraft in his lifetime under the guidance of qualified instructors.
Mario believes that aviation offers a unique and rewarding career option and encourages "young people, whether male or female, to really look at the potential that there is out there for a career in flying."
FSANA looks forward to this year's Learn to Fly Month efforts around the country. In the mean time, feel free to hear what Mario had to say last year:
How Any Flight School Can Participate This May
All flight schools across the country are invited and encouraged to participate in Learn to Fly Month, not just FSANA members. If you haven't set anything in motion for this initiative yet, it isn't too late! FSANA is providing this set of six free tools intended to help flight schools and others interested in promoting Learn to Fly Month. Please take a moment to check them out and incorporate them into your own Learn to Fly Month events.
- "Ideas for Flight Schools" (PDF) ... A one-pager of how to create a fun and exciting event(s) at your business
- Customizable press release template for your flight school or organization (DOC)
- Color photograph of Mario Andretti (PDF) ... Credit: Courtesy of Flight School Association of North America
- Learn to Fly Month poster with Mario Andretti (PDF)
- Learn to Fly Month logo graphic for print (PDF)
- Learn to Fly Month logo graphic for web (simply "grab" the above graphic)
FSANA encourages all flight schools and others in the industry, including the supply chain and trade associations, to be involved. To find out how to participate, contact Debbie Sparks at 561-767-6826 or send an email to [email protected].
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 King Schools Joins as FSANA Partner
FSANA is pleased to announce that King Schools has joined the list of supporters of the work that FSANA and its members do around the country and the globe.
"Flight Schools are the very roots of the aviation industry, and FSANA's support for Flight Schools helps to keep our industry growing to ultimately meet the high demand for qualified pilots", commented King Schools' CEO, Barry Knuttila.
Martha King, Co-Chairman of King Schools added, "We are delighted to provide FSANA with additional resources to continue and expand their excellent programs and support of flight schools and pilot training."
"Adding the long term notable contributor to the flight training industry, King Schools, is important to FSANA," said CEO Robert Rockmaker, "we look forward to their contributions to the members of FSANA through their wisdom and years of involvement with civil aviation flight training "
For more about King Schools and their products,
click here.
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11-Year-Old Girl [FSANA Enovy, Afton Kinkade] Trains with Flight Simulator to Become Pilot
A
s Afton Kinkade made it up a flight of stairs and into the simulator cockpit, you can tell her passion really shines through.
"I would look up in the sky and see things that were flying and say, 'I want to do that. That looks amazing, that's cool,'" she said.
Kinkade was just 3 years old when she developed a clear love for aviation. Today she finds herself flying a Level D-Simulator of an Airbus 320 at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport.
Click here to see the the entire article.
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 Alsim Celebrates 25th Anniversary
When software engineer Jean-Paul Monnin and former Air France pilot Jérôme Binachon came up with the idea to develop and sell affordable state-of-the-art flight training devices back in 1994, they didn't know that their new company-Alsim-would soon be counted among the most important manufacturers of fixed-base flight simulators in the world.
The idea was simple: create a single generic device that can be used for different aircraft types and keep the costs low so that even small flight schools can afford it. What followed is a long list of innovative products year after year, starting with the introduction of TFT screens on simulators in 1997. At that time Alsim was the first simulator manufacturer to use this technology in their devices.
As the airlines' focus on multi-crew cooperation (MCC) became more stringent at the end of the last century, Alsim developed a device solely dedicated to give pilots more confidence and increase their competence in a multi-crew working environment. As a result, the company sold their first MCC trainer to Airways Formation in 1999. This device laid the foundation for all others that were yet to come. In the early 2000s, Diamond Aircraft was quickly becoming a new innovative player in the aviation training market. Alsim quickly reacted and was able to launch the AL42, an exact replica of the Diamond DA42 twin-engine training aircraft, as early as 2005. Since the Diamond twin was equipped with a glass cockpit, the next logical step was a Garmin trainer, which Alsim introduced in 2006. In 2007, Jean-Paul Monnin and his research and development team discussed a completely new device that would be able to replicate 10 different aircraft models while offering training capabilities from PPL up to MCC/JOC-the new ALX was born and launched in 2008.
In early 2016, Alsim's founding idea of creating affordable multi-purpose flight training devices resurged again in what became yet another versatile simulator-the AL250, a compact device reconfigurable for SEP/MEP training on the PPL, CPL and IR/ME level. Only one year later-in 2017-Alsim relaunched their second type-specific device for a classic training aircraft, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk.
Alsim's latest development that came out in 2018 is simply known as "The Airliner". The device is a multi-purpose hybrid (B737/A320) designed to address medium to large ATOs' needs for advanced MCC, APS MCC, JOC, LOFT and UPRT training as well as airline selection programs (preparation and skill tests).
Jean-Paul Monnin, Alsim co-founder and CEO, explains, "We are proud to be recognized as a leader in our industry for so many years, and we will continue offering devices that fit exactly what our clients need. The past 25 years show how much our clients trust us, and we thank them for working with us to make the flight training industry the best it can be. We look forward to continuing the long-term business relationships with our current clients, and welcoming many more to our Alsim family."
This year, Alsim is proudly looking back on a 25-year long journey together with their 250 clients who have more than 350 certified devices installed in over 50 countries all over the world. The company will celebrate its 25th Anniversary on several occasions during the year.
About Alsim
ALSIM has been developing and manufacturing FAA & EASA certified flight simulators since 1994. Today the company has more than 350 certified flight devices installed with 250 clients worldwide. More about Alsim at
www.alsim.com.
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 Sling Adacemy Offers $20,000 Scholarship to 1 Lucky Winnder
StoryIn response to the worldwide pilot shortage, Sling Pilot Academy is launching its Accelerated Airline Pilot Program in Feb 2019 and is giving away a $20,000 scholarship to one lucky winner. The goal of the academy and the program is to "get students to the airlines as quickly and as cost effectively as possible," said Sling Pilot Academy partner, Wayne Toddun.
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Fllight Instructors and More Wanted at Hillsboro Aero Academy
Hillsboro Aero Academy is one of the largest combined airplane and helicopter pilot training schools in the US. HAA flies an impressive 100,000 flight hours per year with over 87 fixed wing aircraft. Hillsboro Aero Academy is now hiring for various opportunities. Apply online at www.flyhaa.com/employment.
University Air Center Flight School, Gainesville Florida
Looking for Certified Flight Instructors-Instrument for a full time busy flight school.
We fly Piper Warrior, Cessna 172 (G1000), Cessna 182 (Garmin glass), Cessna 210 and Piper Aztec. We have the option of time as flight instructor then move into the Caravan for Part 91 operations then to our Charter department flying Citation Jets. Come join the UAC team!
Flight Instructor Sought
Wanted CFI for 141 flight school, added ratings a plus, but not required. When not instructing, right seat on Navajo available for qualified applicant. Respond to Moyer Aviation, Inc. Pocono Mountains, Pa. 800-321-5890
[email protected].
Charter Captain Wanted
Wanted Captain for 135 charter operation in Northeast. Flying Navajos & Seneca Minimum 1500 TT, 200 MEL. Respond to Moyer Aviation, Inc. Pocono Mountains, Pa. 800-321-5890
[email protected].
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We welcome feedback from the readers of this newsletter! Tell us what is important to you
as a school owner, manager or chief flight instructor. We will share comments received
in an upcoming edition of
Flight Training News
.
Send your thoughts to [email protected].
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