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Strategies

For CFIs and Aviation Educators

September 2024


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Photo courtesy NorthstarVFR.com of Lynnwood WA

Worried About GA Flight Training?

You Should Be!

FAA Rulemaking Committee Issues Report

GA Is Cut Out Of Meetings

Independent GA flight schools provide 65%-70% of career pilots but a new FAA rulemaking committee report on the future of flight training ignores GA flight training and pushes for airline career-specific Part 141 schools, many associated with college aviation programs. No GA flight training groups, including SAFE, were invited to the FAA committee meetings.


"You would think if the airlines and the FAA wanted to discuss and improve aviation training they would consult the people who do it," said David St George, SAFE Executive Director. "How about CFIs, DPEs and the GA alphabet groups? But no, general aviation training was entirely cut out of meetings of the Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee that created this 181-page proposal (PDF) on the future of flight training."


Airline career path candidates and GA recreational pilots have very different needs and future training opportunities, he said..A new GA pilot is "captain" from day one as a pilot. Additionally, GA deals with a much more complicated, diverse, and challenging environment. "In most ways, the GA piloting challenges are much greater than the airline crewed environment and there is often no "future improvement" of continuous training the airlines require," he said.


St George noted that while he could personally do without the 'puppy mills' that train future airline pilots to minimum standards, it's the dream of a life in the cockpit that is driving the current training boom for everyone. It's a largesse which benefits every independent flight school and CFI in America, he said, and repeated the 65%-70% figure for pilots supplied by independent flight schools.


What Do You Think?


Are two separate training tracks the answer? That sounds like a sensible solution, but this issue needs to have input from both sides, GA and airline!


"Minimum training" is unsafe and unfair to GA pilots not accessing future airline standardization. And for pilots heading to the airlines, something more like the European multi-crew training might be more appropriate. Again, here is the airline proposal that would create a super-141 regulatory change.s

SAFE Member Input

What Do You Think About This?

After reading the FAA report on flight training, would you support a two-track system?
Yes, it's long past time to fix our broken instructional system.
No, it would cripple independent flight schools.
No, our system is working just fine as it is.

Demonstration Stalls And MCA

New CFI ACS Requires These

"Demonstration stalls" and the new Minimum Controllable Airspeed (MCA) demonstration are in the CFI-ACS but not found in any of the other testing standards. But CFI candidates are required to be able to fly *ALL* of the maneuvers in the CFI ACS to proficiency in preparation for their CFI evaluation.

The reason is twofold: First, to build their flight proficiency and instructional abilities, but secondarily (as the name betrays) so CFIs will "demonstrate" these important skills to every learner! The FAA is in essence telling every CFI to teach *beyond* the minimum standard of the ACS guidance. The new MCA demonstration is especially valuable for every pilot (thank you Dr. Donna Wilt, our representative on the ACS ARC).

SAFE New Webinar Series On SAFE YouTube: Slip/Skid (RUDDER!)

Our latest SAFE Webinar focused on the Slip to Land (frequently not trained or tested fully) as a method to build correct and confident rudder usage. This maneuver is required in the Private Test Standard and even specifies a touch-down accuracy standard. Download a briefing sheet for this show

90% of stall accidents happen on the take-off and turn-out phase of flight (including go-arounds). Too many pilots do not know how to properly (and reflexively) use the rudder. Also, many pilots cannot distinguish a slip (very stable and safe) from a skid (no use in aviation and dangerous!).


Here is the AOPA Source document for this data.

One opportunity to test rudder usage (and control confidence) is the slip-to-land maneuver in the private pilot evaluation. This requires a slip all the way to a landing and even specifies a touchdown accuracy standard. Unfortunately, this maneuver is frequently not taught comprehensively.


There is also a pervasive myth that "crossing the controls" is inherently dangerous. Sometimes crossed controls are necessary to create coordinated wings-level flight (think of the last half of a right chandelle or a take-off in a high-power piston plane). To be safe here the massive rudder is compensated for with a little left aileron (this is called "cross-coordinated").

Notes For Airline-Bound CFIs

Yet another airline - Atlas Air - has partnered with Spartan Education Group in West Chicago IL for the Atlas Cadet Academy. The program is tailored to producing pilots for the Atlas fleet of Boeing 747, 767 and 777 freighters.


US airlines now employ more than 1,000,000 people, the largest employment in nearly a quarter-century.


Boeing's latest Pilot and Technician Outlook continues to predict the need for hundreds of thousands of pilots and technicians and 900,000 cabin crew; most demand expected from from Eurasia, China and North America.

Radiant MFD Updated

For just under $400, you can own the upgraded version of Radiant Technology's universal Multi Function Device. The new device is approved only for experimental aircraft or ultralights.


The unit shows indicated and true airspeed, altitude, VSI, OAT density altitude and system voltage, and is available in either 2 1/4 inch or 3 1/8 inch from Aircraft Spruce.

Bowyer, Rutland Honored

Two long-time aviation educators were recognized at Oshkosh this year with the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) Jack J. Eggspuehler and Greg J. Laslo awards.


ERAU Assistant Professor Samantha Bowyer was recognized with the NAFI 2024 Eggspuehler award for her critical role in organizing and executing the first NAFI Summit last year. James "Steve" Rutland, a lifelong fixed- and rotor-wing instructor and author, received the 2024 Laslo award for his contributions to NAFI publications, including its Mentor magazine.

Set SAFE as a home page (working on it): <http://safepilots.org>

or get the FREE "SAFE Toolkit" App <http://bit.ly/SAFEtoolkit>

Or better yet, both. They're free for all CFIs, not just SAFE members.

Toward More Knowledgeable CFIs...

CFI Resources...


Blast From the Past: Enjoy the original SAFE Magazine!


  • FOI exam now requires a sign-off (AC61-65H A.41) for first-time FOI knowledge test applicants. Caution: PSI does not refund payment for a test if an applicant cannot provide the correct ID or endorsement.


  • What type of airplane accidents add the most to your monthly insurance premium? This 4:45 video from ASI answers that question and more. Spoiler alert: the answer starts at 1:06 into the video. Free.






  • How do your students find you? AOPA survey showed more than half (58%) visited the airport. A friend's recommendation brings in just under a third (29%). Most of the rest (11%) searched online.






  • New Garmin technology uses ADS-B data to alert pilots to possible runway or taxiway incursions. Garmin calls its new software SURF-IA, for Surface Indications and Alert.






  • Older (over-70) learners get (some) relief from insurance requirements; AOPA liability-only coverage. Aviation insurance companies refusing coverage to older pilots is a long-standing problem.




CFIs Behaving Badly



  • A 65-year-old CFI with 13,800 hours crashed a 172 in the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida on August 18, 2022. NTSB report (downloads as a PDF) says it was, sadly, suicide.



  • Flight school owner Kevin D Rychlik of closed American Aviation in Manassas VA (HEF) convicted of tax evasion; one student reports losing life savings.

Do You Have What It

Takes To Mentor New CFIs?

Join SAFE's Mentor Connection

The SAFE Mentorship Connection group needs you - as an experienced CFI -.to help newer CFIs learn the ropes and improve their instructional professionalism. Zoom sessions are on Tuesdays from 7:00 pm Eastern (23Z) and last up to two hours.SAFE Mentorship Connector director Dorothy Schick hosts each meeting.


Weekly roundtable discussions with the CFI Study Group on CFI topics often have prominent guest speakers, most recently CFI Bootcamp's Mike Shiflett. The 20 or so CFIs and CFI-wannabes who attend each study session can get into one-on-one conversations with DPEs.

Join SAFE's Mentorship Connection

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Please shop at these merchant supporters of CFI professionalism.

They make possible your SAFE privileges and benefits.

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