Rich Stowell and several other hard working volunteer-members of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) put on what many in the aviation media have been calling a watershed event in Atlanta last week: the General Aviation Pilot Training Reform Symposium.
The two-day event marked the official start to a multi-year process of broad reform that has not been attempted since the Civilian Pilot Training Program more than seventy years ago. During a keynote speech, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said he was “delighted to be [in Atlanta] with the movers and shakers of the flight training community” and that FAA is eager to have help from industry on its five-year plan to transform general aviation safety—a plan that includes risk management, training and education with an expanded focus on flight instructors, and outreach and engagement with general aviation stakeholders.
More than 150 such stakeholders pre-registered for the event. Registrants had collectively logged 820,000 hours of flight time and 390,000 hours of instruction given. They also included 10 National Flight Instructors of the Year and an estimated 60 Master Instructors. Representatives from 46 flight schools, 42 aviation/trade associations, 20 university aviation programs, fourteen courseware providers, eleven OEMs, and five insurance companies registered as well. Significantly, FAA AFS 800 manager Mel Cintron and AFS 600 manager Van Kerns were among other regulatory representatives who attended the symposium from start to finish.
SAFE is preparing a post-symposium report featuring the recommendations generated during six breakout groups. The report will be disseminated to stakeholders for action against a published timeline. Information generated since the symposium is being posted to the training reform website as it becomes available, and a significant portion of the proceedings will soon be available for viewing through the Aero-News Network’s Aero-TV.
For more information:
Symposium Website:
- Symposium Output page (Presenter PowerPoint slides, etc.)
- White Papers, etc.
Keynote Address by FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt:
Post-Symposium Podcasts by Aero-News Network:
- Part I – SAFE Chairman Doug Stewart tells Aero-News Network’s Paul Plack about what started the idea for the group’s Pilot Training Reform Symposium. Listen now (14:42 run time)
- Part II – CFI Bob Miller of Over The Airwaves talks about his observations during last week’s Pilot Training Reform Symposium and why he lost his early skepticism about its value. Listen now (14:46 run time)
- Part III – ANN’s Paul Plack talks with Doug Stewart, 2004 CFI of the Year and Chairman of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators, about last week’s Pilot Training Reform Symposium. Listen now (14:40 run time)
- Part IV – ANN’s Paul Plack concludes a conversation with Doug Stewart, 2004 CFI of the Year and Chairman of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators, about the Pilot Training Reform Symposium in Atlanta. Listen now (16:15 run time)
AVweb Podcasts:
- Symposium Committee Chair Bob Wright explains to AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli how the SAFE Symposium aims to broaden the reach of risk management and safety awareness initiatives. Listen now (4 MB, 4:25 run time)
- AVweb’sPaul Bertorelli interviews FAA AFS 800 head Mel Cintron during the Pilot Training Reform Symposium. Listen now (4.6 MB, 4:25 run time)
- AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli interviews SAFE Chair Doug Stewart during the Pilot Training Reform Symposium. Listen now (4.6 MB, 4:28 run time)
Online Articles:
- Flying magazine, Industry Descends on Pilot Training Reform Symposium
- Aero-News Network, Symposium Yields First Dividend
- AOPA eBrief, Building a better flight training experience, Symposium participants share insights
- Over the Airwaves, GA’s Most Serious Problems Recognized
- AVwebinsider Blog, Can Fatal Accidents be Reduced?
- AVweb, GA Problem is GA Solution: Instructors