Nick Sabatini Spends Friday With Boyer And Company
FAA Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification
Nicholas Sabatini spent much of Friday at AOPA headquarters in
Frederick (MD) getting an insider's look at general aviation.
"Nick Sabatini is an important member of the FAA leadership,"
said AOPA President Phil Boyer, who personally led the FAA
official's tour of AOPA. "The work he oversees affects GA at almost
every level — from pilots' and mechanics' certificates,
medicals, right up through the airworthiness of our aircraft."
Sabatini saw firsthand the many services AOPA offers GA pilots
day-in, day-out through the AOPA Pilot Hotline, the Medical
Certification staff, and the Membership Services Hotline. "We
wanted him to understand that when AOPA represents GA pilots, we
really do talk to them and get a real feel for what's important to
them every single day," said Boyer.
During Sabatini's visit, Boyer showed him the AOPA Win-A-Twin
Sweepstakes better-than-new Twin Comanche, which has in its panel
many of the newest innovations available to GA pilots today that
enhance aviation safety.
Boyer also explained how AOPA's reach means that the association
can conduct statistically valid polls and research to back up its
positions, such as the data AOPA provided to both the FAA and the
Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy about the
effects of the charity/sightseeing rule.
With aviation security such a concern for official Washington,
Boyer showed Sabatini two of AOPA's most effective tools for
keeping pilots informed about temporary flight restrictions —
the scrolling red bar at the very top of the AOPA Online home page,
which lists Presidential TFRs and links to the specific NOTAMs, and
Real-Time Flight Planner, the member-benefit flight planner that
has graphical depictions of TFRs, both active and soon-to-be
active.
Sabatini also met with Bruce Landsberg, the executive director
of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. Landsberg explained the many
safety programs, including interactive online safety courses and
in-person safety seminars that the foundation offers free to all
pilots — not just AOPA members. Landsberg pointed out that
many of the programs were developed in direct consultation with the
FAA.
As associate administrator for regulation and certification,
Sabatini oversees the development of regulations; the
certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of
aircraft; and the certification of pilots, mechanics, and others in
safety-related positions. He holds an airline transport pilot
certificate with single-engine land, multi-engine land, and
rotorcraft/helicopter ratings, numerous type-specific ratings, and
flight and ground instructor certificates. Prior to joining the
FAA, he was a pilot for the US Customs Service and the New York
City Police Department.