The FAA Throws Its Weight Behind Aggressive SAFE Initiatives

Last week was a most interesting week. After year's of controversy and turmoil, the folks of SAFE proved that their abdication from NAFI was on point and that they could, and did, offer a refreshing and aggressive new attitude for an industry that has victimized itself, from within, by refusing to adopt better, safer, more modern practices. In doing so, they hope bring this industry out of the doldrums that have clobbered us for decades.

Surprisingly; the FAA was a big part of the action... and in a most positive way. 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 -- and added A LOT of solid info to the mix. They didn't take over, they didn't play FAA Overlord... they participated, discussed and learned from one of the most expert assemblies of flight training advocates ever gathered together.

This was in contrast to some noticeable no-shows. Both EAA and NAFI failed to participate while GA Manufacturer Piper was a no-show (quite a contrast to Cessna's aggressive participation) and Cirrus' embattled CEO, Brent Wouters (originally on the sked), apparently couldn't be bothered to show up either. And AOPA's Craig Fuller wasn't there, either (though one of their more credible flight training advocates was)... which was probably for the best... because this was not about AOPA (or the attendant self-promotion that follows them wherever they go... ad nauseum)... but about problems that much of AOPA has been hiding for a while now.

We've had a few folks ask us why we've given so much attention and 'ink' or air-time to the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE)... and the results of the recently concluded Pilot Training Reform Symposium should now be all the justification we'll ever need for our decision to make sure that the efforts of this organization were covered aggressively.

ANN is proud to be a part of the SAFE revolution and feel quite strongly that more revolutions of this kind are not only likely, but CRITICAL if aviation is to survive. Just wait 'til you see some of the ideas we have on that front...

FMI: www.safepilots.org, www.PilotTrainingReform.org, www.faa.gov, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews