FAA Administrator To Keynote The Two-Day Event

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators GA Pilot Training Reform Symposium will kick off Wednesday morning, with as many as 300 invited participants expected to attend.

The symposium will focus on training reform as a cornerstone for reducing fatal accidents, increasing student pilot starts, and improving student retention.

Participation in the symposium is by invitation from SAFE as well as by request from stakeholders in the pilot training process. At least 150 top aviation professionals are expected to convene at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, GA. According to Symposium Committee Chair, Bob Wright, “We could expand to accommodate up to 300 attendees if demand dictates.”

In addition to finalizing keynote speakers, SAFE is assembling as many as 24 distinguished individuals drawn from industry, academia, the flight instructor community, and FAA who will be divided among six moderated panels. The panelists will propose necessary changes to training doctrine, standards, and curricula, as well as flight instructor training, testing, and accreditation that will ensure a robust future for general aviation.

Breakout groups, charged with further analyzing the issues raised and crafting additional recommendations, will convene on day two of the event. Summary reports from the breakout sessions will be presented to a special Industry Leadership Panel. Critical recommendations will be forwarded to specific organizations, including the FAA, for further action against an established timeline.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt will deliver a keynote speech during the symposium. The administrator will address “Meeting the Training Challenges of the Second Century of Flight” on the second day of the two-day event. Other speakers include Mel Cintron, Manager, General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS-800), FAA Headquarters.

Breakout panel discussions on a variety of topics will be led by:

• Safety – J.J. Greenway, Chief Flight Instructor & Safety Director, AOPA Aviation Safety Institute
• Growth – Julie Filucci, Manager, Cessna Pilot Centers
• Doctrine – Robert Wright, President, Wright Aviation Solutions LLC
• Standards – Pat Knight, Seven-time Master Instructor & Designated Pilot Examiner
• Curricula – Rich Stowell, Rich Stowell’s Aviation Learning Center
• Aviation Educators – Mike Gaffney, Flightlogics Aviation Consulting
• Industry Leadership – Martha King, Co-Owner, King Schools, Inc.

As a key stakeholder in the symposium, ANN will be videotaping many of the speeches and panel discussions at the event. They will be archived on our website, as well as being presented as Aero-TV features.

FMI: www.pilottraining.org