Mooney aircraft owners from around the country took part in pilot proficiency programs (PPP) in Burlington, Vt. in September and Palm Springs, Calif. in October, the final course for 2004.

Hosted by the Mooney Airplane Pilots Association (MAPA) Safety Foundation, Inc., the PPP is a three-day ground and flight instruction program specifically for Mooney pilots to give them the necessary training to meet ongoing FAA requirements.

In each PPP, pilots take part in 14 hours of ground training on topics including the following:

• weight and balance,
• airspeed and performance,
• aircraft maintenance,
• emergencies,
• aircraft systems,
• runway environment,
• aviation physiology and more.

Participants also receive four hours of flight instruction with a Mooney-specific instructor, who covers techniques in VFR and IFR flight. Upon course completion, eligible pilots are endorsed for their biennial flight review and instrument proficiency check, as well as receive a FAA Wings Program certification.

In addition, sales representatives from Mooney Airplane Company have recently taken a more active role in the PPP. Mooney team representatives fly in on demo planes to interface with attendees and answer questions about Mooney’s new products, availability of parts and service packages and more.

“Participation in the PPP events throughout the year is very important to us in that it helps us personally demonstrate our commitment to quality customer service,” said Dave Copeland, vice president of sales and marketing with Mooney Airplane Company. “This is an excellent opportunity for us to meet face-to-face with our owners, find out their needs and desires, and then do our best to fulfill them.”

The PPP events are held five to six times a year at various locations throughout the United States. The cost for the course is $695. Mooney owners interested in participating in 2005 should contact MAPA at (210) 525-8008.

FMI: www.mapasafety.com, www.mooney.com