Mon, May 09, 2011
Two-Day Event Was 'Fast-Paced, Productive' -- And Then
Some
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. Unfortunately; a few of the
Alphabets and Aero-Companies didn't agree... as 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.

The recent Pilot Training Reform Symposium chaired by SAFE
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 address on the second day of the event, FAA
Administrator Randy Babbitt said he was "delighted to be [there]
with the movers and shakers of the flight training community," and
that the 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 volunteers are 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.
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