March/April 2017 FAASTeam Newsletter

Hello everyone!

Spring is almost here and soon many more pilots will be taking to the air again. We have some good presentations lined up in Approved Resources for improving safe flying skills for you and your representatives to use in your seminars and webinars. For example, see the 25 Tips for Summer Flying and the topics of the month for March (Maneuvering Flight) and April (Mountain Flying).

Be sure to read “Proficient Pilots Train to Fly Another Day” by Jay Flowers. Jay provides some creative suggestions about reviewing aircraft charts and running numbers, and looking at different scenarios — perfect things to do right now before getting back in the air.

UAS news/highlights — As of March 7th, the number of people registered for the ALC-451 Part 107 course is 56,734. Of those, 33,501 have completed and passed the end of course exam.

Moving on to the industry and FAA collaboration efforts with regard to UAS, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and industry have been holding meetings with their members and the FAA, to provide input into the operations of UAS and regulatory input to the FAA. These meetings have produced a very good understanding on what the 107 operators would like to see in the regulations, and how the operators interface with the FAA. The FAA has gained invaluable knowledge in the use of UAS in the National Airspace System and ways to integrate them safely into the NAS.

The FAASTeam is looking into building a preflight presentation for sUAS and hobbyists, to ensure the sUAS they’re flying is safe for flight.

Start it on fire, secure the engine, establish a glide to somewhere in the middle of nowhere, touch down safely on an open section of road or narrow grassy field, all from the comfort of your favorite chair.

Flying from the comfort of your favorite chair allows you the “undistracted” opportunity to dig back into those logbooks and manuals that you probably have not looked at for some time. As responsible airmen, we know that two of the most critical safety of flight tasks are performance, and weight and balance and yet they are the simplest tasks we have as responsible airman.  

14 CFR Part 91.103 in part states:

“Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. This information must include … Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual containing the Take-off and landing data …”

Like many of us, you probably familiarized yourself with your flight manual years ago when you first purchased the aircraft. Most likely, there haven’t been any significant changes to the aircraft since. However, I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I forget - especially when it comes to anything I did 15 years ago. The point here is, take another look at your flight manual, and do so with the conviction that the data you review has value, and is important in your day-to-day flying safety.

Here’s an example. Take a moment and list the hottest or coldest temperatures you would normally fly in, the highest airport you would normally fly in and out of, figure all at the maximum gross for your aircraft, and use the smooth dry runway with no wind scenario. Making these sorted few calculations for your aircraft you will find that if the temperature is less than “X,” or greater than “X” at gross weight, with no wind and dry runway, that your airplane can be landed in “X” amount of runway, or needs “X” amount of runway to operate safely EVERY TIME, ALL OPERATIONS.

Since the outcome is mainly controlled by you, the pilot, add a percentage or personal minimum adjustment as needed for your skill level, keeping in mind that the charts for your aircraft are based on a PROFICIENT Pilot at the controls of a new, not tired, aircraft. If you want to tighten up the numbers, you must train regularly, or you will eventually bend an airplane.

Training is basically an active and diligent action to improve your knowledge and skills in the aircraft you fly. Whether you decide to simply train a couple of times per quarter with a local flight instructor, or you have enjoyed the training benefits of FAASafety.gov and the WINGS program for example, active participation will increase your knowledge and skill level to a point higher than the minimum standards. Think of proficiency as the fudge factor that will allow you the time and perception necessary to prevent bending metal or causing injury.

As general aviation pilots, we sometimes forget about the necessity for proficiency and instead mistake competency as the goal. Although aviation is safer today than it ever has been, it is important to take the time to improve our skills and remain well above the competent base line so this trend will continue.

Safety is a motivated action which requires attention, skill, and refreshment throughout time.

Fly Safe!

Dr. Bill Johnson, the FAA Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Human Factors, is potentially planning another Maintenance Human Factors Train the Trainer course this year.

The course is not a study in human factors, but is designed to train AW FPMs on how to prepare Human Factors presentations for IA Renewal Seminars, or whenever the opportunity arises otherwise. It will focus on human factors information delivery methods. First offered last August in Oklahoma City, it was very successful.

We are looking for 12 AW FPMs who would like to attend the course this year. If you are interested, please e-mail Jim Hein (jim.r.hein@faa.gov) to get on the list. Dates have not been set, and the course will only be scheduled if there is enough interest.

Congratulations to Ashley Volpicelli on being selected as the AVS Administrative Employee of the Year. Many of you have worked with Ashley on Master Pilot and Master Mechanic Awards, or FAASTeam Representative IDs. She does a great job supporting all of us, and we are very happy to have her on our team. Please be sure to take a moment to send her your congratulations.

FPMs – Did you know that there is a great educational tool on runway safety available for your use? It’s called the Indoor Airport. This is a walkable-size airport that can be displayed inside a hangar.  It brings airport operations to life from a unique perspective.

The Indoor Airport has two runways, taxiways, a ramp area, and uses current airport signage. The Indoor Airport can be used with students, as well as seasoned aviators, to expand their knowledge of ATC communications, aircraft movements, and how runway incursions happen.

Scenario based training is used to demonstrate critical airport safety concerns such as runway incursions. The Indoor Airport gets everyone involved in understanding airport safety by allowing attendees to role play during the analysis of selected scenarios.

For more information and ordering details, see the Indoor Airport tab on our National Sharepoint Site (note;link only works for people with FAASTeam sharepoint access)

To ensure delivery prior to your event, order FAA Safety Briefing magazines by the dates listed below.

Very few extra copies are printed for each issue. If you know of an event during the year where you will need a one-time amount over your regular copies, please place an order in advance. Contact Felice.Brunner@faa.gov.

Order FAA Safety Briefing (FAASB) magazines on or before the following dates:

• July/August "Aeromedical" order by May 15
• September/October "CFI Refresher" order by July 15
• November/December "Winter Currency" order by September 15