CFI Info – The Gunslinger in All of Us
I got to know “The Gunslinger” at a world-famous aviation simulator training school. He sauntered into my multi-engine instrument refresher class, sporting aviator sunglasses and a white flying scarf tied skillfully around his neck. His ten-gallon cowboy hat boasted a snug fit. He packed a six-gun, pearl-handled attitude. He had come, to once again, tame the piston twin. The Gunslinger’s approach to engine failures was the “draw fast and shoot method.” His goal was to complete the process of: fly the airplane, identify, verify, feather and secure the failing engine in under four seconds. He was fast, but not accurate.
CFI Info – Fresh Air and Stalls
Forty years ago, when I was a fearful student pilot, my instructor, Jim, had a great teaching technique. It added fresh air to the stuffy cockpit and a new approach to demonstrating and recovering from power-off stalls. Many pilots tolerate stalls with anxiety, perspiration, eyes closed and a face set for impending death. Often the pilot does not breathe until the stall is complete; possibly thinking that might somehow prohibit losing control. Stalls are too often misunderstood and associated with unmanageable danger in the minds of most students. And rightly so….. because stalls are associated with a number one cause
Changes to CFI Rotorcraft PTS published on March 22, 2016; includes new policy on autorotations.
The FAA has published Change 1 to the Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Rotorcraft (Helicopter and Gyroplane) on March 22, 2016. The change is specific to the helicopter class rating and focuses on a change in the policy concerning the performance of autorotations during the CFI practical test. The updated PTS can be found at the following web address - https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_standards/media/FAA-S-8081-7B.pdf The change in policy effects the way the Flight Instructor practical test may be accomplished when testing autorotations. As in the past, instructional knowledge must be demonstrated on the practical test in autorotations, either straight-in or 180°
Is Your Flight Review Set to Expire, But You Can’t Fly With a CFI Because of COVID-19?
You may be able to extend your flight review grace period for up to three months by earning three WINGS credits. WINGS is the FAA’s Pilot Proficiency Program. You can get WINGS credits by going to FAASafety.gov. Hover over “Activities, Courses, Seminars & Webinars” then choose “Courses” for online training, or “Seminars & Webinars” if you prefer to earn credit by attending a live webinar. There are over 500 online courses and lots of webinars available. To complete a phase of WINGS , you’ll need to complete three flight credits when things get back to normal but to extend your flight
Reposted Advisory Circular 61-134 CFI Editorial Update
Advisory Circular 61-134 (General Aviation Controlled Flight Into Terrain Awareness) has had an Editorial Update (see the change bars, the date on the document 4/1/03 has not changed). PURPOSE OF THIS ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC). This AC highlights the inherent risk that controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) poses for general aviation (GA) pilots. This AC includes the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) common definition of the term CFIT; identifies some, but not all, of the risks associated with GA CFIT accidents; and provides some recommendations and strategies to combat CFIT within the GA community. This AC is not an all-inclusive document on
FAAST Blast —FAA Publishes Rule Removing CFI Expiration Dates, Issuing Medical Certificates After DUIs, The Importance of a Prop
FAAST Blast — Week of November 11 - 17, 2024 Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update FAA Publishes Rule Removing CFI Expiration Dates The FAA published a final rule eliminating expiration dates on flight instructor certificates, replacing them with recent experience requirements every 24 calendar months. Removing the expiration date on certificates will increase efficiency, cut costs, and align instructor certificates with other airman certificates such as private and commercial, which do not expire. Under the new rule, instructors must still renew their certificates every 24 calendar months by completing a flight instructor refresher clinic (FIRC), obtaining an additional