We still have 80 members. 54 dual and 26 individual. This number shifts around as we add and lose members. It will change as we have a new member Don Jennings. Welcome. Don is an instructor pilot. I'm sure he can set us on the right course to being a safer pilot completing our Wings along with Clint and others.
Elections are in May. Show up please. You may be elected. We have a slate to announce later. Still not to late to volunteer. Nominating committee is Ray Fine, Howard Wolford and Phyllis White. Let anyone of us know which job you want.

Caps have been ordered as per membership vote. Hope to have them by May 15 meeting. They will be our new Chapter caps keeping the strong, resilient mule logo symbolizing what our chapter is all about. They are priced at $6.00. We have about 25 old caps of different styles and colors that are souvenirs and collector items. Price has been reduced to $5.00. These are good caps. Sorry State, you voted to do away with the mule. BTW that decision, as most others, was not voted on by each chapter. Thanks members for all your support and enthusiasm for our chapter.

Thanks Ray

 

Questions About the New Pilot Proficiency Program

1. When does/did the old Pilot Proficiency Award Program (WINGS) become the new Pilot Proficiency Program?   When the automation at FAASafety.gov is completed and the AC is revised.  It should be in the next few months.  We'll make an announcement on FAASafety.gov.  There will be a grace period for people that have started under the old program so that they may finish.

2. FAA Advisory Circular 61-91H describes the current program we know as Wings; will the Advisory Circular be revised?  If so, when?  Yes, the AC will be revised….  In the next few months…
 
3. In the meantime…AC 61-91H states that the signature of a Safety Program Manager, Aviation Safety Counselor, or FAA inspector is required for proof of attendance at a safety seminar.  Should we still be using the 8.5 x 5.5 blue cards as the "proficiency record"? Yes, continue to use the cards for the Pilot Proficiency Award program.  

4. If so, is a signature required? Must the signature be from a FAASTeam program manager or representative? They should be signed by a FAASTeam Program Manager, a Representative or an Inspector.

5. If no signature is required, what should pilots write on the "Signature of SPM or Counselor" line in the "Safety Seminar Attended" section of the blue card? A signature is required.

6.  In the current program, we send our applications to our local FSDO.  Should we continue to do so in the new program?  (We've heard that, in the future, only select FSDOs will process award program applications.) In the new program all applications will be processed on-line.  None of the FSDOs will accept applications.  

7.  Where are the FAASTeam Regional Offices?  Is this where pilots should send their applications in the future? FAASTeam Regional Offices are the physical FAA building where the Regional FAASTeam Manager resides.  This is either at the FAA's Regional office or a FSDO.  However, airmen should send their applications to their local FSDO until we switch to the new automated program.

8.  We've heard pilots will be able to submit their application on-line.  When will this be available?  Will this be the only method in the future, or will pilots still be able to "snail mail" applications in? On-line applications will be available with the launch of the new program.  This will be the only method of applying for Wings.

9.  Once the new program is launched, can pilots still send the blue Wings cards for the six-month "overlap" period?  In other words, if a pilot completed the flight training and attended a seminar in the month prior to the new program launch, could he use that Wings card for credit in the new program? Training requirements for the new program will have to be completed after the launch of the new program….  If an airmen wishes to use old training they should complete their Wings under the old program.

Automating the program allows us to change the program to create incentives for airmen to get training continuously.  The new program will be based on a continuing sliding training scale…   So, each element of training that an airman completes will be placed on a time line.  When an airman has all the required elements within one year they qualify for Wings.  When one item falls off the end of the one year time line they do not qualify.  When the airman completes some training that qualifies for the element that fell off, they are qualified again..  

This will be explained much more clearly in the AC and on FAASafety.gov.  The complexity of automating this process is what has delayed the start-up and why we can't give an exact date that the new program will launch.  We have to make sure it will work properly before we invite airmen to participate in the new Wings Program.

10. If a pilot has earned phases in the Wings program, will they carry over into the new program?  The old phases will not carry over… The new program has 3 phases…Basic, Advanced and Master.  Each successive phase has increased requirements.  So, an airman will be qualified first for the Basic then the Advanced and then the Master… However, they can do them all in one year…   They can also loose the higher level qualification and still maintain the Basic…  It all depends on what training elements still remain on the one year time line….  The website will have a graphic depiction of each airman's time line and where the training elements lie on the timeline.  Airmen will also be notified via e-mail when an element is going to fall off the time line if it will cause them to loose a phase they have attained…

11. Will there still be 20 phases in the new program? No

12. Will the new program have the same recognition items (e.g., lapel pins for phases 1-10 and certificates for all phases)? Airmen will be able to print out a certificate that indicates their current phase at any time from the website.  Information will also be provided as to when their Flight Review, based on the Wings Program, expires because this will change as their training elements slide down the timeline.  The site will also print out a wallet sized card with the info.

The system will also allow airmen to cause FAASafety.gov to e-mail their current Wings qualification information to anyone they choose… ie. their insurance agent…  

Lapel pins will not be provided by the FAA…  However, we may authorize a vendor to supply lapel pins in the 3 new phases which airmen could elect to purchase.  There would have to be a connection between the website and the vendor so that the vendor can verify that the airman had earned the pin…

13. Is there a listing of FAASTeam Program Managers and Representatives available? FAASafety.gov will contain a listing of all FAASTeam personnel including Representatives.  This new feature will launch about the same time as the new Wings program….

The information contained in this email was recently released to AOPA for further distribution.  I hope this information answers any questions that you may have had regarding the WINGS program.

Regards,

Dennis R. Pratte
Manager, Central Region FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam)

10801 Pear Tree Lane, Ste. 250
St. Louis, Missouri 63074

(314) 890-4851 Office