RIP: FAA “Wings” Program

December 28, 2007

I’ve written about FAA’s slaughter of the “WINGS” program for pilot proficiency.  It dies officially on December 31, 2007.  I just received my last Wings certificate, Level 4. Of course FAA neglected to send the actual wings that I earned.

Today, more proof that the so-called replacement program is worthless. 

I received an email today from FAA Safety, saying I have 1.0 Accredited Activity ”credit ajustment” [sic].  So what is it?  Went to the new/”Plucked Wings” site to see.  It’s virtually impossible to tell what this is (in fact, there appear to be two identical credits…)  Everything is in FAA code.  No real course/seminar names or dates.

And the recurrent training flights I’ve been trying to get credit for since summer?  Catch 22!  I cannot apply for the credit unless I list a validator (because we pilots are habitual liers, you know).  Well, my instructor still has not signed up for this program (I even had to send him the link because he never heard of the program).  He’s the only one who can validate the training.  And I cannot request credit without listing a validator.  He has not signed up.  So I’m stuck.

And this is one of MANY big problems with the Plucked Wings program.  Under the old program, I had a card that got signed off by a real instructor for each activity, when I did the flight (before I wrote him the check). Then I copied the card and mailed it to the FAA, always retaining my own record.  I had control. 

With Plucked Wings, there is no card.  It’s all in the FAA database and my instructor has not signed up, so there is essentially no record of this training.  Since he has not signed up, do I stop payment on the check?  It’s all far too complicated.

So, farewell and RIP: “WINGS”.   Good riddance: Plucked Wings.

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Posted by brianflys

Winter in San Diego

December 23, 2007

Well, winter has finally hit San Diego.  Warm and sunny day today.  But it will be cold tonight.  Maybe even some frost on the golf courses.

Happy Holidays!

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Posted by brianflys

FAA Clipped our “Wings”!

December 6, 2007

Yes. FAA clipped our “Wings.”

Wings?  FAA’s “Pilot Proficiency Award Program“.  I’m at Level 4.  I’ve earned a distinctive FAA wings lapel pin (official FAA issue, not crap from a novelty store) for each level, plus an FAA certificate attesting to each level. Plus it satisfies the biennial flight review requirement.   There are 20 Wings levels that can be earned at 12-month intervals.  But it all ends on December 31, 2007.

FAA Wings Level I

Now I’m not saying the Wings program was perfect.  There’s lots of room for improvement, including the recognition aspect.  Any good management reference will tell you that performance is greatly enhanced by recognition. The military has medals and rank, the corporate world has titles and perks, and professional pilots have their wings.  But the little FAA “Wings” program lapel pins may not have resonated with some pilots, so it may have been one reason the Wings program is not as widely used as FAA Safety people would like. Did anyone ask us what might be more effective? Anyone? Anyone?  

Also, some people (like the insurance industry) were concerned that more specific guidance was needed for the knowledge and flight instruction aspects of the program.  So Wings can be improved, but it does work.

Pilots who used the Wings program were safer, having attended safety seminars and flying at least 3 hours with an instructor (covering a set of specific task areas) to earn each level.  Of course, this program requires an actual FAA human being to review and approve the applications and send out the wings and certificates.  Horrors!  Actually providing a service directly to pilots?  Can’t be spending FAA money on staff time actually looking at pilot accomplishments and mailing out certificates and pins!

Solution?   FAA kills the Wings program. 

Of course, in a move reminiscent of the movie “Body Snatchers”, FAA slipped in a lifeless, soulless, pod that they are calling the new Wings program.  The new official name is ”Pilot Proficiency Program“.  Didja notice they dropped “Award” from the name?  

So now we have the new, lame, completely-without-a-pulse ”Wings”.  Lots of mind-numbing on-line processes and registered instructor validation (because FAA doesn’t trust us, of course).  A complicated system of knowledge and flight tasks and timelines.  Would make the IRS proud. And what do you get with this new program?  To quote FAA, “…the added level of safety and professionalism…”  Safety is its own reward, doncha know?

They did simplify one thing.  Instead of 20 levels, there are now three phases: “Basic”, “Advanced”, and “Master.”  Maintain the Basic phase, and it satisfies the biennial flight review requirement.  No certificate (unless you print one yourself). No wings. Nothing except a database record somewhere at FAA. 

Satisfy the “Advanced” phase and you get……Nothing!  Satisfy the top “Master” phase and you get……Nothing! Again! But more of it.  Huh?

Wow.  You can just feel the air being sucked out of the program.  Instead of promoting and improving a program that worked, FAA basically killed it.  They gutted a program that really improved pilot safety.  And it killed one opportunity to provide some recognition, some sizzle, some light to pilots and the GA community. 

Hey FAA, bring back the REAL Wings Program!!!

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Posted by brianflys

Aerial photos on Thanksgiving

November 23, 2007

Instead of vegging in front of the TV watching football on Thanksgiving, I decided to take a quick flight and shoot some aerial photos.  The sun had finally burned off the marine layer clouds we get here in San Diego (low-level stratus clouds).  But there was still a pretty thick haze layer, probably a remnant of the fires of October and that didn’t bode too well for photos.  But what the heck, I figured it would be a good time to practice with sun angles and settings on the camera. Flew the VFR Corridor west of the downtown area, and did get a couple of shots of the waterfront area. The haze affected the sharpness and color saturation of the picures, but I was able to tweak a couple of them so they are ok for smaller images like on a web page.  This is about as bad air conditions as I would want to have to deal with.  Here’s a sample:

Of course, having some scattered clouds just at the point of burning off makes for some interesting pictures as well.  Here is Newport Beach, where I am just above the remaining clouds when this picture was shot.

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Posted by brianflys

Grumman Tiger – Orphaned No More?

November 17, 2007

I have the privilege, joy, and responsibility of owning and flying a Grumman Tiger originally manufactured in 1977 by Grumman American.  But my Tiger–just like every piston aircraft manufactured by American Aviation, Grumman American, Gulfstream American, American General, and Tiger Aircraft–is an orphan.

These companies are no longer in existence, either liquidated or morphed into other companies no longer in the piston aircraft business.  So today my Tiger is an orphan, relying on the ongoing support of the American Yankee Association, and companies like Fletchair for continued service expertise and parts availability.  But that is about to change.

Enter True Flight Aerospace.  This new company, owned and led by Kevin Lancaster, a prior owner of two Tigers, acquired the assets (parts, tooling, etc), and type certificate for the Tiger and the other 2-place and 4-place piston singles in this line from now-defunct Tiger Aircraft. 
                                                      

So far, Kevin seems to be starting strong, with an aggressive schedule to get his plant in Valdosta, Georgia up and running, and producing AG5B Tigers by the middle of 2008. Although Kevin does not have aircraft manufacturing experience, his management team includes guys with many years experience manufacturing our bonded aluminum honeycomb aircraft.  And Kevin’s experience as a past owner gives him the first-hand knowledge of how the Grumman line (although manufactured by a succession of companies, most people just use the tag “Grumman” when referring to these planes) are class leaders in performance.  No other fixed gear, fixed-pitch prop aircraft can match the combination of speed, maneuverability, fuel economy, and real-world hauling capability of our Grumman birds.  With avgas prices topping five dollars a gallon in the US, class-leading efficiency and fuel economy becomes a competitive advantage.

The most impressive thing from my perspective is Kevin’s earnest efforts to reach out to the existing Grumman owner and pilot community for support and suggestions for how True Flight can improve on past manufacturers. Equally impressive (because I’m the owner of a 30-year-old plane) is Kevin’s commitment to embrace and support the existing fleet.  This is a big change from Tiger Aircraft, who virtually ignored the existing fleet and owners. It’s still early and there are many hurtles ahead for True Flight as they re-start production of aircraft and parts, but the first steps look like they are in the right direction.  I, for one, am really rooting for Kevin and his company.  I hope they have found the elusive formula of financing, product knowledge, manufacturing efficiency, marketing acumen, competitive pricing, and leveraging the legacy fleet, to succeed.

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Posted by brianflys

Nice day to fly

November 14, 2007

Ok, here’s the first post.  It’s a beautiful day to fly in San Diego today.  Very warm (89 degrees F!) and sunny with almost no wind out in Santee at Gillespie Field (KSEE).  But I’m at work in the office in San Diego.  Hope this weather holds till the weekend.  More interesting stuff to come, including aerial adventures, but this at least gets something on the blog.

Grumman Tiger waiting to play...

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Posted by brianflys

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