AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2022 - 6

PRESIDENT 'S POSITION
School is still
in session
It's always learning season for pilots
BY MARK BAKER / President and CEO
AOPA Foundation Legacy Society member
THE WARMER WEATHER we're all feeling across the country also
brings the annual chorus of bells marking the end of the school
year. Millions of kids are busting though doors and streaming
outside, proclaiming their freedom from the rigors of the classroom.
It's time for them to put the books aside, kick back, and
just put life on cruise control for a few months. What a time it is.
For students, there's a season to learn. For pilots, education
is a year-round endeavor. No good pilot I know takes a week
off from learning if they want to stay a safe and proficient pilot.
Sure, there are many times that we just want to soar and get
above it all, but there is never a time for pilots to put education
on the back burner. It's always learning season for us. It
certainly is for me.
When a CFI or DPE says your certificate
is merely a license to learn, truer words
in aviation have never been spoken.
We can feel gratified that general aviation is coming off its
safest fiscal year, according to data that was analyzed by our
own AOPA Air Safety Institute. That is especially heartening
knowing that the skies have never been busier. More operations
can easily mean more mishaps, but we are staying safe
while staying aloft.
Are we happy? Yes. Satisfied? No. We'll never be complacent
as one accident is one too many. We need zero tolerance in aviation,
and we will do whatever it takes to keep us all stay safe,
in the air and on the ground. That is exactly the mindset of the
AOPA Air Safety Institute: reducing general aviation mishaps
by providing free educational resources and supporting initiatives
that improve safety. ASI Senior Vice President Richard
McSpadden and his team do an outstanding job engaging the
GA community through content that informs while it inspires.
I'm especially excited about two interesting ASI initiatives
we launched this year as we reach out and engage the full spectrum
of GA pilots. All in the name of life-saving education.
The first educational program addresses one of the top five
causes of fatal GA accidents: pilots flying VFR into instrument
6
AOPA PILOT / July 2022
meteorological conditions (VFR into IMC). And this one is preventable.
The new safety campaign-VFR into IMC: Avoidance
and Escape-will run through the rest of this year and feature a
range of content. The campaign will focus on addressing the most
significant cause of weather-related accidents in general aviation.
It's important to note that this initiative is not just for the
new pilot or the VFR pilot-it's for all aviators as one-third of
these accidents involve instrument-rated pilots. Every aviator
could use a bit of continuing education on this subject.
And for those who like to fly on, off, or above the beaten
path, the ASI team developed a new Backcountry Resource
Guide. Flying in the backcountry has grown in popularity, but
it also brings its own set of unique challenges and risks. ASI has
gathered a range of resources, such as videos, quizzes, and downloads,
to help start your safe journey into the backcountry.
Take a look at the ASI website (airsafetyinstitute.org) for a
variety of articles, videos, and courses to stay sharp.
For those just starting out on their (safe) pilot journey-
or ready to take off soon-AOPA's You Can Fly initiative has
launched a great new tool to make the most of training, make
it easier to understand progress, and perhaps lessen the cost
of your instruction.
The AOPA Flight Training Advantage (AFTA) was created
by our flight training team so that all students can stay on the
same page as their CFI and flight school and fully know where
they stand and need to progress. I'm sure you know that pilots
are planners and not big fans of uncertainty-this removes any
doubt you may have throughout your training.
Think about this program as an ongoing discussion between
you and your instructor, even when you're not together in the
flight deck or classroom. You'll always have real-time access
to your progress and next steps, while your CFI can track and
create lessons.
It may sound a little hokey, but when a CFI or DPE says
your certificate is merely a
license to learn, truer words
in aviation have never been
spoken. Stay flying, stay
informed, and stay safe.
mark@aopa.org
AOPA President MARK
BAKER is a commercial pilot
with single- and multiengine
land and seaplane ratings and
a rotorcraft rating.
http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2022

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