Accidents after maintenance

September 24, 2022  /  Scott Jones  /  Source

Flying your aircraft after the annual is always exciting, especially if you haven’t flown in awhile. However now is the time to be even more thorough than you usually are because people can make mistakes. People can get distracted and you are the PIC. Here is a recent FAA safety team publication on preflight after maintenance.

https://medium.com/faa/advanced-preflight-after-maintenance-196e847b9f07

GA accident data 2019-2022

May 09, 2022  /  Scott Jones

As a FAAST representative and examiner, I see my number one priority as preventing accidents/incidents. Here is the most recent data shared with me by FAAST. As usual, I highly recommend taking as many of these online courses as you can tolerate. They are great and moreover, get you close to the continuing education that is the hallmark of a professional pilot. Private Pilots accidents, LOC-I, CFIT, and pilot deviations are all areas of opportunity for great improvement.

FAA Safety, GA Flight Data (FOQA)

December 23, 2020  /  Scott Jones

This is a great new tool for those of you that would like to improve GA safety (all of us). Essentially, it is applying to GA what has been going on in the Air Lines for quite a while now. It takes data from devices, de-identifies it, and generates reports/data for improving leading causes of GA accidents. Knowing is half the battle - GI Joe. Check it out, sign up if you feel comfortable. Again, this is not new to aviation, just new to GA and there is a reason the Air Line safety record is so high.

https://medium.com/faa/aircraft-performance-monitoring-24eaaaaf6b42

My Philosophy on Checkrides

November 05, 2020  /  Scott Jones

Checkrides should be a learning experience (but not necessarily in the case of formal teaching). Everything should be done in accordance with the ACS/PTS. Perfection is not the standard. If you know what is in the standard and you perform to that standard, you will pass your checkride. That said, there are some things that are subjective. For example, on page A-9 of the Private Pilot ACS (June 2018), the words “consistently exceeds tolerances” and “Failure to take prompt corrective action when tolerances are exceeded” are written. To me, that means that exceeding one tolerance in the ACS does not indicate a need to disapprove the applicant so long as the aircraft is brought back into tolerances “promptly”. Consistently is something that happens again, and again. Promptly means little or no delay…immediately. (Google Dictionary) Disapprovals are tough to write and not fun for either person involved. What they truly mean is that you need more training and/or that there were gaps in your knowledge/training. Examiners are checking your training program as well as the work of the CFI against the standard set forth by the FAA. The ACS/PTS is the prescribed MINIMUM standard. Issuance of your temporary airman certificate is a license to learn. As a DPE, I want every candidate to be successful and learn something.

FAA UPDATES SFAR 118

July 07, 2020  /  Scott Jones

The FAA has issued an amendment to Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 118 https://bit.ly/31wjLGZ, which provides relief for certain persons and operations during the public health emergency concerning COVID-19.The amendment recognizes that even as stay-at-home advisories are lifted, airmen continue to experience difficulty complying with certain training, recency, checking, testing and duration requirements. The amendment extends some medical certificate relief that the original SFAR provided and expands medical relief to people whose certificates will expire in the coming months. It also expands relief to a new population of airmen who may be unable to satisfy training and qualification requirements due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Those who may be affected by this amendment should carefully review the eligibility, conditions, and duration of each section of relief to ensure compliance. The FAA has revised its FAQ page at https://bit.ly/38gIUqi (PDF) to help explain the amended regulatory relief.

Commercial MilComp

November 20, 2019  /  Scott Jones

If you are considering the Air Lines, let me help! I can process your flight instructor rating based on military competency quickly and without a visit to the FSDO. As a veteran military pilot, I speak form 8, 942, NATOPs, etc and can quickly ascertain your eligibility, process your application, and hand you your temporary airman certificate in the same day. Please book an appointment and complete the form to speed up the process prior to our meeting. The use of IACRA will greatly enhance the accuracy and value of your time. Please provide your FTN number clearly in the form.

Thun Field

November 11, 2019  /  Scott Jones

FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education

Safety Alert - Pierce County Airport - Thun Field (KPLU) Washington State
Notice Number: NOTC9832

Be advised: Pierce County Airport - Thun Field (KPLU) has received threats on two different occasions from an anonymous individual who has threatened to shoot aircraft that fly over or near 224th & Meridian. The individual made emphasized threats for all aircraft and especially an aircraft described as “the red single engine plane.”  Within the threatening messages there are numerous phrases that indicate that this individual is highly agitated by noise emanating from aircraft overhead at this location.

From reasonable research, it appears that 224th & Meridian is approximately three miles south of the Pierce County Airport.

Lt. Brian Lund is the point of contact for the criminal investigation and can be reached at (253) 798-7244.

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