--by Jennifer Caron, FAA Safety Briefing
Just about every time that my brother and I visited our grandparent’s house, we would get a couple of those toy kaleidoscopes to play with. We’d fight tooth and nail over who would get the one with the best design on the canister, then run outside to point it towards the sun for the brightest light. Like pirates searching for treasure-laden ships, we’d stare deeply into the eyepiece, turning the cylinder in awe, as tiny pieces of colored glass transformed themselves into beautiful, symmetrical patterns before our eyes.
Convinced that some enchantment was afoot to explain these magical shapes inside the chamber, we’d break open our kaleidoscopes and discover, to our surprise, a simple collection of different shapes of glass, bits of beads, and a web of mirrors.
As we got older and somewhat wiser, we learned that a kaleidoscope is an intricate assembly of diverse parts, reflected by a prism of well-placed mirrors. These mirrors are the secret ingredient that harness the individual beauty of all the bits and pieces to create the harmonious and symmetrical patterns that we see inside the chamber.
Our general aviation (GA) community is similar to the inner workings of a kaleidoscope. It consists of different parts — different types of pilots and mechanics, on many different types of aircraft, representing different issues, needs, and concerns. Just like the kaleidoscope’s prism of mirrors, GA advocacy groups reflect and support each part of our aviation village to create the harmonious patterns that shape our aviation world.
Reflection
The FAA works closely with many GA advocacy groups that support the GA community. Two well-known organizations — the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) — bring like-minded aviators together for information and resources, and the promotion of general aviation. They provide our aviation community with resources such as access to new flight training information, accreditation and scholarship programs, continuing education, collaboration with industry and government organizations, and the valuable opportunity to network and learn from peers. As advocacy focal points, they serve as the leading voice for GA to promote policy, mediate, and leverage their memberships to join in support of GA causes and initiatives.
GA advocacy groups help create the patterns that shape our aviation world.
Let’s take a closer look at these two GA advocacy groups, and all they have to offer our community.
Symbiosis
AOPA’s stated mission is to protect your freedom to fly through education, resources, advocacy, keeping GA accessible to all, and supporting activities to ensure the long-term health of general aviation. Created in 1939 as the world’s largest community of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, AOPA promotes an environment that gives people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy aviation and all it has to offer.
In a nutshell, AOPA is a one-stop shop for all things GA, working to support the many facets of this industry. From private pilot to drone enthusiast to balloonist, AOPA members enjoy access to in-depth, online flight training tools, continuing education, safety resources, monthly magazines, newsletters, as well as flight planners and weather tools. You can also get advice from pilots and flight instructors (or share your knowledge with others), receive air safety alerts, and seek guidance on certification issues.
AOPA and the FAA work closely together to educate and provide outreach to the GA community, share information, and circulate best practices and lessons learned. A good example of this relationship is the GA Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC), of which the FAA and AOPA are members. This joint government/industry committee uses a data-driven approach to analyze GA accident causal factors and develop mitigation strategies. Committee members all work together through educational programs such as the #FlySafe campaign to promote best practices and safe flying techniques.
Another important area of coordination between the FAA and AOPA is with the development of the recent Airman Certification Standards (ACS), which replaces the Practical Test Standards, and provides a single-source set of standards for both the knowledge exam and the practical test. “The Airman Certification System Working Group is the best example of the FAA partnering with AOPA,” says Dave Oord, AOPA senior director of regulatory affairs and the working group’s chair. “We work together to improve the relevancy of training and testing and to align all the components of the airman certification system so that a pilot clearly understands what’s expected of them.”
Other notable FAA/AOPA partnership programs include their combined efforts to revamp AOPA’s 2009 Runway Safety course, which proved to be AOPA’s most highly-used educational tool (more than 60,000 completions).
Along with several other industry members, AOPA supports the FAA’s Know Before You Fly safety campaign designed to give Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operators information and guidance about safe and responsible flight.
As an FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) industry member, AOPA provides courses, seminars, and webinars as part of the FAA’s WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program, which includes targeted flight training designed to help pilots develop the knowledge and skills needed to achieve flight proficiency and mitigate risks. AOPA’s Air Safety Institute (ASI) develops many of these courses that provide credit for the WINGS program.
ASI is a component of the AOPA Foundation and works to improve GA safety through educational programs for pilots and flight instructors. “Whether you’re an AOPA member or not, all of ASI’s safety materials are free,” says Jill Tallman, instrument-rated private pilot and technical editor of AOPA’s Pilot Magazine and Flight Training Magazine. This includes their podcasts, videos, and in-person seminars on topics ranging from aerodynamics and aeromedical to thunderstorm avoidance and transition training. ASI also offers comprehensive, FAA-approved CFI renewal programs. Safety Spotlights include courses, accident case studies, real pilot stories, quizzes, videos, and publications relevant to each topic.
Synergy
Another key member of the GA community is the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA.
Founded in 1953 as “a local club for those who built and restored their own aircraft,” EAA’s mission is to make aviation easier, more accessible, more rewarding, and more fun … by embracing “The Spirit of Aviation” in all that we do.
EAA is an international aviation organization that not only caters to amateur-built, restorers, and light plane aficionados, but also fosters every aspect of aviation in our diverse community of pilots and enthusiasts. EAA’s online resources keep you informed with extensive libraries of DIY and “how to” homebuilder videos, workshops, webinars, technical manuals, along with discounts on flight planning and weather tools. There are extensive pilot resources, including EAA’s network of Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DARs) to help with airworthiness certification. In addition, there are learn to fly videos, transition training, and forums to learn from experienced aviators.
The backbone of EAA is its network of local chapters that provide opportunities for pilots, instructors, and enthusiasts from a wide range of aviation interests and backgrounds to share knowledge, learn and discuss different ways to approach flight scenarios, promote safety, and improve decision-making skills. EAA also sponsors local fly-ins, and groups such as the EAA/IMC and EAA/VMC Clubs, which promote proficiency and safety in instrument flying.
EAA’s aviation safety programs guide members in building and flying their aircraft through FAA-accredited programs such as the EAA Technical Counselors — experienced builders, restorers, and mechanics available to assist, and EAA Flight Advisors — flight instructors and experienced aviators who help members determine if their piloting skills are matched to the aircraft they are looking to build or fly.
In addition to its safety programs, EAA hosts presentations with the FAASTeam to address the primary accident causal factors that continue to plague the GA community. Activities, courses, seminars, and webinars are available through FAASafety.gov, and many of these qualify for WINGS credit.
Partnered with the FAA in safety, EAA currently co-chairs the GAJSC, and is highly focused on reducing loss of control accidents with its Founder’s Innovation Prize annual program. EAA also promotes the #Fly Safe and the Know Before You Fly campaigns, the latter as a joint effort with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). “EAA has a steep history of working in partnership with the agency, with the common goal of ensuring safety and enabling innovation for the betterment of general aviation,” explains Sean Elliott, EAA Vice President of Advocacy and Safety. “EAA provides subject matter expertise and collaboration in a way that truly benefits the FAA and provides a valued resource for reaching the safety goals which we all strive to achieve.”
Of particular note is EAA’s Type Club Coalition (TCC), an organization of owners and builder groups with extensive information on specific aircraft makes and models. Along with training programs and best operating procedures, TCC gives members the chance to learn from those who have already worked on similar projects. (See this issue’s Angle of Attack department for more on the TCC).
EAA offers still more opportunities to learn through its aviation education and outreach programs. Of note are the Sport Air Workshops, which are traveling hands-on help for builders, the EAA Air Academy for youth, and the Young Eagle flights, designed to introduce both adults and kids to the joys of aviation.
EAA is perhaps best known for AirVenture, its annual summer gathering of aviation enthusiasts in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Dubbed the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” this week-long event attracts more than a half a million visitors with over 10,000 aircraft. AirVenture attendees can participate in hands-on workshops, informative events, educational programs, and just the plain good fun of being with fellow aviation enthusiasts and indulging in the delights of gawking at miles of airplane eye-candy.
Shaping Your Community
Regardless of your certificate or skill level, you can benefit from the contributions that organizations like AOPA and EAA make to our multi-faceted GA “kaleidoscope” community.
Jennifer Caron is an assistant editor for FAA Safety Briefing. She is a certified technical writer-editor, and is currently pursuing a Sport Pilot Certificate.