SAFE Members Create “Teaching and Testing CFIT Avoidance”

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) recently delivered the eighth in its series of “Seminar-in-a-Box” (SIB) products for use by the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam). The SIBs are designed to facilitate interactive discussion among instructors, examiners, and FAASTeam members on topics related to flight training and accident prevention. They further encourage the sharing of best practices in an effort to reduce the fatal accident rate.

Entitled Teaching and Testing CFIT Avoidance, the latest seminar was prepared by SAFE members and Master Instructors Bill Castlen, Hobie Tomlinson, and Doug Stewart. Tomlinson is also the 2012 National Flight Instructor of the Year; Stewart is the 2004 National Flight Instructor of the Year. The General Aviation Joint Steering Committee identified Controlled Flight Into Terrain as the number two fatal accident category over the last decade.

Prior to nationwide deployment, each SIB is reviewed and accepted by AFS-850. Teaching and Testing CFIT Avoidance follows the current quarterly topic, Takeoff and Initial Climb, which was also developed by SAFE volunteers. The next forum in the series will address Loss of Control. SAFE represents nearly 700 of the industry’s top aviation educators, including the majority of Master Instructors as well as numerous local, regional, and national General Aviation Awards winners.