Who Knew? - University of North Dakota (UND) collects and collates flight data from any school

UND maintains a system called the NGAFID - National General Aviation Flight Information Database.  It can take data from G1000, ForeFlight with AHRS, and other types, and analyze this data against whatever parameters the school wants to track.  The system can have trigger parameters, such as if a propeller goes to redline, and produce a report on altitude, airspeed, GPS, and engine parameters if they are uploaded too.  UND doesn’t collect the data for any of its purposes; it merely provides the tool that is private to each school.  Interesting stuff.

MOSAIC

FAA released the already signed new regulations regarding Sport pilot certification and airplanes at Airventure on 22 July by the Secretary of Transportation. We have heard rumors that this was likely to happen for many months, and it finally did. You can get a copy of the FAA's summary at FAA.gov. It’s a whopping 712 pages. AOPA and EAA are conducting webinars in August to go over the changes. 

I’ll quickly summarize those changes that affect us as instructors and what changes we are likely to see at flight schools here. 

1. There is no weight limit any longer. The 600kg limit has been removed. 

2. Up to four seats

3. No limitation on retractable gear or variable pitch propeller airplanes

4. Still only one passenger

5. Can fly at night with a properly endorsed certificate; however, must hold a third-class medical or BasicMed. 

6. A Sport pilot can fly an airplane with a stall speed of up to 59 knots, and a private pilot can fly up to 61 knots

This means that we are going to see, in addition to sport pilots, Private and commercial, and even ATPs, being able to fly on only a driver's license. Yes, sport pilot privileges extend up the pilot certificate food chain. 

We will also see more sport pilot instructors being made and used as the eligibility requirements are lower. They only need a sport pilot certificate and 150 hours of flight time. There are knowledge tests and a checkride. No commercial or instrument rating required. 

Some of the unknowns that we are currently trying to figure out are:

1. If a pilot can fly using their driver's license if their current medical is being deferred

2. How long can a medical be deferred, and when does a pilot need to do something? What happens if they do nothing?

3. What will insurance companies require, or will they insure these pilots at all with the larger airplanes, etc?

More next month on this exciting change.

Updates to FAA Handbooks are coming.

Handbooks are being updated soon with addendums to cover the recent and soon to be new FARs around MOSAIC. No dates were given, but we expect them very soon. Handbooks with updates will be:

1. Airplane Flying Handbook

2. Pilots' Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

3. Weight and Balance Handbook

4. Powered Parachute Handbook

5. Weight Shift Control Flying Handbook

There are also changes in the knowledge test question banks to reflect the MOSAIC changes. 

We will send out an email and include any changes in our newsletter and Podcast.

FAA 141 Modernization points to Tiers.

There is a building consensus that recommendations to the FAA for new Part 141 rules will include different tiers with different qualifications and privileges. Currently, the subcommittee is considering four tiers, with the first tier being the easiest to qualify for. This could be a school with as few as one airplane and two instructors. It shows intent on the part of the operator and gets the ball rolling. 

In the second tier, after 24 months, examining authority can be given.

The Third tier is for larger schools, in particular colleges and universities.  It will contain alternate methods of renewing their certificate using data from a required Quality Management System (QMS). 

The last tier, Tier Four,  is for the career path schools.  Similar to the third tier, this will provide additional relief from administrative changes that currently require an inspector, among others.

There is also a broad consensus on a dedicated central office to handle 141 certification, regulation interpretation, and expert resources. This alone will be an enormous improvement in waiting times and consistency between FSDO inspectors. It will also help reduce the FSDO inspectors' workload and speed up certification, renewals, and other administrative issues that currently require an inspector's attention. 

 I’ll have more on this topic after this month's FAA 141 meeting. 

ProTips

1. Have two versions of a lesson plan. The first one is the entire lesson that assumes the learner hasn’t taken a ground school. The second one should assume they have and be around 5 minutes in length. 

2. When filing an alternate under IFR, file two, not just one. Choose the first one about ½ way to your destination. This gives you time to consider the weather at your destination and leaves plenty of fuel med options. File the second alternate very close to your destination airport. That way, if something happens at your destination airport, you are still very close to it at the alternate airport. 

3. Upgrade your phone to use Starlink, a satellite-based internet connection. T-Mobile and AT&T currently offer this service. It’s part of a solid off-airport survival strategy. Works anywhere you have a clear view of the sky.