Select WP-13 October ‘98
Aiming for New Safety Thresholds

Published by
The FAA’s Honolulu
Flight Standards District Office135 Nakolo Place
Honolulu, HI 96819

Safety Program Managers

Operations
Scott Allen
808/837-8307 or e-mail
scott.e.allen@faa.dot.gov

Airworthiness
Jim Hein
808/837-8335 or e-mail
jim.r.hein@faa.dot.gov

FAA Aviation Safety Program

Answers to common questions

The following questions were commonly asked during WINGS-AMT Safety Program meetings held during the past year on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai.

WHAT IS THE FAA AVIATION SAFETY PROGRAM AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO OFFER ME?

HOW DO I OBTAIN A COPY OF MY AIRMEN RECORDS?

HOW LONG DOES AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION STAY ON MY RECORD?

I’M NEVER SURE WHEN THERE’S GOING TO BE A WINGS-AMT SAFETY MEETING. HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE THEY’RE GOING TO BE?

(Article appears below)

Plus;

Your help is needed . . .

 

 

WHAT IS THE FAA AVIATION SAFETY PROGRAM AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO OFFER ME?

The Safety Program Mission-Objective is to:
"Promote safety and technical proficiency by providing guidance and support for the aviation community through education and cooperative efforts."

The goals of the Safety Program are to:

  1. Reduce the accident / incident rate
  2. Increase aviation safety through education
  3. Increase partnership with industry organizations
  4. Increase partnership with the general aviation community
 The Aviation Safety Program complements other aviation safety programs and activities by emphasizing that safety is an integral responsibility and priority for everyone involved in aviation at every level.

The FAA feels that it is vital to encourage participation in accident prevention activities by industry, civic organizations, and State and local aeronautical agencies. The leadership, expertise and diversity contributed by the people and organizations outside of the FAA vastly enhances the effectiveness of the safety program.

There are actually several parts to the FAA Aviation Safety Program; all of them can be accessed by you. Here’s a listing of the big pieces of the FAA Aviation Safety Program along

 

 

with a short descriptions. If you would like more information about any of these programs or would like to participate in any of them, please do not hesitate to contact Scott Allen or Jim Hein, the Honolulu FSDO Safety Program Managers.

Safety Meetings and Programs:
Meetings with pilots, mechanics, and other interested persons or organizations in order to provide the aviation community and help communicate updated information on changing regulations, new procedures, and safety techniques. Well-qualified people present subject material at these meetings based on accident / incident trends; both national and local.

 WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Award Program:
The purpose of the Wings Program is to provide pilots with the opportunity to establish and participate in a personal recurrent training program. The program is described in detail in the current issue of AC 61-91. There are several advantages for the participants in this program.

Aviation Maintenance Technician AWARDS Program:
This is a program that exists as an incentive to encourage maintenance technicians and employers to participate in initial and recurrent maintenance training courses. It is described in detail in AC 65-25A.

 

 

Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Awards Program:
This award is named for Mr. Charles Taylor, the mechanic who built the engine and maintained the Wright Brothers airplane. It recognizes aviation maintenance personnel who have at least 50 years of experience in the aviation maintenance industry. It also recognizes the spouses of these airmen. The program is described in detail in AC 65-26B.

Aviation Safety Award Recognition Program:
The FAA recognizes that aviation safety is enhanced and strengthened by the participation of the aviation community; and that individuals and / or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to safety should be acknowledged. The types of people and / or

organizations that might be considered for recognition could be exemplary volunteers, a respondent to an urgent situation, a safety initiator, an outstanding lifetime contributor, or other meaningful contribution which augmented safety in the aviation community.

Flight Instructor of the year and Maintenance Technician of the year award program:
This program is intended to reward outstanding contribution to the aviation industry by active flight instructors and maintenance technicians. Through National recognition of these people, the industry and public attention can focus on the vital contributions made and the roles that they played toward increased aviation safety.

 

 

Aviation Safety Program Library:
The FAA Aviation Safety Program maintains a well organized library with current pamphlets, current videos, and ready made presentations which are available to the public.

Aviation Safety Counselor (ASC) Program:
ASC’s are a well-organized group of volunteers from different segments of the aviation industry and community. The individual tasks and projects associated with the FAA Aviation Safety Program are too numerous and complex to be accomplished by only the Safety Program Managers. ASC’s provide a vital link between the FAA and the community and help to accomplish a large portion of the Aviation Safety Program activities.

 Airman Counseling Program:
This program is to provide appropriate assistance and information to an airman through personal counseling. This counseling provides an individual the opportunity to directly receive help with an aviation safety related problem. The primary goal when conducting this counseling is to listen to the airman’s concerns and offer constructive advice that will enable the airman to improve his or her attitude, actions , or performance. It is normally provided by one of the SPM’s; perhaps with the assistance of another inspector if circumstances require detailed knowledge of a specialized activity. The program is intended to be completely non-threatening for the airman.

 

 

Remedial Training Program:
The goal of this program is to gain future compliance with FAA regulation through training. It is characterized as an alternative to legal sanctions. It is a form of FAA Administrative corrective action that utilizes education to allow airmen who have committed an inadvertent violation (with certain eligibility criteria) to enhance their knowledge and skills in those areas related to the violation.

Pilot Aircraft Courtesy Evaluation (PACE) Program:
This program offers the general aviation pilots and aircraft owners an opportunity to receive a courtesy evaluation of their pilot skills and their aircraft’s airworthiness by the FAA without fear of punitive action.

FAA Aviation News:
This is a Nationally published Safety Program news magazine. It promotes aviation safety by calling the attention of airmen to current technical, regulatory, and procedural matters affecting the safe operation of aircraft.

Pacific Island Flyer:
This is a publication that is produced by the Honolulu Flight Standards District Office Safety Program. It covers subject matters which are of local interest. It is mailed free of charge to over 5000 airmen each issue. The Pacific Island Flyer (including back issues) is also available on the world wide web at http://www.aero.com/

Just go to that web address and click on Pacific Island Flyer under FAA Newsletters and Safety Seminars.

 

 

HOW DO I OBTAIN A COPY OF MY AIRMEN RECORDS?

If you’re looking for a quick answer about what’s on your record, the Airman Registry at Oklahoma City may be able to answer questions over the phone; but unless you’re among the very first callers, you are likely to spend some time holding on the phone. (Spend being the operative word, when you’re long distance to Oklahoma.) Their business hours are 07:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, and depending on Daylight Savings or Standard time, the time difference is either five or six hours. We suggest that can call at either 1:00 AM or 2:00 AM and be first in line. Of course, if you’re first in line, there is no line; sort of a take-off on the aphorism noting that unless you’re the lead dog, the scenery never changes.

If you want a copy of your full record, (medical records; knowledge test results; accident/incident/enforcement history; airman certification applications, etc.) mail a signed letter stating your full name, social security number, date of birth, and/or certificate number(s) and your current mailing address to:

Federal Aviation Administration
Airman Certification Branch, AFS-760
P.O. Box 25082,
Oklahoma City, OK 73125

Include a check or money order for ten dollars (U.S.) payable to the U.S. Treasury. If the cost of copying your record is less than ten dollars, a refund will be mailed to you. If you have additional questions, they can be reached at (405) 954-3261. Again, remember the time difference.

 

 

If you want a copy of your accident/incident/enforcement records, mail or fax a signed letter stating your full name, social security number, date of birth, and/or certificate number(s) and your current mailing address to:

Federal Aviation Administration
Airman Certification Branch, AFS-620
P.O. Box 25082,
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
fax (405) 954-4655

There is no charge for a request limited to accident/incident/enforcement records, and you should receive your copy in about two weeks. If you have additional questions, please call (405) 954-4173.

 Note: If you’re requesting accident/incident/enforcement records on an individual other than yourself, you will need to follow the procedure listed in AC-129-68, Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996.

HOW LONG DOES AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION STAY ON MY RECORD?

The basic answer is that a warning letter expires at two years, a suspension stays on a record five years, at which time it is expunged, and a revocation stays on a record permanently. So, if six years after a suspension, an airman is asked "have you ever had an enforcement action against your record?" The answer is still "Yes. Six years ago there was a suspension."

 

 

There have been some questions about the effect of expunging a record. It is merely that -- an internal directive to destroy certain records after five years – not a license to lie.

Looking at it from another direction, not only is honesty (still) the best policy, but an honest mistake is not likely to wreck a career. The result would very likely be different if a lie were told and the truth is later discovered. As ever, responsibility and integrity remain the cornerstones of the aviation community.

I’M NEVER SURE WHEN THERE’S GOING TO BE A WINGS-AMT SAFETY MEETING. HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE THEY’RE GOING TO BE?

Normally there is a WINGS-AMT Aviation Safety

Meeting at least once each month on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Here’s the general rule of thumb for each Island:

Oahu: You can usually plan for a safety meeting on the fourth Thursday each month. Meetings are from 7:00-9:00PM and held at the Flight Standards District Office.

In addition Oahu will host the Wings Weekend June 26th and 27th, 1999 and the Airworthiness MegaConference January 29th and 30th, 1999.

Maui: These safety meetings are normally planned for the third Thursday each month. They are usually held at the Maui Cameron Center Auditorium (by the hospital) from 7:00-9:00PM.

 

 

Big Island: These safety meetings alternate months between Hilo and Kona. They are held on the first Thursday of each month. In Kona, the meetings are held in the State Airports Conference Room on the second floor of the terminal building. In Hilo, the meetings are hosted by Phil Auldridge - Sporty’s.

Kauai Civil Air Patrol also hosts the FAA Safety Program meetings on an on-call (quarterly) basis. These meetings are usually held in conjunction with the CAP safety meetings.

Safety meeting announcements are published in the Pacific Island Flyer. (Note that the PIF is available on the World Wide Web - see article above.) The above listing is a general rule of thumb and is subject to change with short notice; so it’s a good idea to call the FAA FSDO office a day or two in advance to be sure that the date, time, or place is as planned.

See you at the next WINGS-AMT
Safety meeting.

 

 

Pacific Island Flyer October ’98
Note for all Seminars - No reservations are required unless otherwise noted. - Never a fee. - For more information contact the Safety Program Managers listed on the front page. All FAA Safety Seminars satisfy the requirements of AC-61.91H; the Pilot Proficiency Awards Program (Wings) and /or the Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program; AC-65-25A.

NOTE: For all islands, WINGS-AMT Safety Meetings are not held during the Summer months (June, July, August) or large holiday months (November, December).

 

Your help is needed . . .

CALL FOR YEARLY AWARDS NOMINATIONS

The FAA Aviation Safety Program is actively seeking out people who qualify to be recognized as the General Aviation Flight Instructor AND Maintenance Technician of the Year within the Honolulu Flight Standards District (that’s two separate awards). The competition is jointly sponsored by the FAA, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and the National Business Aircraft Association. This is a national competition that has been held every year since 1963.

Nominees must be active civilian certified flight instructors, certificated maintenance technicians, or FCC licensed technicians who maintain general aviation aircraft or accessories within the purview of the Honolulu FSDO.

Nomination application forms are available from the Safety Program Manager(s). The nominations should list as many achievements and specific contributions to aviation as possible …. in 500 words or less. Noteworthy achievements in enhancing aviation safety through airman education and advancement of professional standards will count heavily in the selection process. If you know of an airman who is exemplary, please give the SPM’s a call to nominate him or her.

Once the district selection has been made, the names and applications will be forwarded to the Regional SPM’s for further competition at the regional level. The regional winners will be considered for National recognition with an awards ceremony held in Washington D.C. Travel to the ceremony and all expenses will be provided for each National winner and one guest. Winners and their guests will visit FAA headquarters, attend a luncheon after the ceremony, and enjoy sightseeing opportunities in Washington D.C.

Let’s kokua this year to promote aviators from Hawaii to win at the National level.

CALL FOR ASC VOLUNTEERS

The FAA Aviation Safety Program is actively seeking out people to volunteer as Aviation Safety Counselors; both operations and maintenance. If you’re interested in volunteering some of your time and resources to solving problems and promoting aviation safety, please give one of the Safety Program Managers a call.

An ASC meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 10, 1998 where new ASC’s will be appointed and continuing ASC’s will be renewed.

 

Mahalo to all the ASC’s who have given so much during the past year

 

*Pacific Island Flyer, HomeHome

 

 

 

 

Mahalo to all the ASC’s who have given so much during the past year.