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Before you apply to be a volunteer pilot for PALS, please take the time to read and understand our Pilot Handbook, recommendations, guidelines and other information. PALS also encourages all pilots interested in volunteering to learn more about PIC qualifications before flying.
We had an exciting town hall and were honored to have retired USAF flight test engineer and SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Operator, Phil Soucy. We gathered his responses to your questions as well as the chat room transcript.
Read the latest Pilot Safety Committee News from our recent newsletter tips and insights from one of our volunteer pilots, Terry Flood.
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Pilot Safety Committee News - Terry Flood
A few weeks ago on Feb 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil made his prediction of 6 more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day. Like Phil, many pilots hibernate for the winter, and will wait out the 6 more weeks before deciding to fly more often, or perhaps elect not to fly at all until warmer weather has arrived.
Simply ask yourself how many hours have I flown since November? Is it less than what I have flown in May thru October? Do you have your 3 landings in over the past 90 days, or if your instrument rated the 6 approaches, tracking courses and a hold for your IFR currency? Some may start to see where I’m going with the article. Perhaps you’re not current, or perhaps your current, but not proficient. What we want to strive for is proficiency.
Being current is what the FAA wants you to be to fulfill a legal requirement before acting as pilot in command. A pilot that flies only to fulfill being current, is certainly not proficient. Being proficient means, according to the Webster’s Dictionary “fully competent in any art, science or subject” acting as PIC of an aircraft is surely included.
If you’re not current or perhaps are current, but feel you’re not proficient, please call a local flight instructor to practice your skills. Run through the 4 R’s and perhaps go back up with the instructor until you feel that your skillset is rising to the proficiency level. An additional option is to visit the faa website and participate in the FAA Wings Program and the resources available at www.faasafety.gov.
At PALS, we desire for you all to be safe, current, and proficient pilots. Being current AS WELL AS proficient is the greatest gift we can give our passengers.
Blue Skies and Tailwinds,
Terrence Flood
Pilot and Safety Committee Chair