the wings pilot proficiency program

Presented to: PilotsBy: Dennis H. Whitley FAASTeam Lead RepresentativeDate: Sun N Fun 2014

Federal AviationAdministrationThe WINGS

Pilot Proficiency ProgramWhat is the WINGS Program?Where Do I Start?What Does It Involve?What Do I get Out Of It?

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Sprout Your WINGS and Fly

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

What is the WINGS Program?

The WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program is the FAA’s recurrent training program for general aviation (GA) pilots.

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

What is the WINGS Program?

The WINGS program provides the opportunity, the structure, and the recognition for pilots to continue their aviation education.

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

What is the WINGS Program?

Pilots who participate in the WINGS Program are, as a group, involved in substantially fewer accidents than their peers.

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

What is the WINGS Program?

o The mission of WINGS is fairly simple:

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

What is the WINGS Program?

o The mission of WINGS is fairly simple: Reduce the number of GA accidents!

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

What is the WINGS Program?• The objective is to address primary accident

causal factors – Especially those that continue to plague the general

aviation community year after year• By focusing on this objective, we expect to

reduce the number of accidents we see each year

• It is not a simple “Award” program, but is a true proficiency program– designed to help improve our skills and knowledge

as pilots

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

The WINGS Program?

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

How Do I Participate?

o How do I participate in the WINGS Program

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

How Do I Participate?

o How do I participate in the WINGS ProgramOn Line Courses

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

How Do I Participate?

o How do I participate in the WINGS ProgramOn Line CoursesLive Seminars and Webinars

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

How Do I Participate?

o How do I participate in the WINGS ProgramOn Line CoursesLive Seminars and WebinarsFlight Activities

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Pilots who have participatedin the WINGS Program

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 41271 -

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

444

2,881

5,290

8,914

12,599

16,136

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Quiz

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

1…The mission of WINGS is fairly simple:

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

1…The mission of WINGS is fairly simple:

A. Increase Membership

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

1…The mission of WINGS is fairly simple:

A. Increase MembershipB. Investigate Accident Causations

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

1…The mission of WINGS is fairly simple:

A. Increase MembershipB. Investigate Accident CausationsC. Reduce The Number of GA Accidents

22Federal AviationAdministration

The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

1…The mission of WINGS is fairly simple:

A. Increase MembershipB. Investigate Accident CausationsC. Reduce The Number of GA Accidents

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Getting Started

o Where Do I Start?

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Getting Started

o Where Do I Start?WWW.FAASAFETY.GOV

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

www.faasafety.gov

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

www.faasafety.gov

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Logging In or Create an Account

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

www.faasafety.gov

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

www.faasafety.gov

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quick WINGS

• WINGS Portal with the Quick WINGS link

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Activity Selection

• Activities are pre-selected for you• Sometimes, the system makes a wrong

choice• You can use the Search feature to make a

different choice of activity.

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quick WINGS

• WINGS Portal with the Quick WINGS link

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

www.faasafety.gov

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

2…Where do I sign up for WINGS?

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

2…Where do I sign up for WINGS?

A. WWW.AOPA.COM

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

2…Where do I sign up for WINGS?

A. WWW.AOPA.COMB. WWW.FAASAFETY.GOV

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

2…Where do I sign up for WINGS?

A. WWW.AOPA.COMB. WWW.FAASAFETY.GOVC. WWW.FAA.GOV

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

2…Where do I sign up for WINGS?

A. WWW.AOPA.COMB. WWW.FAASAFETY.GOVC. WWW.FAA.GOV

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What Is Involved - Activities

WINGS activities are tied directly to topics that are most often associated with common pilot errors, lack of proficiency, and in some cases, faulty knowledge.

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What Is Involved - Activities

For the purposes of the WINGS program, the six accident causal factors have been broken out into three knowledge and three flight areas as follows:

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What Is Involved - Activities

Knowledge Topics:1. Aeronautical decision making,

including runway safety issues.

2. Performance and limitations, including loss of control issues.

3. Preflight planning, risk management, and fuel management.

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What Is Involved - Activities

Flight Topics:1. Takeoffs and landings

2. Positive aircraft control, including loss of control issues

3. Basic flying skills

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What Do I Get Out Of It?

Knowledge Peace of Mind Recognition Awards Experience

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What Do I Get Out Of It?

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WINGS Pins

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What Do I Get Out Of It?

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Benefits of Participation?

Completion of any Phase of WINGS satisfies the requirement for a flight review 14 CFR 61.56(e)

Some insurance companies offer a premium discount for participation As much as a 10% discount

Participating pilots really are safer pilots As demonstrated by a study comparing accidents by

WINGS pilots vs. non-WINGS pilots

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Levels and Phases

There Are 3 Levels of “WINGS”

1. WINGS (Basic)2. Advanced WINGS3. Master WINGS

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Levels and Phases• A Phase within a Level consists of six tasks

or activities– Three Knowledge Activities, and– Three Flight Activities

• A pilot may earn as many phases in each level as he or she desires– Each phase requires the completion of an additional

six tasks or activities

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Basic Level• A recurrent training program

– Provides pilots a higher level of proficiency than merely preparing for a typical Flight Review

• The Basic Level addresses primary accident causal factors, every pilot is required to complete a phase at the Basic Level at least once every 12 calendar months– This ensures pilots are aware of current accident

causal factors and possible mitigation strategies

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Basic Level Standards• The Basic Level requires use of the Private

Pilot Practical Test Standards (PTS) – or the PTS for the pilot certificate held, whichever is

lower• This includes Sport and Recreational Pilot Certificates

• Pilots in the WINGS Program must demonstrate proficiency to the same standards required at the certification level

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Advanced and Master Levels• For pilots who want a training and

proficiency program that take them a step above the Basic Level– Higher proficiency standards are required

• These Levels afford the pilot an opportunity, in concert with an instructor, to tailor the training to fit more specific needs– To complete a phase of WINGS at the Advanced or

Master levels, a pilot must simultaneously complete or already hold the level just below

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Advanced Level Standards

• The Advanced level requires using the Commercial PTS – or the Private PTS when there is not a

Commercial PTS, – or if the pilot completed the Basic level by using

the Sport or Recreational PTS, then the Private PTS is used for this level.

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Master Level Standards

• The Master level requires using the Commercial and Instrument Rating PTS or the ATP PTS– if one is available for the category and class of

aircraft used• In addition, some activities refer to tasks

from the Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) PTS

• A Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) cannot be used at this level

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Quiz

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

3…What are the three levels of WINGS?

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

3…What are the three levels of WINGS?

A. Basic, Instructor, Examiner

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

3…What are the three levels of WINGS?

A. Basic, Instructor, ExaminerB. Private, Instrument, Commercial

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

3…What are the three levels of WINGS?

A. Basic, Instructor, ExaminerB. Private, Instrument, CommercialC. Basic, Advanced, Master

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The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program

Quiz

3…What are the three levels of WINGS?

A. Basic, Instructor, ExaminerB. Private, Instrument, CommercialC. Basic, Advanced, Master

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Q&A

• What questions do you have?

• If you have a question later, • send an email to

• Support@FAASafety.gov

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Thank You

On Behalf of the FAA, and

The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam)

We appreciate your attendance and dedication to safety!