Four-Hour Session Held In Conjunction With Bonanza Fly-In

The FAA facilitated a four-hour safety stand down on April 30th in conjunction with a Bonanza fly-in at South Carolina's Greenville Downtown Airport. "Pilots are not required to attend classes to keep their certificates; but they do have to pass a flight review every two years which consists of an oral and flight skills evaluation," according to Dwayne Pittsenbarger, the FAA Safety Program Manager for South Carolina. "We have safety programs designed to educate pilots and others, like mechanics, on things that we have learned after analyzing accident data. We try to conduct as many programs as we can, and encourage all types of airmen to participate."

Pittsenbarger said the FAA tries to improve aviation safety by discovering new ways to approach safety and learning how to identify risks and ways to reduce them. "In this type of seminar format, we try to pass on these methods and procedures to sharpen pilot's decision making skills and increase their situational awareness," he said.

Participants included many experienced pilots, as well as, many who have just begun their flight training toward their pilots license, according to Timothy R. McConnell, a local Greenville resident and flight instructor. "I was happy to have the chance to participate in this event," McConnell said. "As an active pilot, I like to use every opportunity to continually educate myself in the field of aviation. This is an exciting time in aviation with the new Sport Pilot rules and the addition of the new Sport Airplanes and Technologically Advanced Airplanes (TAA)," he said.

Pittsenbarger said the goal of the stand downs is to reduce GA accidents.  "It's wonderful that people came out on a beautiful Saturday to discuss safety; and the Greenville Downtown Airport is a great location for our event because there is a strong aviation community here," he said.

"Safety at the Greenville Downtown Airport is our number one goal, as well, and we are so fortunate to have an active FAA office to help," stated Joe Frasher, Airport Director of the Greenville Downtown Airport.

Pittsenbarger said that the  next event at Greenville Downtown Airport is slated for June 2nd at 1800.

FMI: www.faasafety.gov, www.FAASafety.gov/standdown