Flying is a skill that requires knowledge in a wide range of subjects. And to stay proficient, you need to continuously study and experience these topics. One way our government giant, the FAA, is attempting to keep you out of trouble and keep your knowledge up to date is through its FAA Safety Team, or FAASTeam for short. The FAASTeam offers seminars, courses and other activities that are designed to keep you proficient and reduce the accident rates of general aviation.
The FAASTeam’s website has a long list of courses, many of which include videos, covering many topics related to general aviation flight. Topics include anything from airspace and regulations to weather and icing, but also risk assessment components such as fatigue and aeronautical decision-making. There are also instructional courses such as how to use a GPS and how to make better landings. Some courses include accident case studies designed to learn how to avoid the same unfortunate situation.
While most of the courses in the FAASTeam database are free of charge, they were not all created by the FAA. Some courses are provided by AOPA and other organizations. There are also links to courses created by King Schools, Gleim and Sporty’s, to name a few.
In addition to the online courses, the FAASTeam provides seminars and other activities around the country. You can find these seminars by putting your zip code into a searchable database. Not only are these seminars an opportunity for in-depth learning on the topic being covered, but they are also an opportunity to connect with the FAA to ask questions and/or provide feedback.
The courses, seminars and other activities are fantastic opportunities to learn and relearn information that will decrease the risks associated with flying. And participation in these programs will give you credit toward the Wings – Pilot Proficiency Program, which will make it easier to complete the biennial flight review as long as you make sure to collect certificates for each completed component. But once you start taking these courses, you will probably find that you will come back for more, even if you’ve already completed your required number of Wings credits.
