TMetzinger
Final Approach
I get a discount off my insurance by completing recurrent training every year. WINGS is one of the things that counts, as would getting a new rating, going through a simcom/flightsafety course, or a few other things.
Since I'm a FAASTeam rep I decided to put my money where my mouth was, and did the BASIC phase of WINGS. I was able to complete the three credits of ground training via an FAA seminar, an FAA online course, and an AOPA online course. Then I got the flight requirements done by searching for matching credits, printing out the syllabus info, and going flying with an instructor.
One basic flying required credit was airwork and basic instruments - steep turns stalls, constant airspeed climbs and descents, and unusual attitude recoveries. That flight was just under an hour but we also did an approach for proficiency, so it could have been done in half an hour or so. The second flight of one hour covered another required credit of takeoffs and landings. We did normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, a go around, soft and short field work. We also got the elective credit in that flight by doing a thorough preflight, taxiing, talking about light gun signals, and preparation for night flight.
Then I just scanned in the endorsements, forwarded them to another FAASTeam rep, and requested credit. About an hour later he'd approved the request, and I got an email letting me know I'd fulfilled the requirements for the basic phase. I was able to print out a certificate, which included the new expiration of my BFR at 6/30/2010, and I requested an award pin from AVEMCO. Lastly, I gave the system the email addresses of my insurance agent, and the admin folks at the two places I rent from, and they all will get an email from the FAA with my "transcript".
So, all in all:
Since I'm a FAASTeam rep I decided to put my money where my mouth was, and did the BASIC phase of WINGS. I was able to complete the three credits of ground training via an FAA seminar, an FAA online course, and an AOPA online course. Then I got the flight requirements done by searching for matching credits, printing out the syllabus info, and going flying with an instructor.
One basic flying required credit was airwork and basic instruments - steep turns stalls, constant airspeed climbs and descents, and unusual attitude recoveries. That flight was just under an hour but we also did an approach for proficiency, so it could have been done in half an hour or so. The second flight of one hour covered another required credit of takeoffs and landings. We did normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, a go around, soft and short field work. We also got the elective credit in that flight by doing a thorough preflight, taxiing, talking about light gun signals, and preparation for night flight.
Then I just scanned in the endorsements, forwarded them to another FAASTeam rep, and requested credit. About an hour later he'd approved the request, and I got an email letting me know I'd fulfilled the requirements for the basic phase. I was able to print out a certificate, which included the new expiration of my BFR at 6/30/2010, and I requested an award pin from AVEMCO. Lastly, I gave the system the email addresses of my insurance agent, and the admin folks at the two places I rent from, and they all will get an email from the FAA with my "transcript".
So, all in all:
- The system works.
- It requires less flying than it used to IF (and only if) you are proficient. It's quite possible to meet all the requirements for a basic flight phase in 1.5 hours of dual, or less.
- It's much nicer to do it all online and get your certificate right away than waiting for the FSDO safety program manager process it for you.
- I'll take a picture of my pin when it arrives.