Subject: PILOT PROFICIENCY AWARD
PROGRAM
Date: 4/26/96
AC No: 61-91H
Initiated by:
AFS-810
Change:
1. PURPOSE. This advisory
circular (AC) describes the Federal Aviation
Administration's (FAA) Pilot
Proficiency Award Program and outlines the eligibility
requirements for pilots to qualify for Phase I through
Phase XX Pilot Proficiency
Awards.
2.
OBJECTIVE. Regular proficiency training is essential to the safety of all
pilots and their passengers. The
objective of the Pilot Proficiency Award Program
is to provide pilots with the
opportunity to establish and participate in a personal
recurrent
training program. Aviation safety is a cooperative effort of all members
of the aviation community. The
FAA encourages each pilot to establish a regular
recurrent
training program and invites pilots to participate in the Pilot
Proficiency Award Program.
3. CANCELLATION. AC
61-91G, Pilot Proficiency Award Program, dated 8/4/94, is
canceled.
4. WHO MAY PARTICIPATE.
All pilots holding a recreational pilot certificate or
higher and a current medical certificate, when
required, may participate. In
addition, uncertificated
pilots of qualified ultralight vehicles under Title
14 of
the Federal Code of Regulations
(14 CFR) part 103 may participate.
Requests to
participate in the program should be made to a
certificated flight instructor, an
appointed Aviation Safety Counselor (ASC), or the
Safety Program Manager (SPM) in
the local FAA Flight Standards District Office
(FSDO).
5. INCENTIVE AWARDS
- PILOT WINGS AND CERTIFICATE. The Pilot Proficiency Award
Program is now a
20-phase program. Upon completion of each of the first 10 phases,
pilots become eligible to wear and
are presented with a distinctive lapel or tie pin
(wings)
and a certificate of completion. Phase I wings are plain bronze tone.
Phase II wings are
silver tone with a star added. Phase III wings are gold tone
with a star and wreath. Phase IV
wings are gold tone and have a simulated ruby
mounted in the shield. Phase V
wings are gold tone with a rhinestone mounted in the
shield. Phase VI wings are gold
tone with a simulated sapphire mounted in the
shield. Phases VII, VIII, and IX
wings are gold tone with the appropriate Roman
numeral displayed within the
wreath. Phase X wings are bright gold tone with the
Roman numeral X and
shield located within a ring of 10 stars. No complimentary
wings will be issued. Pilots, regardless
of certificate type, ratings, or position,
must earn the privilege of
wearing the pilot proficiency wings. A pin and
certificate will be awarded for Phases
I through X. A certificate only will be
awarded for Phases XI through XX.
NOTE: Seaplane-rated
pilots who specify "seawings" on their
proficiency
record/wings application form and
complete the requirements listed below for
seaplanes and amphibians will receive
a distinctive seawings pin.
6. PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT
PROFICIENCY AWARD PROGRAM IN LIEU OF A FLIGHT
REVIEW. A pilot need not accomplish the flight
review requirements of 14 CFR part
61, _ 61.56 if, since the
beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in
which that pilot acts as pilot in command, he or
she has satisfactorily completed
one or more phases of an FAA-sponsored Pilot
Proficiency Award Program in an
aircraft (reference 61.56(f)).
7. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS PHASES I
THROUGH XX. Minimum requirements, which include
specific subjects and flight maneuvers, have been
established for airplanes,
seaplanes and amphibians, rotorcraft,
gliders, lighter-than-air aircraft, and
ultralights. The required training
profiles represent those phases of operation
that have been identified by
accident reports as phases most likely to produce
accidents. These training profiles
are established for each category of aircraft.
Pilots may select
the category and class of aircraft or ultralight in
which they
wish to receive their flight
training. All training must place special emphasis on
safety of flight operations. All training requirements for each phase of
the
program must be completed within 12 months. After completing a phase of
the
program, pilots may begin working
on the requirements of the succeeding phase at any
time; however, 12 months must
pass between the date of completion of a phase and
application for the award for the next
phase.
a. Airplanes.
(1) One hour of flight training
to include basic airplane control, stalls, turns,
and other maneuvers directed toward mastery of
the airplane.
(2) One hour of flight training
to include approaches, takeoffs, and landings,
including crosswind, soft field, and short field
techniques.
(3) One hour of instrument
training in an airplane, FAA-approved aircraft
simulator, or training device.
b. Seaplanes and
Amphibians.
(1) One hour of
flight training in a seaplane or amphibian to include a
demonstration by the applicant of a
complete seaplane or amphibian passenger safety
briefing, a weight and balance
computation and interpretation for the actual flight,
a review and evaluation of
the current and forecast weather, and on-the-water
training in docking, beaching and
anchoring, and maneuvering in confined areas.
(2) One hour of
flight training in a seaplane or amphibian to include landing area
assessment, safe approaches and
departures, takeoffs, and landings, including
crosswind, rough water, and glassy
water techniques. (Conditions may be simulated.)
(3) One hour of
flight training in a seaplane or amphibian to include power-on and
power-off stalls in various
configurations with minimum altitude loss, power-off
emergency landings, step taxi, step
turns, rapid decelerations from the step, and
emergency procedures. In addition to
the 1 hour of flight time ( not included in
the 1 hour), there must be a
discussion of stall avoidance and prevention
techniques.
NOTE: If the
applicant is not qualified and current in accordance with 61.57
for instrument flight, 1 additional
hour of basic instrument training with emphasis
on partial panel approaches,
inadvertent penetration into instrument meteorological
conditions (180 turn), descent into
visual meteorological conditions, and safe
operations shall be accomplished in an
airplane, seaplane, FAA-approved aircraft
simulator, or training device for
each odd-numbered award phase (Phase I, III, V,
etc.).
c. Rotorcraft.
(1) One hour of
ground training to include use of the rotorcraft flight manual to
determine operating limitations,
weight and balance computations, performance data,
aircraft servicing, use of optional
equipment, and standard emergency procedures.
(2) One hour of
flight training to include airport and traffic pattern operations,
including departures from a hover
(helicopter only), normal and crosswind approaches
and landings, maximum
performance takeoffs, and steep approaches.
(3) One hour of
flight training to include systems orientation, autorotative
descents, power failure at a hover,
settling-with-power, pinnacle/rooftop takeoffs
and landings, and navigation
procedures.
d. Gliders.
(1) One hour of
ground training to include preflight operations, including
installation of wings and tail surfaces,
on-line inspection, use of glider operating
limitations, weight and balance
computations, performance data, and standard
emergency procedures.
(2) One hour or
three flights to include launch procedures, proper position during
tow, emergency procedures such
as a slack line or tow rope failure, and tow release
procedures.
(3) One hour or
three flights to include thermalling procedures,
flight in close
proximity to other aircraft,
maneuvers at various performance speeds, demonstration
of best lift over drag (L/D)
and minimum sink, and precision approaches and
landings.
e.
Lighter-Than-Air.
(1) One hour of
ground training to include fuel management, refueling, proper
inflation procedures, review of the
flight manual, and proper weather check.
(2) One hour of
flight training to include approaches, touch-and-go, level flight,
rapid descent and level out, and
simulated landing in a congested area.
(3) One hour of
flight training to include relighting the pilot light, simulated
high wind/short field landings,
and other simulated emergency situations.
f. Ultralights. Pilot Proficiency Award Program training given
in powered
ultralight vehicles by United States Ultralight Association, Inc. (USUA)-approved
flight instructors or other
approved powered ultralight flight instructors will
be
accepted.
(1) One hour of
ground training on preflight operations to include operating
limitations, weight and balance
computations, performance data, vehicle servicing,
use of optional equipment, and
standard emergency equipment.
(2) One hour of
basic vehicle control, turns and other maneuvers directed towards
mastery of the vehicle.
(3) One hour of
flight training to include airport and traffic pattern operations,
including departures, normal and
crosswind approaches and landings, maximum
performance takeoffs, and steep
approaches.
g. Mountain Flying
Course. Applicants who successfully complete an FAA-sponsored
or FAA-sanctioned mountain
flying course, including ground and flight training, may
substitute this course for the safety
meeting required by subparagraph h when
completing all other mountain flying
requirements.
(1) One hour of
flight training to include basic airplane control, stalls, and
other maneuvers with emphasis on
the use and difference of performing these
maneuvers in mountainous terrain and
under high density altitude conditions.
(2) One hour of
flight training to include approaches, takeoffs, and landings at
or simulating mountain
airports with high density altitudes.
(3) One hour of
ground training to include effects of high density altitude,
mountain terrain, and mountain
weather conditions.
h. Safety Meetings.
(1) All applicants must attend at
least one FAA-sponsored or FAA-sanctioned
aviation safety seminar or industry-conducted
recurrent training program.
(2) Attendance at an Aviation
Safety Program aviation safety seminar must be
verified in the pilot's logbook or other proficiency
record. This verification must
be signed by an FAA SPM, other FAA inspector,
or an ASC involved in conducting the
seminar.
(3) Attendance at a
physiological training course conducted under the FAA/U.S. Air
Force or U.S. Navy
training agreements at various military installations in the
AC Form 3150-7,
Physiological Training Application/Agreement, to participate in
physiological training. The form may be
obtained from the SPM in the local FSDO or
by a letter of request to:
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
Airman Education
Programs, AAM-400
Pilots who do not
wish to participate in physiological training need not complete
the form. Pilots completing a
physiological training course will receive FAA Form
3150-1,
Physiological Training. A completed FAA Form 3150-1 must be submitted to
the SPM for verification of
course completion.
i. Training Substitution.
Completion of a training program or a flight instructor
refresher clinic conducted by various
organizations such as flight schools, air
carriers, or other training
facilities may be substituted for the requirements of
the Pilot Proficiency Award
Program, if the minimums outlined in paragraphs 7a, b,
c, d, e, f, and g are met.
j. Aircraft
Accidents and Enforcement Actions. Involvement in an aircraft or
ultralight vehicle accident and/or a
pending or completed enforcement action will
not preclude participation in
the Pilot Proficiency Award Program. However, a pilot
who has been involved in an
accident or enforcement action should request that the
flight instructor place special
emphasis on the causal factors of the accident or
enforcement action during pilot
proficiency training. The instructor should focus
the training on educating the
pilot in ways to preclude future accidents or
enforcement actions.
8. PILOT
PROFICIENCY AWARDS EARNED BY FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS.
a. Phase I Through III Requirements. A certificated flight instructor,
USUA-approved
flight instructor, or other approved powered ultralight flight
instructor may earn Phases I through
III wings by providing the required instruction
for completion of a phase of
the Pilot Proficiency Award Program to three pilots (a
minimum of 9 hours of instruction).
To qualify for a Phase I wings award, an
instructor must document the
completion of the training he or she has given to at
least three pilots and attend or
participate in an aviation safety seminar or
clinic. The instruction given must
be in accordance with paragraphs 7a, b, c, or d,
e, f, or g, as appropriate.
The completion of the required instruction for three
additional pilots and attendance or
participation in an additional safety seminar or
clinic is required to earn a Phase
II award. An instructor may repeat the
requirements stipulated for a Phase II
award to earn a Phase III award.
b. Phase IV Through XX Requirements. Twelve months after the date of
meeting the
requirements for the Phase III award, a
certificated flight instructor,
USUA-approved
flight instructor, or other approved powered ultralight flight
instructor may apply for the Phase IV
award. Phases IV through XX award wings
and/or certificate may be earned
by the successful completion of an evaluation or
proficiency flight with a designated
flight instructor examiner or an FAA operations
inspector and by attending or
participating in an aviation safety seminar or clinic.
USUA-approved or
other approved powered ultralight vehicle flight
instructors may
receive their evaluations or
proficiency flights with a USUA-approved advanced
flight instructor. Twelve months
must pass between the date of completion of each
phase and application for the
award for the next phase.
c. Safety Meetings.
Flight instructors and powered ultralight vehicle
flight
instructors must also attend or
participate in at least one FAA-sponsored or
FAA-sanctioned
aviation safety seminar, attend an FAA-approved Flight Instructor
Refresher Clinic,
or complete a physiological training course as specified in
paragraph 7h(3) to meet the
requirements for each phase of the awards. Attendance
must also be verified in the
flight instructor's logbook or other proficiency
record. This verification must be
signed by an SPM, other FAA inspector, or any APC
involved in conducting the above
programs.
9. AWARDING OF THE PILOT
PROFICIENCY WINGS AND CERTIFICATE.
a. Endorsement Verification. As
pilots complete each step of training outlined in
paragraphs 7 or 8, whichever is appropriate, their
logbooks or other proficiency
records must be endorsed by the persons who gave the
instruction. That endorsement
should read substantively as follows:
Mr./Ms.
XXXXXXX , holder of pilot
certificate no. XXXX , has
satisfactorily
completed the training requirements outlined
in Advisory Circular 61-91H, paragraphs 7a,
b, c, d, e, f, or g (state
which)
/s/ (date) M. Smith, 385652472CFI or
/s/ (date) M.
Smith, USUA Ultralight Instructor
(or
other approved instructor)123454
Note: In the case
of ultralights, no certificate number is required.
b. Award of Pilot Proficiency
Wings and Certificate. The Pilot Proficiency Award
certificate and the appropriate wings will be awarded
after the pilot's logbook or
other proficiency record (such as a properly
documented "wings card") is presented
to the Safety Program Manager (SPM) for
verification of completion of training as
stipulated in this Advisory Circular.
/s/
William J. White
Deputy Director,
Flight Standards Service