OPEN AIR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR’S by Jeff Jorgenson There is an old quote that has long portrayed this concept.
OPEN AIR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR’S
“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous, but to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, CORNER incapacity or neglect.”
By Jeff Jorgenson I’m a problem solver, at least that’s what I like to call it. Maybe ‘creative thinker’ is a better description. Some may say I’m a dreamer (but I’m not the only safe? The answer surprise you! one)Is~ flying to quote the John Lennonmay song, Imagine. For You may have heard the cliché “flying is safer than decades I have gone to different aviation events, sat driving.” Well, it turns out it's a bit more complicated in organizational meetings and often asked the same than that. It do is true thatyounger the impeccable safety record question, “How we get people involved in of the airlines is statistically far safer than aviation?” Or sometimes the question is, “Howdriving. do we (GA) has a statistically less saveHowever, the rapidgeneral declineaviation in General Aviation?” appealing track record. It's very difficult to compare I’m almost 47 years old andbecause when I attend aviation GA to driving statistics they are tracked and meetings of various organizations, I’m still the youngest reported in multiple different measurements. Driving person in the room, by nearly 20per years! Plagued with is measured in deaths (12.0) 100,000 miles driven these questions and demographics, I set out overper the and GA is measured in fatal accidents (1.09) last 100,000 decade to research the answers. hours flown. It gets moreThrough difficulttravel, to compare research, numerous discussions with industry when you consider that nearly every adultleaders drives and nearly observation, I have found solutions. I’ve every day, while lessmany that 1% of the population been able to categorize and summarize them and have are pilots and many don’t fly every day. created the ‘Open Air Flight Club!’ While I have done the math As an award-winning and explained thisauthor in the of the book, “Open Air How People Like book, “Open Air - How Yourself Are Changing the Aviation People Like Yourself Are Industry” I share part of my Changing the Aviation aviation journey and lessons In the Industry” what’s learned. more process of writing the book and important to note here is that doing research on a correlation lot of current there is a direct aviation trends, I figured out how between training, proficiency I canand help. Self-discovery is a safety. Quality matters. wonderful development and part of the solution. Once I published the book in 2017, I began doing book signings and speaking at organizations. I talked to schools and did aviation workshops and events. Originally, I was using the book to inspire youth and aviation enthusiasts, and it took on a life of its own. 28 www.avinationusa.com I started an aviation STEM program in a local school and started helping other aviation organizations with
Captain A.G. Lamplugh In working with Jacob to grow ~AviNation Magazine, we’veSo developed powerful, complementary business the answer, in General Aviation is that flying is, in models that are making a real difference in aviation! fact, not safer than driving. However, here is the good news, it can be! FAA has become taskbeen saturated. I have helped a lot ofThe organizations and it has a They have had budget cuts, are restrained by their rewarding experience. As a flight instructor, I’ve helped rules and procedures and inhibited bypilot the a lot own of people get started in aviation, get their bureaucracy. That’s not to say towards the FAAsuccess. is doing a bad certifications and help guide them job, but that they are goodbusinesses at doing what they’re I’ve partnered with a lot ofvery aviation to help already doing and very slow to change to meet them grow. I’ve developed a powerful presentation new challenges. With and thatorganizations in mind, the great to inspire businesses that news is that there are many people, like myself, who are going encourages new levels of success. Many businesses out of their way to teach new, better practices, at and organizations want me to come and speak for free a grassroots level, to instill knowledge of observed and give them the answers they’ve been seeking for trends andthink to offer solutions that lead‘got to much decades. Many they’ve figured it can out and this’ flying. whilesafer others continue with the status quo, doing what they’ve always done and getting what they’ve always I got to meet renowned aviation educators John got. The solutions I offer are well beyond the scope of and Martha King at Sun N Fun last year, and they an article and require an interactive dialogue to engage put on a great presentation about having this very the right solutions for your needs. conversation about safety with prospective students. Another Flight Instructor, Russ Still, puts on If you’re an aviation business looking for also additional a great presentation and organization training seminar revenue streams, or alphabet withas an extension of his Gold Seal you online training. fundraising needs, I encourage to flight consider He says, partnering with us in the Open Air. If you have an interest in aviation and are trying to figure out how to “The takeoff one of your the most dangerous find the time and segment money toisachieve dreams, Open periods of any VFR flight. Unfortunately, this is As Air Flight Club is designed to help you earn to learn. overlooked and unrecognized by pilots. morefrequently organizations understand and adopt a vision for Roughly 28% of accidents occur during this seemingly a positive future for aviation, we will continue to make benign span of time.and The accessible reason for to themany, increased aviation more affordable and risk is simple. The aircraft is relatively low and slow and inclusive to all who desire to participate in the joy and the pilot has few options should a problem occur.” freedom of all aviation has to offer! RussLet’s suggests that the takeoff profile should be make aviation great again! divided into four distinct segments: the takeoff roll,
We ARE the future of Aviation!
