FAA administrator praises AOPA safety efforts
Speaking before a Senate committee on Thursday, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey had high praise for AOPA's efforts to improve general aviation safety.
In her written testimony before the aviation subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, Blakey said the FAA had partnered with AOPA and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation to reduce runway incursions, and specifically mentioned AOPA's online Runway Safety Program. "We have developed and promoted runway safety training material in conjunction with organizations such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Foundation," said Blakey. "Since its inception, an average of 1,800 pilots a month have completed the [Runway Safety] program."
And the administrator told Congress how AOPA had distributed the safety brochure, "Runway Safety - A Pilot's Guide to Safe Surface Operations," through a special "bind in" in AOPA Pilot magazine, reaching more than 406,000 pilots.
"We are taking a proactive approach to address operational vulnerabilities through awareness, education, procedures, airport infrastructure, and surface technology initiatives," said Blakey.
Of course, "proactive" has been the watchword at the Air Safety Foundation since 1950. ASF has been at the forefront on innovative safety education from the beginning. From its pioneering weekend Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics, to the Pinch Hitter® course, and now to an expanding line of interactive, online safety training courses, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation has been producing safer pilots, safer skies.
November 21, 2005
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