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Balloons fly with the wind, but that doesn’t mean their pilots have no control. Often, a change in altitude can steer a hot air balloon on a different course. To fly a balloon, a pilot certificate is needed—but no medical is required. The world’s largest gathering of hot air balloons, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, takes place October 6 to 14, 2012.

What: Hot air balloons

Where: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Photographer: Mike Collins

Roadmap for SAFE outlined

Instructor group still growing

“We’ve gone from our infancy to adolescence.” That was the message from the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators Director Doug Stewart at the group’s annual dinner on July 26 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Stewart detailed the group’s future plans that came about as part of a strategic planning exercise undertaken this year. The three-year plan calls for a leadership succession plan and an increase in membership, among other things. Stewart said a membership committee was formed in response to the initiative.

The group also awarded the Founder’s Award, and two service awards during the event. James Goodwin won the Founder’s Award for his donation of a charity ride in a P-51 in support of SAFE. Alan Davis and Sherry Rossiter won the service awards for their volunteer efforts for the group.

Guests included many industry and government representatives, including the FAA’s Mel Cintron and NTSB member Earl Weener, both of whom made remarks.

King Schools offers free private and instrument syllabi

Available to try in your program

King Schools is now offering its private and instrument pilot syllabi for free on its website as a way to support the industry. The free syllabi are FAA Part 141 approvable, but can be used for independent CFIs as well, King Schools announced recently. King Schools also provided an update on the new King Schools Flight Instructor Refresher Course, which is based on risk management. A helicopter-specific version will be out by the end of next year, thereby serving a vastly underserved market. Part 135 pilots now can turn to King Schools for their necessary initial and recurrent training needs. The initial course is $189 and covers some of the requirements of Part 135.345.

Flight Design adds new training centers

Expanded network now at 31 locations

Flight Design has added a number of new Flight Design Pilot Centers in recent weeks. The new centers are North Coast Air in Santa Rosa, California; Southwestern Aviation in Benson, Arizona; and the Hampton Airfield in North Hampton, New Hampshire.

Each Flight Design Pilot Center offers a Flight Design aircraft for instruction toward a light sport or private pilot certificate. The curriculum was designed especially for Flight Design by Gleim Publications.