Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. (ASA) has begun to offer its flight training syllabi as a free online download. The company decided to offer the syllabi for free in response to a recommendation made during the Aviation Educators breakout sessions at the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (S.A.F.E.) symposium held in Atlanta recently.
S.A.F.E. chaired a Pilot Training Reform symposium intended to begin a multi-year process of reforming and improving the pilot training environment. There has not been a broad reform of pilot training in almost 70 years. Some of topics discussed were the reasons behind why a large percentage of student pilots do not complete the training required to obtain a pilot's license, affordability of flight training and the safety of flight. Flight safety has become a prevalent issue as preventable general aviation accidents seem to be an unfortunately all too common occurrence.
According to S.A.F.E., ASA's action 'addresses a specific problem... of instructors teaching using the seat of their pants without the use of a syllabus or plan of action.' It also provides a 'standardized curriculum templates that instructors (14 CFR 61 as well as 141) can use.'
When asked why ASA decided to stop charging for the .pdf version of their syllabi, ASA Curriculum Director, Jackie Spanitz, stated, 'We reacted as a result of discussions from the SAFE Symposium, specifically including Mossy’s presentation and the breakout curriculum group. We believe the points mentioned at the symposium: the industry as a whole will benefit as more instructors rely on structured curriculum.'
Pilot Training Reform symposium chair Bob Wright praised ASA, stating, 'We are delighted that ASA and others have taken the symposium's message to heart and are responding with prompt action.'
A syllabus will provide instructors, especially independent instructors that are not part of a flight school or program that has a syllabus in place already, a set standard for their training offerings. When asked if the syllabi are expected to have an impact on flight training standards, Jackie stated, 'We believe using a structured curriculum will have a marked improvement – not only in flight training standards, but also in student pilot retention. Syllabi not only serve to establish a plan of action and flight training standard, but also to show students and instructors what has been accomplished and what lies ahead. We hope this free offer will encourage more flight instructors to use a structured curriculum.
'Syllabi remind instructors the critical element of communicating to the student: tell them what you’re going to tell them (preflight), tell them (flight), and tell them what you told them (postflight) – the syllabus is the checklist to ensure this important plan of action is followed for every flight to ensure progress and growth happens each time a student takes flight.'
The free syllabi offer is also being announced via ASA's normal outreach methods using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, press releases and regular marketing programs.
The downloads are in .pdf format and were previously available for $4.95 each. Print versions can still be ordered for $12.95. There are 2 private pilot syllabi available for download, as well as one syllabus each for instrument, commercial and helicopter.
You can download the free syllabi here. http://www.asa2fly.com/Textbook-Syllabi---PDF-C413_category.aspx
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