FlightSafety International is renewing its offer of free recurrent training for pilots and maintenance techs that have lost their jobs since the start of the year. When the company first offered free training for former customers in 2009, hundreds of out-of-work professionals took advantage of it. “We are pleased and proud to have helped our customers through the Proficiency Protection program in the past. We now offer it again during 2012,” said Bruce Whitman, president & CEO, who noted FlightSafety is the only training provider to offer this type of program.

A “Proficiency Protection Program” that kept hundreds of unemployed business pilots and maintenance professionals current at no cost to them in 2009 is being reinstated by training provider FlightSafety International.

The re-born program will run through December 31, 2012. Pilots and technicians who became unemployed since January 1 of this year through staff reduction or job elimination are eligible for the training, which will be provided on an as-available basis.  Those taking advantage of the offer will not be required to repay the cost of the training or enter into a new training agreement once re-employed.

Runway Excursions are on the rise.  Based on claims statistics from insurance companies, the greatest claims they have had recently, have been for RUNWAY EXCURSIONS. Two 3-4 hour long Best Practices and statistical programs will be held, each identical to the other. Even when you do everything correctly, it doesn’t assure you that you will not have a runway excursion.

The FREE programs will be held at HPN – Westchester Hilton starting at 0830 on May 1, 2012 sponsored by WAA, USAIG and NBAA. The other will be held at OXC - Key Air on June 20, 2012 sponsored by CBAG, Key Air, USAIG and NBAA also starting at 0830.  Please contact Dean Saucier at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Lori Rosa at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for seat confirmation at HPN and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for seat confirmation at OXC.

Business aviation groups have been working with the U.S. House General Aviation Caucus to repeal the fuel fraud tax measure, which requires noncommercial jet fuel to be taxed initially at the higher highway tax rate. They hope to get the repeal inserted in the House version of the highway reauthorization bill. The House and Senate must reach an agreement on either a short-term extension or a long-term highway bill this week before the current extension expires at the end of the month.