News & FAQs & Updates
WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program - Summary of Changes
(Planned for release in early 2010)
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Before the Change |
After the Change |
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Access to the automated WINGS Program is confusing |
An entirely new intuitive and user-friendly interface has been implemented |
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The three levels of WINGS are: WINGS Basic Phase, WINGS Advanced Phase, and WINGS Master Phase |
The three levels of WINGS are: WINGS, WINGS Advanced, and Master WINGS |
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Each Phase can be earned only once every 12 months |
Users can earn multiple Phases in each Level, such as WINGS Phase I, WINGS Phase II, etc. |
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Individual tasks expire exactly 365 days after the completion date |
Individual tasks expire on the last day of the month, 12 months after the completion date |
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A Phase of WINGS expires as soon as any task expires |
A Phase of WINGS is valid for 12 months after the completion of that Phase; a Phase of WINGS must be current to be awarded another Phase of WINGS |
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Before the Change |
After the Change |
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Tasks to be completed for a Phase of WINGS are found by clicking on a link and searching the database; possible choices are dependent on entries made in the Airman Profile |
Tasks to be completed for a Phase of WINGS are dependent on entries made in the Airman Profile and immediately displayed to the pilot in a convenient checklist; users may choose to search for alternative tasks using an improved Activity search feature |
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All six tasks must be earned within a 12-month period to qualify for a Phase of WINGS |
No Change |
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Instructors must be registered on FAASafety.gov to give credit for a completed task |
Any instructor can give credit for completed WINGS tasks; instructors do not need be registered on FAASafety.gov to give credit. More like a logbook experience |
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Instructors are treated like any other user |
Instructors have their own “Portal” to instructor-oriented material, including giving credit |
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The WINGS Completion certificate does not indicate the date the Phase was earned |
The WINGS Completion certificate displays the date that Phase of WINGS was earned; it also displays the date the very first Phase of WINGS was earned |
| Web site pages contain numerous confusing icons | Confusing icons are replaced with clear text |
| Individual flight tasks necessary for completion of a Phase of WINGS can be printed | All six tasks necessary for completion of a Phase of WINGS are summarized and can be printed in a single document for easy reference; includes space for validation of completion of each flight task |
| Elective credits can move between Phases of WINGS and will always fill the lowest Phase first | WINGS credits will remain at the Level at which they were earned |
| As many as four clicks are required to enroll in an online course | Enrollment in an online course requires only a single click |
| Confusing terminology, Core and Elective, for example, is used to describe tasks | No confusing terminology is used to describe tasks; a task is a task! All terminology has been simplified |
| A summary of WINGS credits is located in a 3-part grid, which is sometimes hidden | A summary of WINGS credits is located in a single location that is always available |
| Some Flight Review information is printed on the WINGS completion certificate in small print | A complete summary of Flight Review information is printed on a separate wallet-sized certificate |
| There are obsolete instructions in the Aviation Safety Inspector’s Handbook concerning renewal of flight instructor certificates based on WINGS participation | There are updated instructions in the Aviation Safety Inspector’s Handbook concerning renewal of flight instructor certificates based on WINGS participation (Pending FAA publishing) |
| Users without access to a computer are not accommodated in the automated WINGS Program | Users without access to a computer are accommodated in the WINGS Program; user accounts are created and credits are validated by validators with a computer |
| Available seating advertised at a SPANS event (WINGS Safety Seminar) was limited to 85% of available seating to allow for walk in attendance | Revised to advertise all available seats with no limitations (unless the FPM or FAASTeam Representative prefers to limit advertised seating for walk ins) |
Become a "WINGS" Pilot Advocate Volunteer - Advocates for Aviation Safety Foundation, Inc.
AFASF © optonline.net (866) 900-9142 - Paul F. Burger, Executive Director
Should say "...must BE awarded another Phase of WINGS"