Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 22

PREFLIGHT INDUSTRY NEWS

BY DAVID TULIS

ABLE FLIGHT ADDS DRONE TRAINING
SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOW STUDENTS TO PURSUE UAS OPERATIONS

ABLE FLIGHT, AN OUTREACH THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDING

flight training scholarships to individuals with physical
disabilities for almost 15 years, is partnering with the
Unmanned Safety Institute to provide training to its
scholarship recipients that could lead to careers flying
unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Able Flight Executive Director Charles Stites said the
goal of the partnership with the Unmanned Safety Institute
" parallels that of our flight training partnerships in that
we want our scholarship recipients to receive training that
goes well beyond minimum requirements. " He reiterated
that training would help prepare scholarship recipients

for drone operations in " a
variety of fields, including,
but certainly not limited to,
industrial and construction
inspection, cargo delivery,
agricultural surveying,
and support of medical
services. "
Stites complimented
the Unmanned Safety
Institute for developing
" programs that go well
beyond the minimum
standards required by the
FAA. "
Unmanned Safety
Institute Executive
Director Scott Liston
pledged to help prepare Able Flight scholarship recipients
with " the same opportunities that any other UAS pilot
[remote operator] would have at the same or similar levels
of experience, training, and certifications. " He added that
Able Flight has a track record of " turning 'disabilities' into
specialized 'abilities' for people who are passionate about
aviation and committed to operational excellence. "
Liston said Indeed.com listed more than 3,500 open
positions and predicted that the " sky's the limit " when it
comes to careers as drone operators.
david.tulis@aopa.org

GA FATAL ACCIDENT RATE DECLINES

BY ALICIA HERRON

TWO NEW 'NALL REPORTS' RECENTLY RELEASED
THE AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE RELEASED

findings from the twenty-ninth and thirtieth editions of the Joseph T. Nall Report.
The data show that 2017 saw a decrease
in total accidents from 2016, but 2018 saw
an increase in total accidents. However,
the overall and fatal accident rates continued downward trends. For GA pilots,
the Nall Report is a great way to see how
accidents happen and what causes them
22

FLIGHT TRAINING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

over time-something that can help mitigate risk. The Nall Report breaks down
data into groups like phase of flight, and
meaningful categories like weather, fuel,
and mechanical. If you know what you're
looking at, you can know better how to
prevent it.
These latest editions of the long-running, respected report arrive with
several unique enhancements. The

AOPA Air Safety Institute has completed
a major overhaul of the report to provide
near-real-time accident data analysis as
the data are updated on a rolling 30-day
cycle. The new digital version of the Nall
Report shows accident trends well into
2020, and will continue to be updated as
the NTSB releases preliminary and final
reports.
airsafetyinstitute.org/29and30Nall
http://www.Indeed.com http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/29and30Nall
Flight Training - January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - January/February 2021
