FAA Offers WINGS Training Program to Reduce Private Aviation Errors

With a distinguished career in special operations with the United States Department of Defense, Leroy Stotelmyer also is a philanthropist who recently gave $25,000 to a racial equality and social justice organization. Frequently called on to provide expert advice, Leroy Stotelmyer served as a safety consultant and advisor to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The government body that regulates all civil aviation, the FAA operates a pilot proficiency program called WINGS. The purpose of WINGS is to address and correct the main factors that lead to accidents in the general aviation community. After selecting your category and class of aircraft in your online “Airman Profile,” pilots indicate the areas in which they want to increase their flight proficiency. Each skill is connected to certain learning activities and flight maneuvers, which are typically done under the guidance of a certified flight instructor.

Designed as an on-going, multi-level training program, WINGS encompasses more than hands-on flight instruction. The online training component features online courses, seminars, and other events. In addition, many third party aviation training activities, such as those offered by the Aircraft Owners Pilots Association and others, are eligible for WINGS credit. Email questions about the WINGS Program to faasafety@faa.gov. 

About the AOPA Foundation

Leroy Stotelmyer attended Embry Riddle for his bachelor of science in aerospace engineering and earned a system engineering master's degree from Duke University. He works as special operations in the United States Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. Leroy Stotelmyer is a member of the Aircraft Owners Pilots Association (AOPA).

AOPA Foundation is the charity extension of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The foundation aims to support growth opportunities for all its members and the overall aviation society. To achieve its mission, the AOPA foundation facilitates the You Can Fly program, which seeks to make flying more obtainable and inexpensive. The program is a compilation of functional, rigid, and engaging activities formulated through real-life experiences to aid pilots in their aviation quest phases.

To support the AOPA Foundation, donors can partake in the annual giving to fund the essential programs backed by the organization. Contributors classified as Monthly Sustainers can help to develop and reinforce the aviation community through their monthly donations. Moreover, the AOPA Foundation also recognizes wired gifts such as gifts of stocks from its benefactors to meet its goals. Another way of giving is by contributing to the Honorary or Memorial Donation as a means of honoring a pilot, aviation devotee, or cherished individuals.

Two Tips for the Skiing Novice

An accomplished pilot, Leroy Stotelmyer serves as a mentor to more than 100 student pilots in the United States government and several commercial aerospace corporations. In this role, Mr. Stotelmyer offers career guidance to young pilots in the areas of systems engineering and services. Outside of his work, Leroy Stotelmyer enjoys skiing whenever he has the opportunity.

If you are new to skiing, here are two tips that may help you:

1. Bend your knees. Squatting may seem to be an unnatural position, but it’s an essential one for skiing. Bending your knees gives you better control of your skis because it forces your shins to the boot’s front. It also allows you to keep your torso centered above your legs, which helps with your balance.

2. Wear polarized goggles. Though you’ll ski in cold conditions, the sun is still a major issue because its rays reflect off the snow’s surface. This bright light can lead to snow blindness as you ski, which could make you have an accident. Wear polarized goggles or eyeglasses when you ski to protect your eyes.

Popping Up in Surfing

A former test and certification pilot with the Federal Aviation Administration, Leroy Stotelmyer now works in special operations for the United States Department of Defense. Away from his work, Leroy Stotelmyer enjoys surfing.

In surfing, “popping up” is the technique of moving from a prone position to standing. Newcomers to the sport typically make two mistakes when popping up. The first is looking down at their feet as they stand, which shifts the body’s center of balance and may make the surfer dizzy and more likely to fall. When popping up, surfers should keep looking straight ahead.

The second common mistake of new surfers is the timing of the popup. New surfers may try to stand before their board catches the wave, which results in lost balance when the wave goes under the board. Instead, surfers should try to popup when they can feel the wave under the board pushing them along.