July 29, 2009 - Oshkosh, Wisconsin - Leaders of EAA-affiliate the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) met with a variety of light-sport aircraft industry representatives Tuesday to discuss standards for Flight Training Supplements to be included in the Pilot’s Operating Handbooks (POH) of their products.

Each POH Flight Training Supplement would be tailored to its particular LSA; it would provide a kind of annotated checklist of items pilots should learn when training or checking out in that model. It would also give the manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations for configuring the aircraft for each training maneuver or flight regime.

“For example, under ‘Spiraling Descents’ a POH Flight Training Supplement could give the manufacturer’s recommendations for the flap setting, maximum bank angle, and minimum airspeed, along with notes about stalls and spins, and any other information related to the maneuver,” explained Jason Blair, NAFI’s executive director.

The ultimate goal, he said, is to ensure the safety and effectiveness of flight training in light-sport aircraft.

More than two dozen people took part in the meeting, including representatives from NAFI, AOPA, FAA, ASTM International, and LAMA (Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association), plus airframe, engine and avionics manufacturers, and publishers of flight manuals and handbooks.

“It was a strong turnout and a lively discussion,” Blair said. “Obviously, this is something people have an interest in.”

The group established a task force to determine, and recommend to the FAA and manufacturers, the type of information that should be included in a Flight Training Supplement that would go above and beyond what is already in the POH.