HOW THE DCAM AWARD SITS AMONG THE COMMUNITY OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS AND THE VALUES WHICH THAT COMMUNITY MUST SUBSCRIBE

The value of this Award has enabled an outstanding list of Flight Instructors to assist their organizations be industry leaders.
The Award has created awareness among Instructors, Students and Pilots of the absolute importance of instruction in Canada’s aviation industry.  It has and continues to create pride in the work Instructors do, and raises awareness of best practices.
The Award has brought a focus to excellence in flight instruction, as the names of Canada’s exceptional Flight Instructors, engraved on the prestigious trophy attest. 
Others have acknowledged that the Award raises the goal levels for Instructors and students alike and engenders the values of Airmanship, Leadership and Aviation Safety.

“The DCAM Award, through David’s story, creates awareness among Instructors, Students, and all Aviators of how important Instructors are in Canada’s aviation industry.  It creates pride in Instructors for the work they do and raises awareness of best practices.  This in turn leads to increased professionalism and ultimately better quality training.  An increased awareness in quality, in turn leads to greater safety.”

“The Award continues to raise awareness within the aviation community of the hazards and risks we face each and every day as an Instructor.”
This comment makes me reflect on what I have been told over and over in these applications that there is no such thing as a perfect flight – only a safe flight.  Core to flight instruction is the need to plan a flight and plan to mitigate foreseeable risk as well as preparedness to meet the unforeseen and act to avoid it.  No flight is undertaken without risk.  Today’s generation of Flight Instructor recognizes the need to identify, plan for, manage and mitigate risk.

“The DCAM  Award is a part of the overall commitment from within the aviation community to highlight particular efforts to improve aviation safety.”

“It is an honour to be nominated for this important  Award in David’s memory.  Thank you for recognizing the work of professional Flight Instructors in promoting aviation safety.”

“I feel an Award to advance flight safety through recognition of flight instructor safety is long deserved and I am happy that it is in place today.”

“This Award is a benefit not only to the recipient, but to all those that apply.  Through the application process individuals are given a chance to examine their approach to teaching, safety, and what is important to them as Flight Instructors.  Self-reflection is a valuable tool for future improvement in each of us.”

“Benefits of the Award is the promotion of safety and excellence in the aviation world.” “These concepts can be communicated and taught in other countries throughout the world, particularly to many developing countries.”

These are just a few comments received from some nominees.

Aviation safety is neither a science nor is it an art;  it combines both and is greater than the sum of the two individual components.  Like flight it has no limit or boundary.  It has elements which can be taught academically but beyond that it is an ethos and culture which must be imbued and soaked up by each and every pilot – a process without end.

Flight training is the grass roots of aviation, with the industry greatly depending on the ability of flight training schools; their Flight Instructors providing a vital key in having a safe and skilled Pilot, while also fostering a spirit of learning.
The best safety device in any aircraft is a well trained Pilot.

Flight instruction can and must only exist within a universe which has flight safety embedded at its core, touching and focussing everything and everyone within its flight path from regulator to rookie pilot.

Flight instruction is more than a simple 360-degree process – it is multi-dimensional touching all aspects of flight and all those whose constituency lies in the aviation community.  It can and must be flexible in delivering a message tailored to the learning needs of the trainee but totally flexible in the constancy and consistency of the skills to be imparted.

That can only be good news for trainees everywhere and for the scope of today’s legacy which our Flight Instructor community hand on to the following generation.
As I am acutely aware, the Flight Instructor is fully responsible for his or her trainee both now and once qualified as a Pilot.  This responsibility extends, morally at least to the passengers who board a Pilot’s aircraft and to the communities he or she overflies.

We see the challenges paradoxes and opportunities that this present generation of flight instructors face; these can be summarized as:

  1. Significant numbers of new highly trained flight instructors will need to be recruited and retained within the flight instruction industry.
  2. Training needs to comprehensively reflect the advances in flight technology.
  3. As it becomes a rarely used skill, the highest standards of airmanship need to be taught and maintained to ensure that technology sits in harmony alongside airmanship.
  4. One challenge never changes; Flight instruction needs to focus increasingly on the highest standards of Training, Leadership and Aviation safety.

I believe that the DCAM makes a difference for good and can continue to do so with the ongoing backing of its Sponsors and with the added contribution of new sponsors – all of whose flight instructional air safety aims dovetail and resonate with the Award.

To maintain it and the standards of excellence it promotes it must become a sustainable entity.  Further Sponsorship will enable the Award to grow, and to indentify best practices throughout the industry.

Potential Sponsors are invited to contact janeabramson@videotron.ca

“THE ENGINE IS THE HEART OF AN AEROPLANE, BUT THE PILOT IS ITS SOUL.”

Aviation safety should be, and must be at the forefront of every action of every individual involved in aviation whether  they  be Administrator or Legislator, Pilot or Mechanic, Instructor or Trainee.

Jane Abramson
Co-founder & National Administrator

CONTENT COPYRIGHT:  The David Charles Abramson Memorial (DCAM)Award Jane Abramson