Traron Squadron

Basically; we stayed with a lot of the old numbers. For example, the new Lead standard is 500 hours with a Private Pilot certificate; we kept it at 1000 hours with a Commercial certificate. There are several other changes which you can see in the slide show.

Additionally, because of the changes we made to the FAST standard [and let me interject here; as a FAST signatory, we can do anything we want to the standard except reduce them – so, if you want a card with less than 500 hours or a Commercial license you could get an NATA card, not a TRARON card. With that NATA card you can fly formation in waivered airspace, however, under CAF rules you cannot fly a CAF owned aircraft in formation of any kind, we are also stating the following policy:

There will be no more exchange or recognition of other signatory’s card without a check ride and compliance with the TRARON requirements being demonstrated.

The 2-ship program is for aircraft which are few in number and do not gather regularly enough to get a 4-ship together. It does not apply to T-6s.

Wingmen will be checked in the #4 position. While this varies through FAST, is has always been a way of doing things, but somebody had an issue because it wasn’t written that way – now it is.

Check rides will occur only at clinics to ensure the FORMAL ground school portion is met. Eventually, in my copious free time, I’ll come up with a certificate of completion or something so we can change this back, but for right now…

Since it was brought up at the FAST Board meeting (I thought it went without saying); the recommending Lead and the Check Pilot have to be two different people. The Check Pilot will fly in the aircraft with the ‘checkee’. And only certain Lead’s can recommend, they know who they are.

There is another event happening, at HQ this time, in early June. Please check the “Future Clinics” page for details.

AGAIN, WE NEED MORE CLINICS! All it takes is a 4-ship!

TRARON will help with any local clinic you guys want to hold, we will get you instructors/check pilots. All it takes is a 4-ship and an airport willing to work with you. Ideally, you should plan on a ground school Friday evening and as much flying as you can get in on Saturday and Sunday.

Anybody interested in more should contact me at skipperh@earthlink.net and please put "FAST" in the subject line before I spam you out.

One last thing. The National FAST Manual is soon to be out. We are on Chapter 5 for review; however, it’ll probably be mid-summer before you can hold a copy in your hand. There is a new FPR out, which we’ll get on the website soon.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE