General Guidelines for Assigning WINGS Credit

General Guidelines for Assigning WINGS Credit

The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program, as outlined in FAA Advisory Circular 61-91J (AC61-91J), is designed to assist pilots in maintaining, improving and/or refreshing their proficiency in appropriate categories and classes of aircraft, and in their knowledge of aviation subject matter and best practices. The WINGS Program is automated and hosted on the FAA Web site www.FAASafety.gov, where additional information on the WINGS Program can be found. Pilots earn WINGS credits by performing specified in-flight maneuvers to current Practical Test Standards, and by accomplishing other approved activities.

These activities can be on-line courses offered by the FAA or other parties, local safety seminars, Webinars, and other FAA or third party activities.

Although there are three levels in the WINGS Program - Basic, Advanced, and Master - all pilots must satisfactorily complete a phase at the Basic Level at least once every 12 calendar months to be current in the WINGS Program. Topics at the Advanced and Master Levels require the demonstration of higher levels of skill and knowledge and may be similar to topics at the Basic Level.

Activities for which WINGS credits are desired should be designed to address the accident causal factors listed here. These accident causal factors became apparent after a thorough review of aircraft accidents in the United States. The WINGS Program consists of both knowledge and flight activities. While there is an elective list of topics for seminars and Webinars available on FAASafety.gov, the main topics for activities at the Basic Level are as follows:

1. The major topic of the activity must normally fall into one of the topics stated above, inasmuch as they cover primary accident causal factors, 2. The length of the presentation or activity will be considered; generally, an activity consisting of at least 60 minutes of instruction earns one credit, 3. Educational value, such as accuracy and the depth of discussion or demonstration, will be reviewed. Generally, material must be presented to a level of understanding consistent with that of at least a Private Pilot (or Recreational or Sport Pilot, as appropriate for the intended audience), and 4.

The activity or presentation must cover the material in sufficient detail such that pilots completing the activity can be assumed, by incorporating the subject matter into their flying habits, to have mitigated a potential accident.

In other words, pilots demonstrating a specified level of knowledge and/or proficiency and incorporating such skills and knowledge into their flying habits, will have mitigated these topics as accident causal factors. In addition, we encourage training providers to include a discussion of and actively promote participation in the WINGS program.

Don’t forget that all requirements for WINGS credits for each topic are discussed in the respective syllabus; each syllabus is available for review on FAASafety.gov.