Just two weeks after it was officially launched during the 2022 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, the Pilot Proficiency Network — created to promote instrument flying, proficiency, and safety — opened its 22nd location at Norwood Memorial Airport (KOWD) in Massachusetts.
The Norwood chapter is organized by the same group of pilots who were involved with the original IMC Club program over a decade ago.
Radek Wyrzykowski, who founded IMC Club in 2010, has launched the Pilot Proficiency Network, which he says is designed to “expose all pilots to IFR flying, improve their proficiency, and serve as a universal hub for aviation proficiency initiatives.”
Pilots gathered at Flight Level Aviation at KOWD on April 20, 2022, to hear a presentation about the Pilot Proficiency Network objectives and for the official inaugural meeting of the new Norwood chapter. The meeting was in a hybrid online and in-person format.
“Wherever we find strong communities in aviation, we are also likely to find more committed and engaged pilots. There is no reason why the entire pilot population could not become just that one strong community,” Wyrzykowski said.
“I believe the main cause of aviation accidents and fatalities in GA is the lack of proficiency,” he continued. “The intent of this organization is to be dedicated solely to aviation proficiency.”
The network’s monthly meetings will follow a format of discussing flying scenarios based on ClimaDrive-created weather, he said. Participants will review a ClimaDrive-generated weather scenario, including a comprehensive preflight aviation weather briefing. Next, they will have to make a go/no-go decision about the trip anticipated in the scenario. Then they will have to discuss the impending unexpected situation or failure included in the presentation in the realm of the realistic meteorological environment. The ClimaDrive system captures the real-world dynamic weather situation, instead of just a static set of weather conditions, to make this decision-making more lifelike, according to network officials.
Anyone can become a member of the Pilot Proficiency Network, officials said, noting the network permits members to determine how much they want to contribute. You can see the various membership plans at Radeks.org/Membership-Application.
Excellent senario, good luck .