Newsletter Archive/Archives du bulletin

webstertrophy.ca Newsletter #003 - 2016

Applications Are Beginning To Arrive: The icy grip of winter and in many cases the reduced flying activity in the general aviation sector at this time of year has not diminished an awareness and interest in the 2016 competition.

Competitor applications are starting to arrive and although still low as expected, they are not bad for this period. Considering that we have changed the competition date this year to late September and especially since we are introducing a written exam into the qualification requirements at the regional level, a desire to compete still appears to be high.

As the Spring weather begins to moderate temperatures and melt the snows and pilots refresh themselves and/or continue toward their coveted licences at a greater pace, the numbers, as they do every year, will rise dramatically. With a longer period of good weather available this year due to the change in the 2016 competition date, it is likely that more competitors will have the opportunity to finish their training in time to apply, compared to previous competition deadlines.

New Regional Written Exam Now Ready To Launch: In past updates I have referred to the existence of a written exam developed by Nav Canada for Webster which has been given to the nine finalists over the past few years as part of their competition process. It has always been a desire to expand that exam to include all regional competitors as a a requirement to fully qualify for entrance to the competition. Up until this time we have only been able to evaluate the flying skills through the submission of specific flight test reports. Now through the cooperation and tremendous involvement and effort of Nav Canada, the exam is ready to launch and likely will do so within the next week.

It is an on-line exam maintained by Nav Canada and accessed by the competitors through a distinct access link and process. Marks are automatically recorded and passed on to Webster for inclusion in the overall scoring to determine the nine regional finalists. The exam covers subject areas of concern to Nav Canada and within the scope of knowledge that should be known by all pilots, specific to pilot/controller communications, airspace, airport operations, etc.

To reduce the opportunity to use reference materials and or outside assistance, we are asking the Flight Training Units (FTU) across the country to assist us by monitoring the competitors when they wish to write the exam. A notice is being sent out within the next day or so to that affect. The competitor would approach an FTU of his/her choice and ask to be monitored while writing the exam. There is a "Witness" letter which is filled out by whoever monitors the competitor and then returned to that competitor to e-mail or regular mail back to us. It is of very little impact on the FTUs and hopefully we can get their cooperation by keeping that impact to a minimum. After a few days to digest the notice, we will then begin notifying the current and subsequent applicants of the process they should follow.

As all regional competitors are now required to take the exam, it will no longer be required to give to the finalists, although their specific marks will be used as part of their overall evaluation. This has one advantage in that it opens up additional time for us during Webster Week which is often tight.

At this time the Webster Team has not finalized the percentage factor the exam will have on the total regional score, but that will be done at the next meeting coming up in the early Spring. There is also a Nav Canada Trophy presented to the finalist each year who has the highest mark on the exam. The team now has to determine whether that continues as is or the Trophy is given to the highest mark from all of the competitors.

Let's hope the system works well as it enhances the programme greatly, assists Nav Canada in educating pilots in the field in a constructive manner about concerns they have and assists the team is determining a more well-rounded group of Webster finalists.

Wayne

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