The fastest growing population among pilots has been in the age group 70 years and older. We will ask, “to what extent does age impact the performance of the average pilot, and is there such a thing as an average older pilot?”
We will review how CFIs can focus our efforts on improving the safety of flying by assisting the more than 200,000 pilots aged 60 years and older to maintain proficiency, to recognize cognitive and physiological deficiencies as they arise, to regularly reevaluate their personal minimums, and to adjust their flying to accommodate the inevitable changes that occur with aging.
If CFIs and older pilots do this together, we can continue to fly safely in our golden years.
Dr. Victor Vogel is a board-certified and fellowship-trained medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer prevention and treatment. He obtained his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, completed his residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and his fellowship in medical oncology at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center. Dr. Vogel has also served as the National Vice President for Research at the American Cancer Society.
A pilot since 1980, Dr. Vogel holds a CFII, AGI, and IGI. He has owned a Beech Sierra and for the past 15 years a Cirrus SR22. He has flown to 40 of the 50 states and serves as a FAASTeam Representative. He is a member of the IFR Magazine Editorial Board.
In retirement, Dr. Vogel plans to become a full-time flight instructor and is the founder of Susquehanna STEM to the Skies, an educational foundation that will utilize a full-motion advanced aviation training device to introduce high school youth to aviation as a career opportunity.
Aaron Dabney earned his Flight Instructor certificate in 2009, and has been an active instructor ever since. He has provided more than 5,000 hours of instruction in more than 30 models of aircraft, mentoring pilots from their first hour through becoming accomplished instructors themselves, and all points in between.
Dabney grew up in an aviation family. His maternal grandfather Joe was a World War II fighter pilot, and much of his childhood was spent in the family J-3 Cub with his grandfather or his uncle Mark. Aaron completed his first solo in that Cub in 1999 and is now its caretaker.
Aaron is a 6-time NAFI Master Flight Instructor, owns a small flight school, and has served as an adjunct lecturer for Baylor University's Aviation Sciences program since 2010. He serves on NAFI's Board of Directors and serves in several volunteer roles including coordinating MentorLIVE
Aaron lives in Waco, Texas with his wife of 20 years Alisa.
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