Charlie Hamilton and Jay Flowers
Aviation Safety Inspectors, FAA Safety Team
by Paul Cianciolo, FAA Safety Briefing Associate Editor
Good data is crucial to helping the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) lower the aviation accident rate through training, outreach, and education. The FAASTeam’s Data Analysis Tool (FATDAT) plays a critical role in using data to promote safety to the highest standard. Behind that tool are two data-driven aviation safety inspectors: Charlie Hamilton and Jay Flowers.
In 1967, Charlie took his first flight lesson for $5 in Bremerton, Washington. In college, he was instrumental in forming a sky-diving club. Eager to start flying, he took on flying helicopters for the Army, which included a combat tour flying HueyCobra gunships for the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. His decorations include two Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism in aerial flight, the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a war zone, and 18 Air Medals for heroism.
Charlie then spent 35 years living and flying commercially in Alaska and for the Alaska Army National Guard where he developed and then managed the aviation, ground, and environmental safety programs and the UH-1H and UH-60 standardization instructor pilot. His interest shifted to the FAA after earning numerous airman certificates and as a check airman for Trans Alaska Helicopters. Prior to retiring from the Guard in 2005, he joined the FAA at the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in 1997.
With more than 11,000 flight hours under his belt, Charlie is now the FAASTeam liaison to 18 FSDOs from Arizona to Puerto Rico. He is also the FATDAT founder and FAASTeam helicopter liaison to the government/industry-led United States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST).
Jay, the FATDAT lead, was born into an aviation family in Bismarck, North Dakota. His parents were partial owners of a part 135 operation called Executive Air Taxi Corp., at the time a small company of 14 pilots who flew Cessna, Piper, and Beech aircraft. Jay flew for the company for 21 years as their check airman, chief pilot, and director of operations.
Jay also flew icing research for the University of North Dakota and air medical flights before joining the FAA at the Springfield FSDO in 2006.
With more than 10,000 flight hours logged, Jay moved up to headquarters where he is also the FAASTeam lead for a flight instructor analysis tool and working to upgrade FAASafety.gov using an integrated artificial intelligence (AI) program. The AI will review accident and incident data to assist FAASTeam program managers with localized risk assessments.
Data is reviewed across the FAASTeam to see the big picture. In most cases, the issues or problems found are the same locally as they are nationally. Information pushed out does repeat, and that is because of what the data shows. Jay and Charlie both explained that repetition in training is what gives us the edge for better understanding and skill development. They add that it’s why the WINGS program is designed to assist pilots in gaining proficiency, not currency. Together, Jay and Charlie live by the motto: A proficient pilot makes the skies safer for us all.
Paul Cianciolo is an associate editor and the social media lead for FAA Safety Briefing. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and an auxiliary airman with Civil Air Patrol.
