The single most important benefit from participating in the wings program is that Principal Operations Inspectors (POI) will query if you participate in the wings program during the investigation of your aircraft accident. If you are a participant, the POI's will be much more leniant with you as you have shown that you care about safety.

The FAA Wings program is designed to promote aviation safety throughout a pilots career. There are phases that can be accomplished. The pilot complete three knowledge credits and three flight credits for each phase to be complete. There are numerous online learning courses on the faasafety.com website that complies with the knowledge credits. There are also numerous organizations that will give wings credit for completing their course. The most notable is AOPA safety foundation. The flight credits are designed to ensure you are still able to meet the minimal standards of the PTS. There are activites from each section of the PTS that you can complete to earn that credit.

The three phases of the wings program are Wings, Advanced Wings and Master Wings. A participant can earn each phase as many times as desired and the website will keep track of the number of times each phase has been completed. The Wings phase is comparable to a Private PTS standard, Advanced Phase to a Commercial PTS and a Master Phase is akin to an ATP level of proficiency.

There are numerous other activities that qualify for wings credit. Each of the pilot and instructor practical tests qualify for wings credit to varying degrees. PIC Proficiency checks and SIC proficiency checks qualify as well as 135.293 competency checks and 135.297 instrument proficiency checks. These are just a couple examples.

The two biggest features of the wings program is that it will count for your flight review and it helps to show your big on safety if there is ever an accident.