By Charley Taylor, with Art Hayssen
Art Hayssen, Lead FAA FAASTeam Representative for the San Francisco North Bay Area, has been awarded the 2020 FAASTeam Representative of the Year by the Oakland FSDO. This district extends from San Francisco and San Joaquin Counties to Del Norte County on the Oregon state line.
Art has been continuously active in the general aviation community and aviation education in the Santa Rosa, California area since 1978. He has been the most active Aviation Safety Counselor and a Lead FAA FAASTeam Representative in the Northern California District over the past 30 years. He was the Chief Instructor (Part 141) and Director of the Aviation Technology Program at the Santa Rosa Junior College. In addition to his aerial work, Art has been a faculty member at the Santa Rosa Junior College since 1980, teaching aeronautics technology, geography, and meteorology.
Art Hayssen teaching Weight & Balance course at SSU’s summer program.
In 1968 Art graduated from Northwestern Military and Naval Academy with highest honors. He holds a B.A. in Geography from Sonoma State University with an emphasis in Weather Science. His M.A. program was in Education Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum with an emphasis in Physical Geography. He acquired his ATP-Airplane certificate with single-engine sea commercial privileges. His flight instructor certificate includes airplane single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. With over 10,000 hours of dual instruction given, he continues to be a leading flight instructor in the region. Numerous North San Francisco Bay area flight schools and pilots look to Art to perform quality stage checks for their students from the private pilot through the ATP level. Art continues to instruct daily. His students today include ones working towards sport, private, commercial, & air transport pilot; instrument & multi-engine ratings as well as basic, instrument & multi-engine flight instructor.
Art Hayssen teaching the Drone course at SSU’s EXCEL summer program.
In aviation related civic volunteer work, Art is a regular speaker and contributor to the programs of the EAA, the Civil Air Patrol, the Santa Rosa and Marin County chapters of the 99’s, and the Aviation Safety Program. Art has raised funds and personally donated funds for Sonoma County elementary schools, speaking to 5th and 6th grade classes throughout the district about aviation and opportunities for careers in aviation.
On June 11th, Art conducted his 21st Annual Mountain Flying Workshop through the FAA’s WINGS Program. The online GoToWebinar platform proved to be a viable alternative to the past classroom settings and stressed best practices for flying cross country and in mountainous terrain.
