The FAA recognizes pilots/instructors who participate in the WINGs program as individuals who believe in a culture of safety. It's impossible to prove an accident didn't happen. In a survey of 100-pilots who were involved in an accident/incident, only three were WINGs participants thus supporting the concept that true believers in safety are far less likely to be involved in these events.
If you're involved such an event, the FAA takes your WINGs participation into account and it may prove helpful in some situations.
I've been an avid supporter and an active participant in the Pilot Proficiency Program for over 28-years. The program provides an opportunity for pilots to polish their skills and stay up to date on the latest changes to aviation.
My PA46 courses/seminars are approved for WINGs credit. The initial 4/5 day course qualifies for the Basic and Advanced Phases of the program. The recurrent 1/2 course also qualifies for the Basic and Advanced Levels. The Accident Review recently is accepted as an approved seminar.
Flight Instructors can use the WINGs program to renew their CFI certificate. A CFI who provides instruction for 15-flight activities in the previous 24-months they can be renewed based on activity. During a Flight Review, a CFI typically incorporates 3 or 4 flight activities.
e)
A record showing that, within the preceding 24 calendar months from the month of application, the flight instructor has served as a flight instructor in an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program, provided the flight instructor meets the following requirements:
• Holds a flight instructor certificate and meets the appropriate flight instructor recent experience requirements;
• Has satisfactorily completed at least one phase of an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program in the preceding 12 calendar months;
• Has conducted at least 15 flight activities recognized under the FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program during which the flight instructor evaluated at least 5 different pilots and has made appropriate endorsements in the logbook of those pilots.
NOTE: Currently, only the FAA’s Pilot Proficiency Program (WINGS) is eligible to meet this recent experience provision.
Refer to AC 61-91, WINGS—
Pilot Proficiency Program, for information on the WINGS Program