June Master Instructors (Jun 2004)
The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of these very special aviation educators. Recently, they were all designated Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional aviation organization.
To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 81,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than four hundred of them have earned the Master designation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last nine FAA National Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs. In addition, the FAA has approved the designation as an alternate means for CFIs to renew their flight instructor certificates.
The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA that is earned by a candidate through a rigorous process of continuing education and peer review. Much like a flight instructor's certificate, it must be renewed biennially. This process parallels continuing education regimens used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge base while increasing their professionalism. Simply put, the Master Instructor designation is a means by which to identify those outstanding aviation educators, those "Teachers of Flight," who are demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community.
Through their dedication to excellence, Master Instructors have earned their "black belts" in aviation education. They truly represent the crème de la crème of the aviation industry!
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during June are:
RENEWALS
Gregory Neal "Greg" BROWN, Master CFI
Fountain Hills AZ
E-mail: Greg@paperjet.net
Gregory Brown recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Greg is an independent instructor and lecturer who writes for AOPA's Flight Training Magazine. He was the 2000 National Flight Instructor of the Year and was the first CFI ever to earn the Master Instructor designation.
Richard Michael "Mike" COLIGNY, Master CFI
Oceanside CA
E-mail: Mike@FlyIt.com
Michael Coligny recently renewed both his Master Instructor designation. Mike is the chief executive officer of FLYIT Simulators (www.FlyIt.com) based in Carlsbad, CA. He also works as an independent flight instructor offering advanced, instrument and simulator training at McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ).
Patricia Mahlstedt "Pam" GLASS, Master CFI
Alexandria LA
E-mail: PamGlass@foreverflying.net
Patricia Glass recently renewed her Master CFI designation. Pam operates Forever Flying Flight School (www.ForeverFlying.net) at Alexandria Airport (AEX). She also mentors new CFIs in association Louisiana Tech University and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Baton Rouge FSDO.
Gregory Gordon "Greg" GORAK, Master CFI
Milwaukee WI
E-mail: GGG@aero.net
Gregory Gorak recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Greg is the owner of Gaits Aviation Seminars (www.GaitsAviation.com) and offers CFI revalidation clinics throughout the Midwest. He was the 1976 National CFI of the Year and serves as a safety counselor for the Milwaukee FSDO.
Claire Eugenia "Geni" GRANT, Master CFI
Bay City MI
E-mail: FlyInstr1@chartermi.net
Claire Grant recently renewed her Master CFI designation. Geni works as a flight instructor at Saginaw's H. W. Browne Airport (HYX) and Bay City's James Clement Airport (3CM). She is also director of aviation at Delta College and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Grand Rapids FSDO.
Robert Vernon "Bob" KINTNER Jr, Master CFI
Jasper GA
E-mail: BKintner@superiorflight.com
Robert Kintner recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Bob is the chief flight instructor and owner of Superior Flight School, a Cessna Pilot Center at Cobb County Airport (RYY) in Kennesaw. He is also a Cirrus standardized instructor and a Lasergrade test center supervisor.
David Gary "Dave" LAMMERS, Master CFI
Marion IA
E-mail: Lammers.David@mcleodusa.net
David Lammers recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Dave is an independent CFI specializing in concentrated instrument flight training. He is also an accomplished aerobatic pilot and serves as an EAA Flight Advisor as well as an Aviation Safety Counselor with the Des Moines FSDO.
Howard William "Bill" LEWIS, Master CFI
Whitmore Lake MI
E-mail: W8NN@chartermi.net
William Lewis recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Bill is an independent flight instructor specializing in instrument and GPS training at Willow Run Airport (YIP) and Ann Arbor Airport (ARB). He also serves as a pilot examiner and safety counselor for the Detroit FSDO.
Benjamin Jonas "Ben" WALTON, Master CFI
Belgrade MT
E-mail: WaltonBJ@highstream.net
Benjamin Walton recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Ben is the owner and operator of Summit Aviation at Bozeman's Gallatin Field (BZN) where he specializes in mountain flying, tailwheel and aerobatic training. He also works as an aviation instructor at Montana State University.
Janice Wray "Jan" WALTON, Master CFI
Marion IA
E-mail: JanWalton@earthlink.net
Janice Walton recently renewed her Master CFI designation. Jan is the chief flight instructor and owner of P & N Flight School at Marion Airport (C17). She also teaches for Kirkwood Community College, is active in the Whirly Girls and is a safety counselor for the Des Moines FSDO.
Richard Otis "Dick" WHEELER, Master CFI
Winter Haven FL
E-mail: WheelerAero@aol.com
Richard Wheeler recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Dick specializes in instrument, multiengine and ground instruction at the PanAm SimCom Orlando training center. He also serves on the FAA's Sun 'n Fun production crew and is a safety counselor for the Orlando FSDO.
James Howard "Jim" WHITTLES, Master CFI
Holland MI
E-mail: JimboSilk@charter.net
James Whittles recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Jim works as lead flight instructor at Western Michigan University's College of Aviation in Battle Creek. His duties include providing stage checks and progress checks as well as mentoring new CFIs.
Nathan Rokard "Nate" ZUCKER, Master CFI
New York NY
E-mail: Zucker.16@osu.edu
Nathan Zucker recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Nate is chief flight instructor as well as director of training and maintenance with AirShares Elite New York. He is also responsible for training new owners of Cirrus SR20s and SR22s.
INITIALS
Alfred Dell "Al" CANNIN, Master CFI
Toms River NJ
E-mail: ACannin@aol.com
Alfred Cannin recently earned his Master Instructor designation. Al is chief pilot for Eagles View Flight School at New Jersey's Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM). He is also active in youth aviation education programs and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Teterboro FSDO.
Michael Joseph CARPENTER, Master CFI & Master GI
Birmingham AL
E-mail: Carpenter2208@aol.com
Michael Carpenter recently earned both Master CFI and Master Ground Instructor designations. Michael is a helicopter instructor and evaluator at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he specializes in instrument and combat skills training. He also serves as a military pilot examiner.
Eugene Charles "Gene" HUDSON, Master CFI
Sylmar CA
E-mail: Flyer190@prodigy.net
Eugene Hudson recently earned his Master Instructor designation. Gene is president and chief flight instructor of Gene Hudson Flight Training at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) where he specializes in instrument and high-performance training. He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Van Nuys FSDO.
Susan Kirstein PARSON, Master CFI
Falls Church VA
E-mail: Avi8rix@hotmail.com
Susan Parson recently earned her Master Instructor designation. Susan works with the FAA and is an independent flight and ground instructor at Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO). She also serves as deputy safety director for the CAP's Virginia Wing and is an Aviation Safety Counselor with the Washington FSDO.
Darren SMITH, Master GI
Tampa FL
E-mail: CFIDarren@yahoo.com
Darren Smith recently earned his Master Ground Instructor designation. Darren is a flight and ground instructor who teaches at the MacDill Air Force Base campus of Hillsborough Community College . He also works as a freelance CFI and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Tampa FSDO.
John Anthony TEIPEN, Master CFI
University City MO
E-mail: John@Teipen.com
John Teipen recently earned his Master Instructor designation. John teaches in the aviation program at St Louis Community College and is an independent flight instructor in the St Louis area. He also serves as a Designated Pilot Examiner and an Aviation Safety Counselor for the St Louis FSDO.
Steve Thaddeus THIBODAUX, Master GI
Bellbrook OH
E-mail: SteveWOW@donet.com
Steve Thibodaux recently earned his Master Ground Instructor designation. Steve is a longtime flight instructor who owns Wings on Wheels (www.Wings-on-Wheels.com) and teaches aviation related classes for Sinclair Community College. He also serves as a safety counselor for the Cincinnati FSDO.
