The Best Of The Best
The National Association
of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a
significant aviation accomplishment on the part of some very
special aviation educators. Recently, they were all accredited as
Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional aviation education
association.
To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there
are approximately 90,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500
of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of
the prestige conferred by this title, the last eleven FAA National
Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs. In addition, the
FAA has approved the accreditation 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 professional activity 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.
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during February
are:
RENEWALS
Andrew David "Drew"
Chitiea, Master
CFI
Aurora, CO
E-mail: Drew@ColoradoSkymaster.com
Drew Chitiea recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the
5th time. Drew is Colorado Skymaster's chief pilot (www.ColoradoSkymaster.com)
as well as an independent Centennial (APA) and Front Range (FTG)
flight instructor. He also serves as a FAASTeam rep and pilot
examiner for the FAA's Denver FSDO.
William Jeffrey "Jeff" Edwards, Master
CFI
Chesterfield, MO
E-mail: VTailJeff@aol.com
Jeffrey Edwards recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for
the 5th time. Jeff is the president of Aviation Safety
Consulting Services (www.AvSafe.com) and an
independent flight instructor at the Spirit of St Louis Airport
(SUS). The 2003 National CFI of the Year, he also serves as a
FAASTeam rep as well as a pilot examiner for the FAA's St Louis
FSDO.
Richard Loren "Rich" Stowell Jr, Master
CFI-Aerobatic
Ventura, CA
E-mail: Rich@RichStowell.com
Rich Stowell recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic
accreditation. The 2006 National CFI of the Year, Rich is an
aerobatic flight instructor specializing in emergency maneuver
training and spin recovery (www.RichStowell.com).
He is also a noted aviation author and serves as a FAASTeam rep for
the FAA's Van Nuys FSDO.
Mallory Daniel "Mal" Woodcock, Master
CFI
Biloxi, MS
E-mail: UKPilot1@yahoo.com
Mallory Woodcock recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Mal
is the Gulf Coast Flight Training Center's chief CFI (www.OceanSpringsAirport.com),
a Part 141 Cessna Pilot Center at Ocean Springs Airport (5R2). He
is also a member of the CAP's Mississippi Wing and serves as a
pilot examiner for the FAA's Jackson FSDO.
INITIALS
Robert Alan "Rob" Jordan Jr, Master CFI
Salina, KS
E-mail: Robby2167@hotmail.com
Robert Jordan recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Rob is
the lead flight instructor with White Air (www.FlyWhiteAir.com)
at Chanute's Martin Johnson Airport (CNU). A graduate of Kansas
State University's professional pilot and A&P programs, he also
serves as president of the Chanute Aviation Association.
Craig Russell Larson, Master
CFI
New Berlin, WI
E-mail: Craig@FlyMilwaukee.com
Craig Larson recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Craig is the chief flight instructor with Gran-Aire located at
Milwaukee's Timmerman Airport (MWC). He mentors new flight
instructors, serves at career fairs and is known locally for
organizing frequent "fly-out" events for pilots of all
abilitiies.
Paul Weston "BJ" Ransbury, Master
CFI-Aerobatic
Mesa, AZ
E-mail: Paul.Ransbury@apstraining.com
Paul "BJ" Ransbury recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic
accreditation. BJ, a 12-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces,
is the chief flight instructor and president of APS Emergency
Maneuver Training (www.APSTraining.com)
at Mesa's Williams Gateway Airport (IWA). He also serves as a
FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO.