"The Best Of The Best" 

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 90,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500 of them have earned the 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 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.

Through their dedication to excellence, Master Instructors have earned their "black belts" in aviation education.

Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during September are:

RENEWALS

David Paul St. George, Master CFI      
Ithaca, NY
E-mail: David@myfbo.com
David St George recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time.  David is the chief flight and ground instructor at East Hill Flying Club (www.EHFC.net), a Part 141 flight school at Ithaca's Tompkins County Airport (ITH).  He also serves as an aviation safety counselor and pilot examiner for the FAA's Rochester FSDO.

Walter Schuyler "Walt" Schamel, Master CFI 
Winter Haven, FL
E-mail: WSSchamel@aol.com
Walt Schamel recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time.  Walt is the chief flight instructor and training manager for Airline Transport Professionals at Craig Airport (CRG) in Jacksonville.  The 2004 National ASC of the Year, he also serves as a pilot examiner and safety counselor for the FAA's Orlando FSDO.

James Steven "Steve" Rutland, Master CFI    
Enterprise, AL  
E-mail: SRutland@adelphia.net
Steven Rutland recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time.  Steve is a fixed and rotary wing instructor at Fort Rucker as well as Double Bridges Aviation, a Part 141 flight school at Enterprise Airport (EDN).  He also teaches at Wallace College and serves as a safety counselor for the FAA's Birmingham FSDO.

Robin Henry "Rob" Lindstrom, Master CFI & Master GI   
Huntsville, AL
E-mail: RobinHLindstrom@hotmail.com
Rob Lindstrom recently renewed his Master CFI and Master Ground Instructor accreditations.  Rob is the assistant chief CFI for the Redstone Arsenal Flying Club at Redstone Army Airfield (HUA).  He also teaches at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and serves as a safety counselor for the FAA's Birmingham FSDO.

Donald Ellis "Don" Kaye, Master CFI   
Santa Clara, CA
E-mail: DonKaye@earthlink.net
Donald Kaye recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Don is an independent flight instructor specializing in Mooney aircraft at numerous San Jose area airports.  He also teaches with the Mooney Pilot Proficiency Program and is active in the FAA's WINGS program as well as a local Aviation Explorer post. 

Michael Gerard "Mike" Gaffney, Master CFI   
Lake St Louis, MO
E-mail:  MGaffney@SkylineAero.com
Michael Gaffney recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Mike is the chief CFI at Skyline Aeronautics (www.SkylineAero.com), a Spirit of St Louis Airport (SUS) Part 141 flight school.  He also serves as a safety counselor for the local FSDO and was recently named the 2006 St Louis CFI of the Year.

Terry Wayne Brandt, Master CFI  
Avondale, AZ
E-mail: TBrandt33@earthlink.net
Terry Brandt recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time.  Terry is the vice president of flight operations and chief flight instructor with Groen Brothers Aviation at Buckeye Municipal Airport (BXK).  He also serves as a glider and gyroplane pilot examiner as well as a safety counselor for the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO.

INITIALS

Judy Ann Phelps, Master CFI-Aerobatic   
Santa Paula, CA
E-mail: Judy@CPAviation.com
Judy Phelps recently earned her Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Judy is the vice president and co-owner of CP Aviation (www.CPAviation.com), a Cessna Pilot Center at Santa Paula Airport (SZP). She specializes in teaching women to fly as well as aerobatic, emergency maneuver and tailwheel training. She is the first woman to earn this aerobatic accreditation.

Lynnwood Karl "Woody" Minar, Master CFI
Dresser, WI
E-mail: Woody.Minar@centurytel.net
Lynnwood "Woody" Minar recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Woody is the chief flight instructor with Osceola Aero flight school (www.OsceolaAero.com) at western Wisconsin's Osceola Municipal Airport (I75). He specializes in primary and instrument flight and ground training.

Bart Charles Meltzer, Master CFI 
Seattle WA
E-mail: BartMeltzer@earthlink.net
Bart Meltzer recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Bart is a flight instructor with Galvin Flying Service (www.GalvinFlying.com), a Part 61 & 141 flight school on Seattle's Boeing Field (BFI). A retired US Navy E-6A Mercury flight engineer, he holds an A&P certificate and specializes in Columbia instruction.

Bret Patrick Koebbe, Master CFI 
Cincinnati, OH
E-mail: BPKoebbe@hotmail.com
Bret Koebbe recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Bret is the assistant to the chairman of the board of Sporty's Pilot Shop (www.Sportys.com) and is also a manager of Sporty's video production department. In addition, he specializes in advanced and complex aircraft flight training at Batavia's Clermont County Airport (I69).

Paul Edward Jurgens II, Master CFI 
Williamsburg, OH
E-mail: PJurgens@Sportys.com
Paul Jurgens recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Paul is the vice president of publishing for Sporty's Pilot Shop (www.Sportys.com) and specializes in product development. In addition, he is the chief flight instructor for glider and multiengine operations for Sporty's Academy and Eastern Cincinnati Aviation at Clermont County Airport (I69).

Michael Gerard "Mike" Gaffney, Master GI  
Lake St Louis, MO
E-mail: MGaffney@SkylineAero.com
Michael Gaffney recently earned his Master Ground Instructor accreditation. Mike is the chief flight instructor at Skyline Aeronautics (www.SkylineAero.com), a Spirit of St Louis Airport (SUS) Part 141 flight school. He also serves as a safety counselor for the local FSDO and was recently named the 2006 St Louis CFI of the Year.

Patrick John Dugan, Master CFI-Aerobatic 
Ventura, CA
E-mail: Patrick.Dugan@sbcglobal.net
Patrick Dugan recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Patrick is an aerobatic flight and ground instructor with CP Aviation (www.CPAviation.com), a Cessna Pilot Center at Santa Paula Airport (SZP). He specializes in tailwheel, aerobatic and emergency maneuvers training.

FMI: www.nafinet.org