Organization Confers Second Helicopter Master Instructor Accreditation

There's a new Master Helicopter Instructor in Arlington, TX, as eight aviation eduators renewed their Master Instructor ratings in January.

Master Instructors LLC says that, of the approximately 93,000 CFIs in the United States, fewer than 700 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last 15 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 and industry 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.

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

Michael Edwin "Mike" Cassady, Master CFI-Helicopter, Arlington  TX. Mike is a 2-time Master and SAFE member who recently became the second aviation educator to earn Master CFI-Helicopter accreditation. He is a longtime helicopter flight and ground instructor with Bell Helicopter's factory school at Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW). A member of the Helicopter Association International (HAI), he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Fort Worth FSDO area.  E-mail: HelicopterTraining@att.net, MCassady@BellHelicopter.textron.com

Andrew David "Drew" Chitiea, Master CFI, Aurora  CO. Drew is a 7-time Master and charter SAFE member who recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Drew is a corporate pilot as well as the chief pilot and owner of Colorado Skymaster LLC at Centennial Airport (KAPA). He also serves as a pilot examiner and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Denver FSDO area. E-mail: Drew@ColoradoSkymaster.com

Nanette "Nan" Gaylord, Master Ground Instructor, Tulsa, OK, CFI Nan Gaylord, a 2-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned her Master Ground Instructor (MGI) accreditation. Nan is a designated pilot examiner at Tulsa's Richard L Jones Riverside Airport (RVS). She also teaches aviation classes for Tulsa Community College and serves as a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Oklahoma City FSDO area. E-mail: NanGaylord@aol.com

Jameson Richard "James" Hilliard, Master CFI Lincoln, NE. James is a 2-time Master and SAFE member, and he recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. James is the lead flight instructor, a ground instructor, and the manager of Performance Flight Training, a Cessna Pilot Center at Lincoln Airport (KLNK). He specializes in technically advanced aircraft and transition training. E-mail: JRH.Pilot@gmail.com

Daniel Paul "Dan" Mahoney, Master CFI, Key Colony Beach, FL. Dan is a 5-time Master and SAFE member who recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Dan is an aviation instructor with Everglades University as well as an independent flight instructor specializing in training older pilots at Marathon Airport (KMTH). A US Airways A-330 captain, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Miami / South Florida FSDO area. E-mail: DM2953@aol.com

Judy Ann Phelps, Master CFI-Aerobatic, Santa Paula, CA. This is Judy's third Master accreditation. A 3-time Master and a member of IAC as well as SAFE, she recently renewed her Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Judy specializes in aerobatic and emergency maneuver training with CP Aviation at Santa Paula Airport (KSZP). The 2010 Western Pacific Region CFI of the Year, she also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Van Nuys FSDO area. E-mail: Judy@CPAviation.com

Orlando Raimundo Villaverde, Master CFI, Miami, FL. Orlando is a 4-time Master and SAFE member, having recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Orlando is an airplane and helicopter flight and ground instructor at Kendall-Tamiami Airport (KTMB). He is also a professor of aviation at the Miami Dade College School of Aviation and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Miami FSDO area. E-mail: SkyKingVillage@aol.com

Joel David Weaner, Master CFI Jacksonville, FL. Joel is a 5-time Master and SAFE member who recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Joel is the owner of Beach Banners where he specializes in aerial advertising, aircraft rental, and flight instruction at Craig Municipal Airport (KCRG). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Orlando / North Florida FSDO area. E-mail:  Joel@BeachBanners.com

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org