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 87,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500
of them have earned the Master designation thus far. As a measure
of the prestige conferred by this title, the last ten 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 cr�me de la cr�me of the aviation
industry!
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during December
are:
RENEWALS
Cleon Joseph Biter,
Master CFI
Lyons CO
Cleon Biter recently earned Master CFI accreditation for the 4th
time. Cleon is a flight instructor with Air West Flight
Center at Longmont's Vance Brand Airport (2V2) as well as a
nationally known aviation weather consultant and researcher. He
also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor with the FAA's Denver
FSDO.
Thomas Edward "Tom" Hendershot, Master
CFI
Littleton CO
Thomas Hendershot recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Tom is an independent Denver-area CFI and director of Frontier
Airlines' aviation maintenance technician program. He serves as a
safety counselor for the Denver FSDO and is a recipient of the
Charles E Taylor Master Mechanic and Wright Brothers Master Pilot
awards.
Sandra Anita "Sandi" McClure, Master
CFI
Mount Laurel NJ
Sandra McClure recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
Sandi instructs at South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY) in Mount
Holly as well as Medford's Flying W Airport (N14). She also serves
as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Philadelphia
FSDO.
Camille Eileene "Cammie" Patch, Master
CFI
Boise ID
Cammie Patch recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
Cammie is a Cirrus standardized instructor who owns and operates Glass Cockpit Aviation at Boise Air
Terminal (BOI). She specializes in ground and flight training using
technologically advanced aircraft.
Ralph Vincent Pollmiller, Master
CFI
Graham NC
Ralph Pollmiller recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Ralph is the chief flight instructor and owner of Pollmiller Flight
Training. He specializes in intensive instrument flight and ground
instruction nationwide and regularly serves a NAFI Flight
Specialist at both AirVenture and Sun 'n Fun.
Timm Preusser, Master CFI
Kleinwallstadt, Germany
Timm Preusser recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for
the 4th time. Timm is the chief CFI and training officer at the Darmstadt Flying Club. He also serves
on the Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association (COPA) board of
directors and is a Cirrus standardized instructor.
Eric Joseph Shappee, Master
CFI
Salina KS
Eric Shappee recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.
Eric is a Kansas State University flight and ground instructor as
well as an assistant professor of aviation at Salina Airport (SLN).
He also serves in the Civil Air Patrol's Kansas Wing and is an
Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Wichita FSDO.
David Howard "Dave" Wiley, Master
CFI
Lake Oswego OR
David Wiley recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the
4th time. Dave operates Wiley's Seaplane Port (2OG3) at Lake Oswego
and holds all 7 currently available flight instructor ratings. He
also serves as a designated pilot examiner and aviation safety
counselor for the FAA's Portland FSDO.
INITIALS
Dan Wayne Dirksen,
Master CFI
Grants Pass OR
Dan Dirksen recently earned his Master Instructor accreditation.
Dan is the chief flight instructor and a ground instructor for
Pacific Aviation Northwest at Grants Pass Airport (3S8). He also
serves as president of EAA Chapter 725, is a member of the Civil
Air Patrol and is the local AOPA Airport Support Network
volunteer.
John William Revenboer, Master
CFI
Castle Rock CO
John Revenboer recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
John is a training captain and check airman with Air Methods
Corporation at Denver's Centennial (APA) and
Front Range (FTG) Airports. He specializes in instrument flight and
ground training in helicopters.
Russell Frederick "Russ" Still, Master
CFI
Cumming GA
Russell Still recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Russ
serves in the Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and is the owner
of Atlanta Flight at Gwinnett
County Airport (LZU) in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He specializes in
primary and advanced flight and ground instruction.