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.

FMI: www.nafimasters.org