"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 accredited as Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional
aviation education association.
To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there
are approximately 91,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 600
of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of
the prestige conferred by this title, the last 13 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.
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during June
are:
RENEWALS
Lee Armour Wedlake, Master CFI
Fort Myers, FL
E-mail: LeeWedlake@comcast.net
Lee A Wedlake recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Lee is
an independent flight and ground instructor working primarily at
Punta Gorda's Charlotte County Airport (PGD). He is also serves as
a check pilot with the Civil Air Patrol's Florida Wing and is a
FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Orlando FSDO.
Clifton O'Neal "Cliff" Walters, Master
CFI
Hamilton, MT
E-mail: CW@LostHorizon.us
Cliff Walters recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Cliff
is a ground instructor and chief flight instructor with North Star
Aviation (www.NorthStarAviation.net),
a full service FBO at Hamilton's Ravalli County Airport (6S5). He
specializes in primary, instrument, multiengine, and ground
training.
Vicki Lynn Sherman, Master CFI
DeLand, FL
E-mail: AeroSupplies@msn.com
Vicki Lynn Sherman recently renewed her Master CFI
accreditation. Vicki is a flight and ground instructor with Falcon
Flight (www.FalconFlightSanford.com),
a Cessna Pilot Center at Orlando Sanford International Airport
(SFB). She also serves with the Florida Aviation Safety Foundation
and is a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Orlando FSDO.
Susan Kirstein Parson, Master CFI & Master
GI
Oakton, VA
E-mail: Avi8rix@hotmail.com
Susan Parson recently renewed her Master CFI and Master Ground
Instructor accreditations. A 2007 recipient of NATA's Excellence in
Pilot Training award, Susan is an independent flight and ground
instructor in northeastern Virginia. She also serves with the CAP's
Virginia Wing and is a FAASTeam representative with the Washington
FSDO.
Gregory Stephen "Greg" Collins, Master
CFI
Hendersonville, NC
E-mail: SmokiesCFI@att.net
Gregory S Collins recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Greg is a flight and ground instructor with Aerolina, a
full-service FBO at Hendersonville Airport (0A7). Additionally, he
owns and operates Blue Ridge Sport Flight (www.BlueRidgeSportFlight.com)
and serves as a FAASTeam representative with the FAA's Charlotte
FSDO.
Richard Michael "Mike" Coligny, Master
CFI
Prescott, AZ
E-mail: Mike@AeroSimulators.com
Mike Coligny recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Mike is
an independent flight and ground instructor as well as CEO of
AeroSimulators USA in Prescott (PRC). In addition, he serves on the
Helicopter Association International's Flight Training Committee as
well as the FAA/Industry Joint Steering Committee.
Michael Cheever Church, Master CFI & Master
CFI-Aerobatic
Santa Ana, CA
E-mail: MC@SunriseAviation.com
Michael Church recently renewed his Master CFI and Master
CFI-Aerobatic accreditations. Michael is the chief CFI and
president of Sunrise Aviation (SunriseAviation.com) at Orange
County Airport (SNA). He is also president of the Western Pacific
Aviation Safety Foundation and was named the Nat'l Aviation Safety
Counselor of the Year in 2005.
Gregory Neal "Greg" BROWN, Master CFI
Flagstaff, AZ
Gregory N Brown recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for
the 7th time. Greg is an independent Flagstaff-area flight
instructor, lecturer, and author who writes for numerous aviation
publications including AOPA's Flight Training Magazine. The 2000
Nat'l CFI of the Year, he was the first aviation educator to earn
Master Instructor accreditation.
INITIALS
Brady Anthony Valliere, Master CFI
Nashua, NH
E-mail: Valliere_Brady@DWC.edu
Brady A Valliere recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Brady is a flight and ground instructor as well as an instrument
check airman in the aviation program at Daniel Webster College. He
specializes in primary and advanced training at Boire Field (ASH)
where the college's aviation and flight training center is
located.
Lance Michael Vaculin, Master CFI
Murray, UT
E-mail: LVaculin@WestminsterCollege.edu
Lance Vaculin recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Lance
is an assistant chief flight instructor and program safety manager
with Westminster College, a Part 141 collegiate flight school at
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). He specializes in
instrument and multiengine flight training as well as ground
instruction.
Gerald Allan "Gerry" Parker, Master CFI
Houston, TX
E-mail: GParker@pmkc.com
Gerald A Parker recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Gerry
is an independent Houston-area flight instructor as well as a
flight and ground instructor with the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency
Program (www.BPPP.org). He also
serves as a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Houston FSDO.
Mark Edward Madden, Master CFI
Anchorage, AK
E-mail: AKCFI@Alaska.net
Mark E Madden recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Mark is
a University of Alaska Anchorage associate professor of aviation
technology at Merrill Field (PAMR). He is also serves on the board
of directors of the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation and is a
FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Anchorage FSDO.
Jonathan James "JJ" Greenway, Master CFI & Master
GI
Frederick, MD
E-mail: Jonathan.Greenway@AOPA.org
Jonathan J Greenway recently earned his Master CFI and Master
Ground Instructor accreditations. JJ is the AOPA Air Safety
Foundation's chief flight instructor and airman certification
representative. Additionally, he serves as co-chair of the FAA
General Aviation Joint Steering Committee's Personal Aviation
Subgroup and is vice chair of Frederick's airport commission.
Garrett Leonard Dernoga, Master CFI
Georgetown, DE
E-mail: Garrett@DelMarVa-Aviation.com
Garrett Dernoga recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Garrett is a flight and ground instructor as well as the owner of
Delmarva Aviation (www.DelMarVa-Aviation.com),
a flight school and Cessna Pilot Center at Georgetown's Sussex
County Airport (GED). He also served as president of the Tipton
Airport (FME) Pilots Association.
Lamar Anthony Childs, Master CFI
Pensacola, FL
E-mail: LAChilds@cox.net
Lamar A Childs recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Lamar
is the lead flight instructor with Skywarrior Flight Training (www.SkywarriorInc.com)
where he specializes in Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
introductory flight screening at Bay Minette Municipal Airport
(1R8). He is also an instructor with the Pensacola Navy Flying
Club.
Patrick Theron Carter, Master
CFI-Aerobatic
Bartlesville, OK
E-mail: PatrickTCarter@lycos.com
Patrick T Carter recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic
accreditation. Patrick is an aerobatic flight instructor as well as
the owner of AcroFlights (www.AcroFlights.com)
where he specializes in unusual attitude training. The holder A
& P mechanic certification, he is also an aerobatic competitor
and airshow performer.
Allen Banen, Master CFI
Fountain Hills AZ
E-mail: BaronInstructor@aol.com
Allen Banen recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Al is an independent Phoenix-area flight instructor as well as a
flight and ground instructor with the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency
Program (www.BPPP.org). He
specializes in instrument and recurrency training in Beechcraft
Bonanzas, Barons, and Dukes.
James Lee "Jim" Alsip, Master
CFI-Aerobatic
Indiantown, FL
E-mail: JAlsip@yahoo.com
James L Alsip recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic
accreditation. Jim owns and operates Dylan Aviation (www.DylanAviation.com),
an aerobatic flight school at Indiantown Airport (X58) about 30
miles northwest of Palm Beach. He specializes in spin and upset
recovery training, tailwheel endorsements, and basic aerobatic
training.