Complete Rigorous Continuing Education Courses To Help Make Safer Pilots

Nine CFIs earned the designation Master Instructor in April from Master Instructors LLC, the international Master Instructor accrediting authority.

There are approximately 96,000 CFIs in the United States, and fewer than 700 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. The last 17 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 April are:

Dario Costa, Master CFI-Aerobatic, Bologna, Italy.
Dario Costa, a 1st-time Master as well as an IAC and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Dario is an aerobatic and instrument flight instructor with Aero Club Milano  at Bresso Airport. He also organizes recreational aerobatic contests and coaches competitors in preparation for aerobatic competitions. E-mail: Costa_80@hotmail.it

G Alexander "Sandy" Hill, Master Instructor Emeritus, Longmont CO.
Alexander Hill, a 7-time Master and charter SAFE member, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus status in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education. Sandy is the co-creator and administrator of the Master Instructor program. He also serves as a national FAASTeam representative and is the communications director for the General Aviation Awards program (http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/). E-mail: MasterInstrs@aol.com

Christopher John "Chris" Hope, Master CFI, Kansas City MO.
Christopher J Hope, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Chris is an independent flight instructor specializing in primary and instrument training at Lee's Summit (LXT) and Johnson County Executive (OJC) airports. He also serves as a volunteer Angel Flight pilot and is a FAASTeam Representative in the FAA's Kansas City FSDO area. E-mail: TheHopes-Chris@KC.rr.com

Daniel Max "Dan" Keen, Master CFI, Lafayette  IN
Daniel M Keen, a 7-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Dan is an aviation safety inspector (ASI) and safety officer with the FAA's Indianapolis FSDO where he specializes in aviator practical tests. He also assists with the FSDO's FAASTeam activities and is a longtime volunteer in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA). E-mail: DanielKeen@aol.com

David Allen Koehn, Master CFI & Master Ground Instructor, Tulsa OK.
David Koehn, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI and earned his initial Master Ground Instructor (MGI) accreditation. David is the co-owner Destinations Executive Flight Center ( DestinationsEFC.com ) and co-founder of Fast Forward Aviation at Tulsa's Riverside Airport (RVS). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Oklahoma City FSDO area. E-mail: David@DestinationsEFC.com, FFAV8@sbcglobal.net

John Urban "Rock" Rockcastle, Master CFI, Oxford FL.
John U Rockcastle, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Rock is a simulator instructor with Simcom in Orlando and serves on the production crew at the FAA's National Resource Center in Lakeland. An Orlando FAASTeam representative and a recent recipient of the FAA's Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, he was also the 1989 Nat'l CFI of the Year. E-mail: Rancher@digital.net

Col Charles Arthur "Charlie" Skelton, Master CFI, Branford CT.
Col Charles A Skelton (USMC, Ret), a 7-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Charlie is the chief pilot for CAS Aviation and president of Yale Aviation, a flying club at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). Additionally, he is a recent recipient of the FAA's Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Windsor Locks FSDO area. E-mail: RBOCAS@comcast.net

Kyle Vincent Thomas, Master CFI. Durant OK.
Kyle V Thomas, a 4-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Kyle is an aviation professor and chief flight instructor with Southeastern Oklahoma State University's aviation institute at Eaker Field (DUA). He is also a coach for the university's NIFA flight team as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Oklahoma City FSDO area. E-mail: KThomas@SE.edu

Ludwig Joseph "Lou" Wipotnik, Master CFI, Mount Prospect IL.
Lou Wipotnik, an 8-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Lou is an independent Chicago-area flight instructor who also teaches with Leading Edge Flying Club at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK). The 1996 National CFI of the Year, he is also a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's DuPage FSDO area and serves in the CAP's Illinois Wing. E-mail: Jan.Lou@comcast.net

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org