"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 92,000 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 December are:

RENEWALS

Joel David WEANER, Master CFI
Jacksonville FL
E-mail: Joel@BeachBanners.com
Joel D Weaner recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Joel is an independent flight instructor and owner of Beach Banners (www.BeachBanners.com) at Jacksonville's Craig Airport (CRG). He also provides airborne traffic reports for local radio and TV stations and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Orlando FSDO area.

Brian Lee ROBBINS, Master CFI & Master GI
Columbus NJ
E-mail: Aeromentor@comcast.net
Brian L Robbins recently renewed his Master CFI and earned a Master Ground Instructor accreditation. Brian is an independent flight and ground instructor at several central and southern New Jersey airports. He also holds the FAA's Master level wings and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Philadelphia FSDO area.

James Joseph "Jim" PITMAN, Master CFI
Phoenix AZ
E-mail: JPitman@pilotmail.us
James J Pitman recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Jim is the western region manager for Cessna Pilot Centers. He is also a member of the Arizona Flight Training Work Group, a script writer for AOPA's Air Safety Foundation, and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO area.

Judy Ann PHELPS, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Santa Paula CA
E-mail: Judy@CPAviation.com
Judy Phelps recently renewed her Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Judy is the owner and vice president of CP Aviation (www.CPAviation.com) at the Santa Paula Airport (SZP) where she specializes in tailwheel, upset, and aerobatic training. She also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Van Nuys FSDO area.

Kevin Paul OLSON, Master CFI
Maple Grove MN
E-mail: KPO@CenterlineFlight.com
Kevin P Olson recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Kevin is a pilot and project manager with Malibu Aerospace (www.MalibuAerospace.com) as well as an independent Minneapolis-area flight and ground instructor. He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Minneapolis FSDO area.

Terry Wayne BRANDT, Master CFI
Avondale AZ
E-mail: TBrandt33@earthlink.net
Terry Brandt recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time. Terry is flight instructor at Buckeye Municipal Airport (BXK) specializing in gliders, gyroplanes, and light sport aircraft. He also serves as a glider and gyroplane pilot examiner as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO area.

INITIALS

Pamela Elaine STAFFORD, Master CFI & Master GI
Olathe KS
E-mail: Papa_Sierra14@yahoo.com
Pamela Stafford recently earned her Master CFI and Master GI accreditations. Pamela is the founder and owner of Stafford Executive Pilot Training where she provides flight and ground instruction at several Olathe-area airports. She also offers primary and advanced ground training through Johnson County Community College.

Theodore Alexander "Ted" MATTHEWS, Master CFI
Aurora CO
E-mail: CPFerret@hotmail.com
Theodore A Matthews recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Ted is an Aspen Flying Club (www.AspenFlyingClub.com) flight and ground instructor at Denver's Centennial Airport (APA). Specializing in primary, advanced, and simulator training, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Denver FSDO area.

Jelica MATIC, Master CFI
Kaneohe HI
E-mail: JelicaMatic@yahoo.com
Jelica Matic recently earned her Master CFI accreditation. Jelica is a flight and ground instructor with Flight School Hawaii (www.FlightSchoolHawaii.com), a Cessna Pilot Center at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). She is also active in The 99s and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Honolulu FSDO area.

Nicholas Edward "Nick" JAMES, Master CFI
Portage MI
E-mail: Flyboy119@hotmail.com
Nicholas E James recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Nick is a flight and ground instructor with Dodgen Aircraft (www.DodgenAircraft.com) at Allegan's Padgham Field Airport (35D). He specializes in multiengine and initial CFI training as well as high performance and complex aircraft checkouts.

Jameson Richard "James" HILLIARD, Master CFI
Lincoln NE
E-mail: JRH.Pilot@gmail.com
Jameson R Hilliard recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. James is the head flight instructor and manager of Performance Flight Training (www.FlyPerformance.com) at Lincoln Airport (LNK). He specializes in primary and instrument flight training as well as advanced avionics training.

FMI: www.NAFIMasters.org