'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 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.
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during November
are:
RENEWALS
Gary Eure Odom, Master
CFI
Ruston, LA
E-mail: GOdom@LaTech.edu
Gary Odom recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th
time. Gary is the head of the aviation department and chief flight
instructor for Louisiana Tech's Part 141 flight school at Ruston
Regional Airport (RSN). He also serves as an FAASTeam
representative (safety counselor) for the FAA's Baton Rouge
FSDO.
Marcelaine Wininger Lewis, Master CFI
Houghton, MI
E-mail: Marcelaine@up.net
Marcelaine Wininger Lewis recently renewed her Master CFI
accreditation. Marcelaine is the flight school manager with Agate Beach Aviation at Houghton
County Memorial Airport (CMX). She also serves in the CAP's
Michigan Wing, is an Angel Flight pilot and is active in The
Ninety-Nines.
Lonnie Lee Hilkemeier, Master CFI
Boulder, CO
E-mail: Lonnie@SpecialtyFlight.com
Lonnie Hilkemeier recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for
the 5th time. Lonnie is president of Specialty
Flight Training, a Cessna Pilot Center at Erie
Municipal Airport (EIK). He also serves as a FAASTeam
representative for the Denver FSDO and was FAA's 2005 Northwest
Mountain Region CFI of the Year.
Alan Chester Davis, Master CFI
Thornton, CO
E-mail: ADavis@IASAir.com
Alan Davis recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th
time. Alan is an independent Denver-area flight instructor as well
as the manager of safety and training for Integrated Airline
Services He also serves as a FAASTeam representative
(safety counselor) for the FAA's Denver FSDO.
Albert Atkins, Master CFI
Ellensburg WA
E-mail: Atkins3570@fairpoint.net
Albert Atkins recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Albert
is a Central Washington University assistant professor as well as
the aviation department's assistant chief ground instructor in
their Part 141 flight training program. He also does some turbine
transition flight training at Ellensburg's Bowers Field Airport
(ELN).
INITIALS
Shane Larrel Vande Voort, Master CFI
Pella, IA
E-mail: Shane@FlyClassicAviation.com
Shane Vande Voort recently earned his Master Instructor
accreditation. Shane is the manager of Pella Municipal Airport
(PEA) as well as chief flight instructor for Classic
Aviation. He also holds an A&P certificate and
serves as a FAASTeam representative (safety counselor) for the
FAA's Des Moines FSDO.
Benjamin John "Ben" Roller, Master CFI
Middletown, OH
E-mail: BRoller@Sportys.com
Benjamin J Roller recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Ben
is the chief flight instructor for Sporty's Academy at Batavia's
Clermont County Airport (I69) where he specializes in instrument
and G1000 training. He also serves as a member of the University of
Cincinnati's Aviation Technology Committee.
Brian Lee Robbins, Master CFI
Columbus, NJ
E-mail: Aeromentor@comcast.net
Brian Robbins recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Brian
is an independent Mount Holly area flight instructor operating
primarily out of South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY). He also works
with local Boy Scouts and serves as a FAASTeam rep (safety
counselor) for the FAA's Philadelphia FSDO.
Eric Christopher Radtke, Master CFI
Cincinnati, OH
E-mail: ERadtke@fuse.net
Eric Radtke recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Eric is
the president and CEO of Sporty's Academy at Clermont County
Airport (I69). In addition to his duties as director of aviation
technology for the University of Cincinnati's Clermont College, he
also serves as faculty advisor for the college's precision flight
team.
Michael Allen "Mike" Puehler, Master CFI
Batavia, OH
E-mail: MPuehler@earthlink.net
Michael A Puehler recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Mike is the Part 141 chief flight instructor for Sporty's Academy's
commercial program at Clermont County Airport (I69). He has also
been as a NIFA coach and competitor and serves as a designated
pilot examiner (DPE) for the FAA's Cincinnati FSDO.
Andrew Marinelli, Master CFI
Youngstown, OH
E-mail: Biancshi@aol.com
Andrew Marinelli recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Andrew is a flight instructor with Crosswind Aviation at North
Lima's Youngstown Elser Metro Airport (4G4). He also serves as a
FAASTeam representative (safety counselor) for the FAA's Cincinnati
FSDO.
Kerry Stanley Hackney, Master CFI
Miami Lakes, FL
E-mail: Kerry@FlyPlatinum.com
Kerry Hackney recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Kerry
is the chief pilot with Platinum
Aviation, a Part 61 flight school specializing in TAA
training at Opa Locka (OPF) and Tamiami Executives (TMB) Airport.
He also serves as an FAASTeam rep (safety counselor) for the FAA's
South Florida-Miami FSDO.
Clifford Anderson "Cliff" Chambliss, Master
CFI
Pinson, AL
E-mail: CliffAChambliss@aol.com
Cliff Chambliss recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Cliff
is the assistant chief flight instructor and safety officer for the
Aero Club at Maxwell Air Force Base (MXF). A 22-year US Army
veteran, he also serves as an FAASTeam representative (safety
counselor) for the FAA's Birmingham FSDO.
James Brian "Jim" Casper, Master CFI
Vallejo, CA
E-mail: Ghost_94590@yahoo.com
James B Casper recently earned his Master Instructor accreditation.
Jim is the chief flight instructor with the Concord Flying
Club where he specializes in commercial and instrument
training at Buchanan Field (CCR). He is also an instructor with
Professional Instrument Courses.