'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.

FMI: www.nafimasters.org