First To Earn Accreditation Under NAFI/IAC Joint Program

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) and the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) recently announced a significant accomplishment on the part of John Gardner Dye of Lisbon, OH.

Dye recently earned his aerobatic instructor accreditation under a voluntary program developed jointly by NAFI and IAC. In addition to the Master CFI-Aerobatic (MCFI-A) designation launched in 2001, two new tiers were added in the latter part of 2007: the Flight Instructor-Aerobatic (FI-A) and the Certificated Flight Instructor-Aerobatic (CFI-A) designations. While 11 instructors currently hold MCFI-A status, Dye is just the second aerobatic instructor to earn CFI-A status under the expanded program.

Candidates earn one of the three NAFI/IAC Aerobatic Instructor designations through a rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer review. The program parallels the continuing education regimen used by professionals in other fields to enhance their knowledge base.

The Aerobatic Instructor designation formally recognizes those aviation educators who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community. An offshoot of the FAA-recognized NAFI Master Instructor program, aerobatic designations must be renewed biennially.

NAFI and IAC -- both parts of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) -- provide support and recognition for America's professional aerobatic instructors, while simultaneously encouraging all such instructors to rise up to and maintain a high level of professionalism. NAFI and IAC also work to provide a safe and effective learning environment for those seeking spin, emergency maneuver/upset, or traditional aerobatic training services.

FMI: www.iac.org/programs/designation.html, www.nafimasters.org