Designation Recognized By The FAA For CFI Renewal

Eight flight instructors completed the Master Instructors course to receive the prestigious designation in the month of April. The title has been earned by fewer than 700 of the 91,000 CFIs currently active in the country. 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:

Raylene B Alexander, Master Aviation Educator, Lindsborg, KS
E-mail: Raylene@K-State.edu
Raylene B Alexander recently renewed her Master Aviation Educator (MAE) accreditation. Raylene is an associate professor of aviation maintenance and avionics in Kansas State University's department of aviation technology at Salina Municipal Airport (SAL). A US Marine Corps veteran, she is also active in the University Aviation Association and Women in Aviation.

Gordon Ashby Ewald, Master Instructor Emeritus, Hardy, VA
E-mail: GEwald1948@verizon.net
Gordon A Ewald, a 6-time Master and 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. Gordon specializes in primary, instrument, and recurrent training at several local airports including Roanoke Regional. He also serves as a volunteer Mid-Atlantic Angel Flight pilot.

Thomas Michael "Mike" Garrison, Master CFI, Leawood, KS
E-mail: MGarrison8@sbcglobal.net
T Michael Garrison, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. The holder of a Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, Mike is an independent flight instructor specializing in instrument, multiengine and Cirrus training at Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC). He also serves as a designated pilot examiner in the FAA's Kansas City FSDO area.

Paul Gretschel, Master CFI, Coram, NY
E-mail: Paul@PackAviation.com,
Paul Gretschel, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Paul is a flight and ground instructor with the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program as well as the owner of PACK Aviation. He also serves as an aviation safety inspector (ASI) and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Farmingdale FSDO.

Mark William Lamb, Master Aviation Educator, Yardville, NJ
E-mail: MarkAero@aol.com, MLamb@Mail.OCVTS.org
Mark W Lamb, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earn his Master Aviation Educator (MAE) accreditation. Mark is an aviation technology instructor at Ocean County Vocational Technical School in Jackson, NJ. An airframe and powerplant (A&P) technician as well as a US Air Force veteran, he also serves as a committee chair on the New Jersey Aviation Education Council.

Quay Carlton Snyder, Master CFI, Monument, CO
E-mail: ASW-19Pilot@comcast.net
Quay C Snyder, a 6-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Quay is a pilot examiner and FAASTeam rep in the FAA's Denver FSDO area as well as the Black Forest Soaring Society's chief glider CFI at Kelly Air Park (CO15). He is also the president & CEO of Aviation Medicine Advisory Service specializing in aeromedical certification for pilots and air traffic controllers.

Cathleen Moira "Cathy" Steele, Master CFI, Severna Park, MD
E-mail: Moira46@gmail.com
Cathleen M Steele, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. An independent flight and ground instructor, Cathy specializes in instrument and Cirrus flight training at Baltimore Washington International (BWI) and Martin States Airports (MTN). She also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Baltimore FSDO area.

Hobart Caleb "Hobie" Tomlinson, Master CFI, Huntington, VT
E-mail: HobieTW@att.net
Hobart C Tomlinson, a 6-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. The 2012 National CFI of the Year, Hobie is a CSIP instructor and manager of Montair Flight Services LLC at Burlington International Airport (BTV). He also serves as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Portland Maine FSDO area.

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org