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 designated Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional aviation organization.

To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 87,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500 of them have earned the Master designation 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 designation 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 education 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. Simply put, the Master Instructor designation is a means by which to identify those outstanding aviation educators, those "Teachers of Flight," who are demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community. 

Through their dedication to excellence, Master Instructors have earned their "black belts" in aviation education. They truly represent the cr�me de la cr�me of the aviation industry!

Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during March are:

RENEWALS

John Peter CHMIEL, Master CFI  
Wausau WI
E-mail: TaildraggerFlyer@yahoo.com
John Chmiel recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. John works as a flight instructor and manager of Wausau Flying Service (www.FlyWausau.com). He also serves as manager of Wausau's Downtown Airport (AUW) and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Milwaukee FSDO.

Francis Burton "Burt" COMPTON Jr, Master CFI 
Marfa TX
E-mail: FBCompton@aol.com
Burt Compton has earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time. Burt is the chief flight instructor and owner of Marfa Gliders Soaring School (www.FlyGliders.com) at Marfa Municipal Airport (MRF) in west Texas. He also serves as a pilot examiner and safety counselor for the FAA's Lubbock FSDO.

Douglas John "Doug" CONCIATU, Master CFI 
Sterling Heights MI 
E-mail: Champ59E@aol.com
Douglas Conciatu recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time. Doug is an independent flight instructor at Ray Community Airport (57D) as well as a pilot at EAA's Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh. He also serves as a safety counselor for the Detroit FSDO and is an active Young Eagles pilot.

Helen Ruth CRANZ, Master CFI 
Midway City CA
E-mail: HiFlyer1@dslextreme.com
Helen Cranz recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Helen is the Long Beach Flying Club and Flight Academy chief flight instructor, a Part 141 school at Long Beach Airport (LGB). She is also active in Orange County chapter of the 99s and teaches aircraft dispatcher classes in the Long Beach area.

William Roger "Bill" DONBERG, Master CFI  
Kewadin MI 
E-mail: BPDonberg@aol.com
William Donberg recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bill is the assistant chief flight instructor at Northwestern Michigan College's aviation division (www.NMC.edu), a Part 141 flight school at Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport (TVC). He specializes in initial CFIs and also teaches in the college's professional pilot curriculum.

John Kent EARLYWINE, Master CFI 
Fort Wayne IN
E-mail: KE4034@aol.com
John Earlywine recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. John is a flight instructor in airplanes and gliders for Kendallville Flying Service (www.KendallvilleFlyingService.com) at the Kendallville Airport (C62). He also serves as a Soaring Society instructor and is the holder of an SAA Silver Badge as well as two Indiana soaring records.

David Hall FAILE Jr, Master CFI 
Fairfield CT
E-mail: DFaile@aol.com
David Faile recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time. David instructs at Bridgeport's Sikorsky Airport (BDR) and recently completed construction of a VAN's RV-6. He is also an Airport Support Network representative, Flight Advisor/Tech Counselor and a safety counselor for the Windsor Locks FSDO.

Robert Edward "Bob" JEX, Master CFI 
Orlando FL
E-mail: Robert.E.Jex@faa.gov
Robert Jex recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bob is an aviation safety inspector (operations) with the FAA's Orlando FSDO. He is also a reserve naval flight officer (NFO) and works during Sun 'n Fun in the FAA's safety center and production studio at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport (LAL).

Kevin Paul OLSON, Master CFI  
Maple Grove MN 
E-mail: KPO@CenterlineFlight.com
Kevin Olson recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Kevin is an independent CFI and ground instructor as well as a Cirrus Standardized Instructor at Crystal Airport (MIC) in Minneapolis. He also serves on the board of directors for the Yankee Flying Club and the Honeywell Flying Club.

Allan Jerome "Al" SKRAMSTAD, Master CFI  
West Fargo ND 
E-mail: ASkramstad@ideaone.net
Allan Skramstad recently earnd his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time. Al is an associate professor of aviation at UND's John D Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. He also serves as president of the University Aviation Association (UAA) and is an Aviation Safety Counselor with the FAA's Fargo FSDO.

INITIALS

William Goodwin "Bill" CASTLEN, Master CFI 
Destin FL
E-mail: OldCFII@cox.net
William Castlen recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Bill is a flight instructor and chief pilot with Miracle Strip Aviation at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (DTS). He is also a Cirrus standardized instructor and serves as a pilot examiner as well as a safety counselor for the FAA's Birmingham FSDO.

Jonathan Edwin REID, Master CFI 
Woodland MI
E-mail: Jonathan@beacon.aero
Jonathan Reid recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Jonathan specializes in primary, instrument and TAA training at Benz Aviation East (www.BenzAviation.com), a full service FBO and Cessna Pilot Center at Ionia County Airport (Y70). He also serves as a standardization officer and chief check pilot for the CAP's Michigan Wing.

Kyle Vincent THOMAS, Master CFI
Durant OK
E-mail: KThomas@sosu.edu
Kyle Thomas recently earmed his Master Instructor accreditation. Kyle is the chief flight instructor in Southeastern Oklahoma State University's aviation program ( http://Aviation.SOSU.edu/ ) at Eaker Field Airport (DUA). He is also an advisor to the university's intercollegiate flight team and serves as a safety counselor for the Oklahoma City FSDO.

FMI: www.nafinet.org