Designation Recognized By The FAA For CFI Renewal

Five flight instructors completed the Master Instructors course to receive the prestigious designation in the month of August. 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 August are:

William Goodwin "Bill" Castlen of Dothan, AL, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bill teaches with the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association. He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Birmingham FSDO area and is a certified Cirrus instructor at Dothan Regional Airport (DHN) specializing in technically advanced aircraft training. E-mail: OldCFII@me.com
 
Stephen Frank "Steve" Riethof of Englewood, NJ, a 4-time Master and charter 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. A retired US Air Force veteran, Steve is a vice president and recent inductee into the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Teterboro FSDO area. E-mail: Steve@Riethof.net

David Alan "Dave" Simpson of San Diego, CA, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Dave owns and operates Take Flight San Diego at Gillespie Field (SEE) where he specializes in primary, commercial, and instrument flight training. He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's San Diego FSDO area. E-mail: Dave@TakeFlightSanDiego.com

David Paul St George of Ithaca, NY, an 8-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. David is the chief flight instructor with East Hill Flying Club, a Part 141 flight school at Ithaca's Tompkins County Regional Airport (ITH). He also serves as a designated pilot examiner and a FAASTeam representative in the Rochester FSDO area. E-mail: DavidSaintGeorge@gmail.com
 
Richard Kingston "Rick" Wright of Phoenix, AZ, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Rick is the chief pilot and general manager of Alliance Flight Schools in Scottsdale where he specializes in Cirrus transitions and technically advanced aircraft training. A Marine Corps veteran, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO area. E-mail: Rick@WrightAviation.net

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org