Fewer Than 700 CFI's Have Received Master Accreditation

Master Instructors LLC and its Board of Review has released the names of those CFI's accredited as Masters by Master Instructors LLC during the month of September.

Out of the approximately 93,000 CFIs in the United States, fewer than 700 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. The last 15 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. Simply put, the Master Instructor designation is a means by which to identify those outstanding aviation educators who are demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community.  

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

John G Dye, a member of IAC, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.  John is a flight instructor specializing in spin, aerobatic, and emergency upset recovery training with Skyline Aviation at Lisbon, Ohio's Salem Airpark (38D). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Cleveland FSDO area. E-mail:    S1Tango@Hughes.net

John Dye

Mark Richard Adams, Master CFI, El Paso TX. Mark is a 4-time Master and SAFE member. Mark is an independent El Paso-area flight instructor specializing in Cessna 300 / 400 initial and recurrent training.  He also serves as vice chairman of SAFE and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Albuquerque FSDO area. E-mail: AdamsMark@earthlink.net

William G Castlen, of Dothan, AL, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, is an independent flight instructor and certified Cirrus instructor at Dothan Regional Airport (DHN) specializing in technically advanced aircraft training.  A long time Destin, Florida, pilot examiner (DPE), Bill also teaches with the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Assoiciation. E-mail: OldCFII@me.com

Donald E Kaye, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Don is a San Jose area flight instructor specializing in instrument, recurrency, and complex training. He also teaches with the Mooney Pilot Proficiency Program and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's San Jose FSDO area. E-mail: DonKaye@earthlink.net

Robin H Lindstrom, a 7-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI and Master GI accreditations.  Rob is an assistant chief flight instructor with the Redstone Arsenal Flying Activity  at Redstone Army Airfield (HUA) in Huntsville, AL.  The holder of Master level WINGS, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Alabama & NW Florida FSDO area. E-mail: RobinHLindstrom@hotmail.com

Michael G Gaffney, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI and Master GI accreditations.  Mike is the director of flight training at the Florida Institute of Technology LLC in West Melbourne.  The 2007 National CFI of the Year, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Orlando / North Florida FSDO area. E-mail: MGaffney@FITAviation.com,  FlightLogics@gmail.com

Michael Gaffney

Lynnwood K "Woody" Minar, a 3-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Woody is the chief flight instructor with Osceola AeroSport at Osceola, Wisconsin's Simenstad Municipal Airport (KOEO).  He also works as a pilot for Custom Fire Apparatus and is a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Minneapolis FSDO area. E-mail: Woody.Minar@centurytel.net

FMI: www.SafePilots.org, www.MasterInstructors.org