Designation Recognized By The FAA For CFI Renewal

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

Shane Larrel Vande Voort, Pella, IA. Master CFI
Shane Vande Voort, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Shane is the chief flight instructor as well as president of Classic Aviation at Pella Municipal Airport (PEA) where he specializes in technically advanced aircraft and tailwheel training. He also serves as a pilot examiner (DPE) and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Des Moines FSDO area. E-mail: Shane@FlyClassicAviation.com

Todd Michael Underwood, Prescott, AZ. Master CFI
Todd Underwood, a 2-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Todd is a Prescott-area flight instructor working with Wright Aviation, North-Aire Aviation, and FreedomAir at Prescott's Love Field (PRC). He also serves as a volunteer Angel Flight pilot and is a designated pilot examiner as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO area. E-mail: Todd@Atjeu.com

Brian Lee Robbins, Columbus, NJ. Master CFI  
Brian L Robbins, a 4-time Master and charter SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Brian is an independent flight instructor as well as an instructor with Free Flight Aviation at Medford's Flying W Airport and Resort (N14). He also serves as a FAASTeam lead representative in the FAA's Philadelphia FSDO area. E-mail: Aeromentor@comcast.net

Kenneth Steven "Ken" Fukayama, Prescott, AZ. Master CFI
Ken Fukayama, a 1st-time Master, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Ken serves as a ground instructor and flight check instructor with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Prescott's Love Field (PRC). He was also recently named the 2013 Arizona State Flight Instructor of the Year by the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO and will now move on to the regional competition. E-mail: FukayF5E@ERAU.edu

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org