"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 90,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500
of them have earned the Master accreditation 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 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 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.
Through their dedication to excellence, Master Instructors have
earned their "black belts" in aviation education.
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during
September are:
RENEWALS
David Paul St. George, Master
CFI
Ithaca, NY
E-mail: David@myfbo.com
David St George recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for
the 5th time. David is the chief flight and ground instructor
at East Hill Flying Club (www.EHFC.net), a Part
141 flight school at Ithaca's Tompkins County Airport (ITH).
He also serves as an aviation safety counselor and pilot examiner
for the FAA's Rochester FSDO.
Walter Schuyler "Walt" Schamel, Master
CFI
Winter Haven, FL
E-mail: WSSchamel@aol.com
Walt Schamel recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the
4th time. Walt is the chief flight instructor and training
manager for Airline Transport Professionals at Craig Airport (CRG)
in Jacksonville. The 2004 National ASC of the Year, he also
serves as a pilot examiner and safety counselor for the FAA's
Orlando FSDO.
James Steven "Steve" Rutland, Master
CFI
Enterprise, AL
E-mail: SRutland@adelphia.net
Steven Rutland recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the
4th time. Steve is a fixed and rotary wing instructor at Fort
Rucker as well as Double Bridges Aviation, a Part 141 flight school
at Enterprise Airport (EDN). He also teaches at Wallace
College and serves as a safety counselor for the FAA's Birmingham
FSDO.
Robin Henry "Rob" Lindstrom, Master CFI & Master
GI
Huntsville, AL
E-mail: RobinHLindstrom@hotmail.com
Rob Lindstrom recently renewed his Master CFI and Master Ground
Instructor accreditations. Rob is the assistant chief CFI for
the Redstone Arsenal Flying Club at Redstone Army Airfield
(HUA). He also teaches at the University of Alabama in
Huntsville and serves as a safety counselor for the FAA's
Birmingham FSDO.
Donald Ellis "Don" Kaye, Master
CFI
Santa Clara, CA
E-mail: DonKaye@earthlink.net
Donald Kaye recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Don is an independent flight instructor specializing in Mooney
aircraft at numerous San Jose area airports. He also teaches
with the Mooney Pilot Proficiency Program and is active in the
FAA's WINGS program as well as a local Aviation Explorer
post.
Michael Gerard "Mike" Gaffney, Master
CFI
Lake St Louis, MO
E-mail: MGaffney@SkylineAero.com
Michael Gaffney recently renewed his Master CFI
accreditation. Mike is the chief CFI at Skyline Aeronautics
(www.SkylineAero.com),
a Spirit of St Louis Airport (SUS) Part 141 flight school. He
also serves as a safety counselor for the local FSDO and was
recently named the 2006 St Louis CFI of the Year.
Terry Wayne Brandt, Master
CFI
Avondale, AZ
E-mail: TBrandt33@earthlink.net
Terry Brandt recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the
4th time. Terry is the vice president of flight operations
and chief flight instructor with Groen Brothers Aviation at Buckeye
Municipal Airport (BXK). He also serves as a glider and
gyroplane pilot examiner as well as a safety counselor for the
FAA's Scottsdale FSDO.
INITIALS
Judy Ann Phelps, Master
CFI-Aerobatic
Santa Paula, CA
E-mail: Judy@CPAviation.com
Judy Phelps recently earned her Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.
Judy is the vice president and co-owner of CP Aviation (www.CPAviation.com),
a Cessna Pilot Center at Santa Paula Airport (SZP). She specializes
in teaching women to fly as well as aerobatic, emergency maneuver
and tailwheel training. She is the first woman to earn this
aerobatic accreditation.
Lynnwood Karl "Woody" Minar, Master CFI
Dresser, WI
E-mail: Woody.Minar@centurytel.net
Lynnwood "Woody" Minar recently earned his Master CFI
accreditation. Woody is the chief flight instructor with Osceola
Aero flight school (www.OsceolaAero.com)
at western Wisconsin's Osceola Municipal Airport (I75). He
specializes in primary and instrument flight and ground
training.
Bart Charles Meltzer, Master CFI
Seattle WA
E-mail: BartMeltzer@earthlink.net
Bart Meltzer recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Bart is
a flight instructor with Galvin Flying Service (www.GalvinFlying.com),
a Part 61 & 141 flight school on Seattle's Boeing Field (BFI).
A retired US Navy E-6A Mercury flight engineer, he holds an A&P
certificate and specializes in Columbia instruction.
Bret Patrick Koebbe, Master CFI
Cincinnati, OH
E-mail: BPKoebbe@hotmail.com
Bret Koebbe recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Bret is
the assistant to the chairman of the board of Sporty's Pilot Shop
(www.Sportys.com) and
is also a manager of Sporty's video production department. In
addition, he specializes in advanced and complex aircraft flight
training at Batavia's Clermont County Airport (I69).
Paul Edward Jurgens II, Master CFI
Williamsburg, OH
E-mail: PJurgens@Sportys.com
Paul Jurgens recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Paul is
the vice president of publishing for Sporty's Pilot Shop (www.Sportys.com) and
specializes in product development. In addition, he is the chief
flight instructor for glider and multiengine operations for
Sporty's Academy and Eastern Cincinnati Aviation at Clermont County
Airport (I69).
Michael Gerard "Mike" Gaffney, Master
GI
Lake St Louis, MO
E-mail: MGaffney@SkylineAero.com
Michael Gaffney recently earned his Master Ground Instructor
accreditation. Mike is the chief flight instructor at Skyline
Aeronautics (www.SkylineAero.com),
a Spirit of St Louis Airport (SUS) Part 141 flight school. He also
serves as a safety counselor for the local FSDO and was recently
named the 2006 St Louis CFI of the Year.
Patrick John Dugan, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Ventura, CA
E-mail: Patrick.Dugan@sbcglobal.net
Patrick Dugan recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic
accreditation. Patrick is an aerobatic flight and ground instructor
with CP Aviation (www.CPAviation.com),
a Cessna Pilot Center at Santa Paula Airport (SZP). He specializes
in tailwheel, aerobatic and emergency maneuvers training.