National Accreditation Recognized By The FAA

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

Charissa Annette Dyer-Kendler, Master CFI, New Richmond, OH. Charissa A Dyer-Kendler, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned her Master CFI accreditation. An active member of The 99s and Women in Aviation, Charissa is a flight and ground instructor with Sporty's Flight Academy at Batavia's Clermont County Airport (I69). She specializes in primary, instrument, glider, and simulator training. E-mail: PilotCharissa@yahoo.com

James Matthew "Matt" Johnson, Master CFI-Helicopter, Lebanon, OH. Matt is an air medical (EMS) pilot flying Eurocopter EC135s in the northern Kentucky area with PHI Air Medical. Additionally, he operates MattJohnsonHeliCFI while also serving as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam rep in the FAA's Cincinnati FSDO area. E-mail: Matt@MattJohnsonHeliCFI.com

J Clarke "Otter" McNeace, Master CFI-Aerobatic, Mesa, AZ.Clarke McNeace, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Otter is the vice president of flight operations & standards with APS Emergency Maneuver Training, a Part 141 flight school at Mesa's Williams Gateway Airport (IWA). He specializes in jet and turboprop upset prevention and recovery training. E-mail: Clarke.McNeace@APSTraining.com

Paul Weston "BJ" Ransbury, Master CFI-Aerobatic, Queen Creek, AZ.Paul BJ Ransbury, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. BJ is the chief flight instructor and president of APS Emergency Maneuver Training, a Part 141 flight school at Mesa's Williams Gateway Airport (IWA). He specializes in aerobatics, upset recovery, and air combat maneuvers training. E-mail: Paul.Ransbury@APSTraining.com

Gary Dale Reeves, Master CFI, Anaheim, CA. Gary D Reeves, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. The founder of the Pilot Safety Institute, Gary owns Sunset Flying  where he specializes in avionics, flight, and turbine transition training at the Long Beach Airport. Additionally, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Long Beach FSDO area. E-mail: Gary@SunsetFlying.com, GaryR@PilotSafety.org

William Henry "Bill" Schroeder, Master Instructor Emeritus, Carson City, NV.William H Schroeder, an 8-time Master and charter SAFE member, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education. Bill serves as a pilot examiner and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Reno FSDO area. Additionally, he is the CAP's Nevada Wing check pilot examiner as well as an independent flight and ground instructor in the Reno-Tahoe area. E-mail: CheckPilot@TheGrid.net

Nicholas Gregory "Greg" Soter, Master CFI, Orem, UT. Gregory Soter, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Greg is an independent flight and ground instructor specializing in primary and instrument training at Provo Municipal Airport (PVU). He also serves as an AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer and is a FAASTeam representative in the Salt Lake City FSDO area. E-mail: Greg@Soter.net

Obie Sigrest Young, Master CFI, Orlando, FL.Obie S Young, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Obie is president of the National Aviation Safety Foundation and recently retired as an FAA FAASTeam program manager. The 1978 National CFI of the Year, he currently serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Orlando FSDO area. E-mail: Obie1@cfl.rr.com

(Images Top to Bottom: (L-R) Dyer-Kendler, Johnson; (L-R) McNeace, Ransbury; (L-R) Reeves, Schroeder; (L-R) Soter, Young)

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org