National Accreditation Recognized By The FAA

Seven instructors have received for the first time or renewed their Master Instructor designation in the month of February.

Master Instructors LLC said in a news release that all were accredited as Masters by Master Instructors LLC, the international Master Instructor accrediting authority, through the Fluid Review program online.

Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during February 2018 are:

Master CFI Emeritus John Wesley "Jack" Vandeventer, Zionsville, IN
John W "Jack" Vandeventer, a 7-time Master and a charter member of SAFE, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status January 31 in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education. Jack is an independent CFI who instructs with Montgomery Aviation at Indianapolis Executive Airport (TYQ) where he specializes in technically advanced and high performance flight training. A former member of SAFE's board of directors, he also serves a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Indianapolis FSDO area. Email: Jack@MasterInstruction.com

Master CFI James Leighton "Jim" Stover, Fredericksburg, VA
James L Stover, a 9-time Master and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC's MICEP program Februay 18. A retired US Army infantry officer, Jim is the chief flight instructor at JLS Aviation, a Part 141 flight school at Shannon Airport (EZF), where he specializes in light sport through commercial flight training. He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Richmond FSDO area. Email: StoverJL@cox.net

Master CFI Stewart Douglas "Doug" Stewart, South Egremont, MA
Douglas Stewart, a 10-time Master and a founding member of SAFE, renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program February 20. The 2004 National CFI of the Year, he owns and operates Doug Stewart Flight Instruction at Columbia County Airport (1B1) in Hudson, New York. Doug was the original executive director of SAFE, the Society of Aviation & Flight Educators (http://SafePilots.us/).  Additionally, he serves as a pilot examiner (DPE) and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Albany / Windsor Locks FSDO areas. Email: Doug@DSFlight.com

Master CFI Michael Louis Phillips,  Ventura, CA
Michael L Phillips, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI accreditation February 1. Michael is a flight, ground, and simulator instructor with CP Aviation, a Cessna Pilot Center at Santa Paula Airport (KSZP). A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he also serves on the Master Instructor Board of Review as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Van Nuys FSDO area and is a former member of the SAFE Board of Directors.  Email: MCFIMLP@gmail.com

Master CFI Lonnie Lee Hilkemeier,  Boulder, CO
Lonnie L Hilkemeier, an 11-time Master and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program February 20. Colorado's first Master Instructor in 1998, Lonnie is the senior flight instructor and president of Specialty Flight Training, a Cessna Pilot Center at Boulder Airport (BDU). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Denver FSDO area. Additionally, he was one of the first aviation educators to earn a Master designation when the accreditation program was first introduced in 1997 and is only the third instructor to ever be accredited eleven times. Email: Lonnie@SpecialtyFlight.com

Master CFI Parvez Dara, Toms River, NJ
Parvez Dara, a 7-time Master as well as a member of SAFE's board of directors, renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC's MICEP program February 1. Parvez was a longtime New Jersey aviation medical examiner (AME) and is a Mooney Pilot Proficiency flight and ground instructor with the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association Safety Foundation. He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Philadelphia FSDO area.  Email: DaraParvez@gmail.com

Master CFI-Aerobatic Henry Gene Behrends, Cochran, GA
Gene Behrends, a 1st-time Master as well as a member of SAFE and IAC, earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program February 18. Gene is the assistant chief flight instructor at Eastman's Middle Georgia State University flight department (EZM).  In that capacity, he specializes in stage checks, end-of-course checks, aerobatic instruction, and initial CFI training.  Email: Gene.Behrends@MGA.edu

Many of the most recent National Flight Instructors of the Year or National FAASTeam Representatives 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.

(Images provided by the individual Master Instructors)

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org