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 accredited as Master Instructors
by NAFI, their professional aviation education association.
To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there
are approximately 90,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 600
of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of
the prestige conferred by this title, the last twelve 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 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, those "Teachers of Flight," who are
demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional
growth, and service to the aviation community.
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during May
are:
RENEWALS
William Edward "Bill"
Cornick, Master CFI & Master CFI-Aerobatic
Thousand Oaks, CA
E-mail: AkroPilot@BillCornick.com
William E Cornick recently renewed his Master CFI and Master
CFI-Aerobatic accreditations. Bill is an airshow performer and
judge as well as an independent aerobatic flight instructor at
Camarillo Airport (CMA). The holder of IAC's "All Ten" Aerobatic
Achievement Award, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative for
the Van Nuys FSDO.
Aaron Michael Glassman, Master CFI
Norfolk, VA
E-mail: AGlassman@Fly-AEI.com
Aaron Glassman recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Aaron
is the director of education with Aviation Education Institute (www.Fly-AEI.com)
where he provides safety seminars and ground training at Hampton
Roads Executive Airport (PVG). He also serves as an Angel Flight
pilot and a FAASTeam rep with the FAA's Richmond FSDO.
Cathleen Moira "Cathy" Steele, Master CFI
Severna Park, MD
E-mail: C.M.Steele@juno.com
Cathleen Steele recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
Cathy is the chief flight instructor at Chesapeake Proflight (www.LearnToFlyAtBWI.com),
a Part 141 flight school at Baltimore-Washington International
Airport (BWI). She also serves as a FAASTeam representative for the
FAA's Baltimore FSDO.
INITIALS
Charles Tuckerman "Charlie" Fitzgerald Jr, Master
CFI
Bellevue, WA
E-mail: Fitzgerald42@msn.com
Charles Fitzgerald recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Charlie is a flight instructor specializing in primary and
instrument training with Galvin Flying Services at Boeing Field
(BFI). He also serves as a docent with Seattle's Museum of Flight
and is a member of the Boeing Field Pilot's Resource Working
Group.
Lowell James Hinchee, Master
CFI-Aerobatic
Umatilla, FL
E-mail: LHinchee@aol.com
Lowell Hinchee recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic
accreditation. Lowell is an independent aerobatic flight instructor
specializing in unusual attitude recovery training at Winter Haven
Municipal Airport (GIF). He also serves as president of Foundation
Flyers (www.FoundationFlyers.com)
and is a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Orlando FSDO.
Andrew Michael "Andy" McCabe, Master CFI
Livermore CA
E-mail: StanfordFlying@gmail.com
Andrew McCabe recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Andy is
a senior flight instructor with the Stanford Flying Club (www.FlyStanford.com),
a Cessna Pilot Center at the Palo Alto Airport (PAO). He is also a
Cessna factory authorized instructor specializing in instrument and
G1000 training.
Craig Lee Thighe, Master CFI
Parker CO
E-mail: CThighe@gmail.com
Craig Thighe recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Craig is a Denver area flight and ground instructor working
primarily at Centennial Airport (APA). He also serves in the Civil
Air Patrol's Colorado Wing and is an Angel Flight pilot as well as
a FAASTeam representative with the FAA's Denver FSDO.