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 87,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500
of them have earned the Master designation 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 designation 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. 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.
Through their dedication to excellence, Master Instructors have
earned their "black belts" in aviation education. They truly
represent the cr�me de la cr�me of the aviation
industry!
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during March
are:
RENEWALS
John Peter CHMIEL,
Master CFI
Wausau WI
E-mail: TaildraggerFlyer@yahoo.com
John Chmiel recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. John
works as a flight instructor and manager of Wausau Flying Service
(www.FlyWausau.com).
He also serves as manager of Wausau's Downtown Airport (AUW) and is
an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Milwaukee FSDO.
Francis Burton "Burt" COMPTON Jr, Master CFI
Marfa TX
E-mail: FBCompton@aol.com
Burt Compton has earned his Master CFI accreditation for the
4th time. Burt is the chief flight instructor and owner of Marfa
Gliders Soaring School (www.FlyGliders.com)
at Marfa Municipal Airport (MRF) in west Texas. He also serves as a
pilot examiner and safety counselor for the FAA's Lubbock FSDO.
Douglas John "Doug" CONCIATU, Master
CFI
Sterling Heights MI
E-mail: Champ59E@aol.com
Douglas Conciatu recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for
the 5th time. Doug is an independent flight instructor at Ray
Community Airport (57D) as well as a pilot at EAA's Pioneer Airport
in Oshkosh. He also serves as a safety counselor for the Detroit
FSDO and is an active Young Eagles pilot.
Helen Ruth CRANZ, Master CFI
Midway City CA
E-mail: HiFlyer1@dslextreme.com
Helen Cranz recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Helen is
the Long Beach Flying Club and Flight Academy chief flight
instructor, a Part 141 school at Long Beach Airport (LGB). She is
also active in Orange County chapter of the 99s and teaches
aircraft dispatcher classes in the Long Beach area.
William Roger "Bill" DONBERG, Master
CFI
Kewadin MI
E-mail: BPDonberg@aol.com
William Donberg recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bill
is the assistant chief flight instructor at Northwestern Michigan
College's aviation division (www.NMC.edu), a Part 141
flight school at Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport (TVC). He
specializes in initial CFIs and also teaches in the college's
professional pilot curriculum.
John Kent EARLYWINE, Master CFI
Fort Wayne IN
E-mail: KE4034@aol.com
John Earlywine recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. John
is a flight instructor in airplanes and gliders for Kendallville
Flying Service (www.KendallvilleFlyingService.com)
at the Kendallville Airport (C62). He also serves as a Soaring
Society instructor and is the holder of an SAA Silver Badge as well
as two Indiana soaring records.
David Hall FAILE Jr, Master CFI
Fairfield CT
E-mail: DFaile@aol.com
David Faile recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for
the 5th time. David instructs at Bridgeport's Sikorsky Airport
(BDR) and recently completed construction of a VAN's RV-6. He is
also an Airport Support Network representative, Flight Advisor/Tech
Counselor and a safety counselor for the Windsor Locks FSDO.
Robert Edward "Bob" JEX, Master CFI
Orlando FL
E-mail: Robert.E.Jex@faa.gov
Robert Jex recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bob is an
aviation safety inspector (operations) with the FAA's Orlando FSDO.
He is also a reserve naval flight officer (NFO) and works during
Sun 'n Fun in the FAA's safety center and production studio at
Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport (LAL).
Kevin Paul OLSON, Master CFI
Maple Grove MN
E-mail: KPO@CenterlineFlight.com
Kevin Olson recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Kevin is
an independent CFI and ground instructor as well as a Cirrus
Standardized Instructor at Crystal Airport (MIC) in Minneapolis. He
also serves on the board of directors for the Yankee Flying Club
and the Honeywell Flying Club.
Allan Jerome "Al" SKRAMSTAD, Master
CFI
West Fargo ND
E-mail: ASkramstad@ideaone.net
Allan Skramstad recently earnd his Master CFI accreditation for the
5th time. Al is an associate professor of aviation at UND's John D
Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. He also serves as president
of the University Aviation Association (UAA) and is an Aviation
Safety Counselor with the FAA's Fargo FSDO.
INITIALS
William Goodwin "Bill"
CASTLEN, Master CFI
Destin FL
E-mail: OldCFII@cox.net
William Castlen recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Bill
is a flight instructor and chief pilot with Miracle Strip Aviation
at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (DTS). He is also a Cirrus
standardized instructor and serves as a pilot examiner as well as a
safety counselor for the FAA's Birmingham FSDO.
Jonathan Edwin REID, Master CFI
Woodland MI
E-mail: Jonathan@beacon.aero
Jonathan Reid recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Jonathan specializes in primary, instrument and TAA training at
Benz Aviation East (www.BenzAviation.com),
a full service FBO and Cessna Pilot Center at Ionia County Airport
(Y70). He also serves as a standardization officer and chief check
pilot for the CAP's Michigan Wing.
Kyle Vincent THOMAS, Master CFI
Durant OK
E-mail: KThomas@sosu.edu
Kyle Thomas recently earmed his Master Instructor accreditation.
Kyle is the chief flight instructor in Southeastern Oklahoma State
University's aviation program ( http://Aviation.SOSU.edu/
) at Eaker Field Airport (DUA). He is also an advisor to the
university's intercollegiate flight team and serves as a safety
counselor for the Oklahoma City FSDO.