National Accreditation Recognized By The FAA

Seven CFIs completed Master Instructors course to receive the prestigious designation in the month of June. The title has been eared 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:

James Lee "Jim" Alsip, Indiantown, FL, a 3-time Master as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.  Jim owns Dylan Aviation, an aerobatic flight school at Indiantown Airport (X58) that specializes in basic aerobatic training as well as tailwheel transitions and upset recovery.  He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Orlando FSDO area. E-mail: Alsip@yahoo.com

Lamar Anthony  Childs, Pensacola, FL, 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Lamar specializes in primary and advanced flight training in single and multiengine aircraft and is the president of Lamar A Childs Flight Training  at Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport (PNS).  He also serves as a contract pilot for Allen Air LLC. E-mail: LAChilds@cox.net

Richard Michael "Mike" Colingy, Prescott, AZ, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Mike is an independent flight instructor as well as vice president of advanced programs for North-Aire, a Part 141 flight school at Prescott's Love Field (PRC).  He also serves as secretary of SAFE's government affairs committee. E-mail: MasterCFII@hotmail.com, MColigny@cableone.net

Jeanne Elizabeth Mac Pherson, Helena, MT, a 4-time Master as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently earned her Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.  Jeanne is a Helena-area aerobatic flight instructor who owns and operates Mountain Airdance at Helena Regional Airport (HLN).  She also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Helena FSDO area. E-mail: JEMacPherson@msn.com

Mark Edward Madden, Anchorage, AK, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Mark is a professor of aviation technology at the University of Alaska as well as an independent Merrill Field (PAMR) flight instructor.  He also serves on the board of the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation and is a FAASTeam representative in the Anchorage FSDO area. E-mail: MEMadden@UAA.Alaska.edu, MMadden@gci.net

Susan Kirstein Parson, Oakton, VA, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.  Susan is a special assistant to the FAA's Flight Standards director and editor of FAA Safety Briefing magazine as well as is an independent flight instructor in the Leesburg area.  She also serves with the Civil Air Patrol's Virginia Wing and is a FAASTeam representative in the Washington FSDO area. E-mail: Avi8rix@gmail.com

Mark Stephen Uhlman, Perry, OK, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Mark is the chief flight instructor and adjunct professor with Oklahoma State University's Part 141 aviation program at Stillwater Regional Airport (SWO).  He also serves as a FAASTeam representative is the FAA's Oklahoma City FSDO area. E-mail: MUhlman@OKState.edu

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org