NAFI Lauds December's Masters

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 81,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than four hundred of them have earned the Master designation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last eight FAA National Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs. In addition, the FAA recently 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 creme de la creme of the aviation industry!

Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during December are:

RENEWALS

Richard James "Dick" BEVINGTON, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Lyons CO
E-mail: DickBeving@earthlink.net
Richard Bevington recently renewed his Master CFI-A designation. Dick works as an advanced and aerobatic instructor at Air West Flight Center at Longmont's Vance Brand Airport (2V2). He also serves with the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) as an aerobatic judge and competitor.

Cleon Joseph BITER, Master CFI
Lyons CO
E-mail: CJBiter@aol.com
Cleon Biter recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Cleon is a nationally known aviation weather consultant as well as an independent flight instructor at Longmont's Vance Brand Airport (2V2). He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor with the Denver FSDO.

Tomas HORNAK, Master CFI
San Jose CA
E-mail: TomHornak@aol.com
Tom Hornak recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Tom operates his own aviation business, Thaviation, and is the general manager of Squadron 2 Flying Club at Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV). He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the San Jose FSDO.

Ralph Vincent POLLMILLER, Master CFI
Graham NC
E-mail: RPollmiller@earthlink.net
Ralph Pollmiller recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Ralph is the chief flight instructor and owner of Pollmiller Flight Training and is a retired Marine Corps warrant officer. He specializes in instrument training throughout the southeastern United States.

David Howard "Dave" WILEY, Master CFI
Lake Oswego OR
E-mail: WileySeaplanes@comcast.net
David Wiley recently earned his Master Instructor designation for the third time. Dave holds all 7 currently available flight instructor ratings as well as an A&P and is based at Wiley's Seaplane Port (20G3). He also serves as a pilot examiner and safety counselor for the Portland FSDO.

FMI: www.nafi.org