"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 perspective, there are approximately 91,000 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 12 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 August are:

RENEWALS

Karen Mayde Kahn, Master CFI     
Santa Barbara, CA
E-mail: KMKahn@verizon.net
Karen Kahn recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Karen is an independent CFI at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA). She also works as an aviation author and consultant (www.AviationCareerCounseling.com), flies B757/767s for Continental Airlines and is a FAASTeam representative with the FAA's Van Nuys FSDO.

Bernard Francis "Barney" King, Master CFI 
Salina, KS
E-mail: KingB@sal.KSU.edu
Bernard F King recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time. Barney is an associate professor of aviation at Kansas State University specializing in classroom training and Part 141 progress checks. A retired US Army aviator, he also serves as a Civil Air Patrol check pilot and is commander of CAP's Kansas Wing.

George Elliott Luck, Master CFI 
Everett, WA
E-mail: George.Luck@verizon.net
George E Luck recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time. George is an aviation consultant and independent flight instructor at Everett's Snohomish County-Paine Field (PAE). He also serves as an aviation officer in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and is an instructor with the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP).

Russell Frederick "Russ" Still, Master CFI 
Cumming, GA
E-mail: SkySports@earthlink.net
Russell F Still recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Russ is an aviation author as well as president of Atlanta Flight (www.Atlanta-Flight-Training.com) at Gwinnett County Airport (LZU) in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He specializes in primary and advanced flight training while also producing audio and online aviation training materials.

Ronnie Andrew "Ron" Towater, Master CFI
Ocala, FL
E-mail: OcalaAviation@aol.com
Ron Towater recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Ron is the chief flight instructor and president of Ocala Aviation Services (www.OcalaAviation.com) at Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field (OCF). He also serves as a check pilot with Florida's Civil Air Patrol and is a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Orlando FSDO.

Donna Forsyth Wilt, Master CFI
Sebastian, FL
E-mail: DWilt@fit.edu
Donna Wilt recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Donna is an associate professor of aviation at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne (MLA). She also serves as a judge for the Whily-Girls' national scholarship program and is an active member of the Spaceport Chapter of the 99s.

INITIALS

William George "Bill" Hill, Master CFI-Aerobatic 
Laguna Niguel, CA
E-mail: HillGroup@cox.net
William G Hill recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Bill instructs with Sunrise Aviation at John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA) where he specializes in aerobatic, instrument and technically advanced aircraft training. He also serves as treasurer of IAC Chapter 36, the San Diego Aerobatic Club "Hammerheads."

YuWeng Carl Shipek, Master CFI 
Aurora, CO
E-mail: YuWeng.Shipek@AdamAircraft.com
YuWeng Shipek recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Yuweng is an instructor pilot specializing in avionics and type specific transition training with Adam Aircraft at Centennial Airport (APA). A 2001 University of North Dakota graduate, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative with the FAA's Denver FSDO.

Stanley Joseph "Stan" Szybillo, Master CFI
Wilton Manors, FL
E-mail: StanS@Paradigm-Aviation.com
Stan Szybillo recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Stan is the chief pilot and president of Paradigm Aviation (www.Paradigm-Aviation.com) headquartered in Fort Lauderdale and specializing in technically advanced flight training. A retired Air Force officer, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's South Florida FSDO.

FMI: www.nafimasters.org