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. 

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

RENEWALS

James Henry "Jim" BEHRENS, Master CFI

Canby MN
E-mail:  SNJJim@yahoo.com
James Behrens recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Jim, a retired Air Force officer, owns and operates Behrens Aviation (www.BehrensAviation.com). He specializes in primary and instrument training at several airports in southwestern Minnesota and serves on the Canby Airport (CNB) board of directors.

Jerard Emmet "Jerry" DELANEY II, Master CFI

Maybee MI  
E-mail:  Jerry@antila.net
Jerry Delaney recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time. Jerry is a flight and ground instructor with Monroe Aviation (www.MonroeAviation.com) at Monroe Custer Airport (TTF). He serves as a director of the Detroit Aviation Safety Counselors organization and is himself a safety counselor for the Detroit FSDO.

Bridgette Lynn DOREMIRE, Master CFI

Van Nuys CA
E-mail:  Jedinein@adelphia.net
Bridgette Doremire recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Bridgette is the manager and a flight instructor with Gene Hudson Flight Training at Van Nuys Airport (VNY).  She specializes in technically advanced aircraft instruction, primary through advanced, and serves as a safety counselor for the FAA's Van Nuys FSDO.

Linda Mae DRAPER, Master CFI

Gardnerville NV  
E-mail:  Info@nifti.com
Linda Mae Draper recently renewed her Master Instructor designation. Linda Mae is the chief CFI and president of NIFTI, a flight school based at Nevada's Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV). She is also active in the 99s as well as the Civil Air Patrol and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Reno FSDO. 

Daniel Max "Dan" KEEN, Master CFI

Lafayette IN
E-mail:  DanielKeen@aol.com
Daniel Keen recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time. Dan, a former aviation education specialist at Purdue University, is now an aviation safety inspector with the FAA's Indianapolis FSDO. He specializes in general aviation issues and serves as a Part 135 principle operations inspector.

David Peter "Dave" LOHMANN, Master CFI

Mililani HI / Edwards CO
E-mail:   DLohmann@earthlink.net
David Lohmann recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Dave is a flight instructor at Hawaii's Kalaeloa Airport (HJR) and teaches aviation classes at Honolulu Community College. Specializing in CFI training, he also serves in the Civil Air Patrol and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Honolulu FSDO.

Jason Alan RANDAL, Master CFI

San Clemente & Mariposa CA
E-mail:  Mail@JasonRandal.com
Jason Randal recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Jason specializes in multiengine, instrument and helicopter training in the San Clemente and Mariposa areas. He also serves on the Mariposa Airport (MPI) advisory board and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Fresno FSDO.

Thomas Allen "Tom" REED, Master CFI

Toledo OH
E-mail:  Me@TAReed.net
Thomas Reed recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Tom is an independent flight instructor specializing in instrument and multiengine training at several Toledo airports. He also serves as president of Blue Horizons Flying Club (www.Blue-Horizons.org) and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's Cleveland FSDO.

Michael Taylor "Mike" VIVION, Master CFI

Crookston MN  
E-mail:  MVivion@gra.midco.net
Michael Vivion recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Mike is the chief pilot and aviation program manager at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (CKN). He also serves as vice president of the International Association of Natural Resource Pilots and is a prolific aviation writer.

Ludwig Joseph "Lou" WIPOTNIK, Master CFI

Mount Prospect IL
E-mail:  Jan.Lou@comcast.net
Lou Wipotnik has earned his Master CFI designation for the 5th time. Lou teaches with Palwaukee Flyers at Palwaukee Airport (PWK) and was the 1996 National CFI of the Year. He also serves in the CAP and is a safety counselor for the DuPage FSDO. Lou has held the Master CFI designation continuously since 1998.

INITIALS

Bruce Donald JAEGER, Master CFI

Willmar MN  
E-mail:  Bruce.Jaeger@WillmarAirService.com
Bruce Jaeger recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bruce is the owner of Willmar Air Service (www.WillmarAirService.com) located at the Willmar Municipal Airport (ILL) and the oldest FBO in Minnesota. He also serves as a director of the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association Safety Foundation. 

Robert Wesley Laituri "Rob" KRIEG, Master CFI

Camp Courtney, Okinawa
E-mail:  MisterBlitz@yahoo.com
Marine LtCol Robert Krieg recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Rob is an independent flight instructor specializing in primary flight training at the Kadena Air Force Base aeroclub in Okinawa. Prior to his overseas deployment, he served in a similar capacity at Quantico's Marine Corps flying club in Virginia.

FMI: www.nafinet.org