"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.