Designation Recognized By The FAA For CFI Renewal

Seven flight instructors completed the Master Instructors course to receive the prestigious designation in the month of April. The title has been earned 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.

Receiving the designation in April were:

Melvin Gerald "Mel" Burkart, Master Instructor Emeritus  Saint Louis  MO
Melvin G Burkart, a long time Master CFI and SAFE member, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education.  Mel is a retired professor of aviation at Saint Louis University's Parks College.  He also serves as a FAASTeam lead representative in the Saint Louis FSDO area. E-mail: MBurkart@earthlink.net.

Michael Christopher "Mike" DEMUDemullingLLING, Master CFI New Richmond  WI
Michael C Demulling, a 7-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Mike is the chief pilot for White House Custom Colour as well as manager of New Richmond Regional Airport.  Additionally, he owns Mike Demulling Flight Training specializing in primary, instrument, and recurrent training. E-mail:  Mike@NRAirport.com.    

Christopher John "Chris" Hope, Master CFI Kansas City  MO
Christopher J Hope, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  A volunteer Angel Flight pilot, Chris is an independent flight instructor specializing in primary and instrument training at Lee's Summit (LXT) and Johnson County Executive (OJC) airports.  He also serves as an IMC Club facilitator and a FAASTeam Representative in the FAA's Kansas City FSDO area. E-mail: TheHopesChris@gmail.com.

Michael Carl "Mike" Jesch, Master CFI Anaheim  CA
Michael C Jesch, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Mike is a volunteer Angel Flight West pilot as well as an independent Fullerton-area flight instructor and an American Airlines pilot.  Additionally, he serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Long Beach FSDO area. E-mail: MCJesch@gmail.com.

Daniel Max "Dan" Keen, Master CFI Lafayette  IN
Daniel M Keen, a 8-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Dan, a longtime volunteer and judge in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA), is an aviation safety inspector (ASI) and safety officer with the FAA's Indianapolis FSDO.  He specializes in aviator practical tests and also assists with the FSDO's FAASTeam activities. E-mail: DanielKeen@aol.com.

Kyle Vincent Thomas, Master CFI Durant  OK
Kyle V Thomas, a 5-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.   Kyle is an aviation professor and chief flight instructor with Southeastern Oklahoma State University's aviation institute at Eaker Field (DUA).  He is also an advisor to the local Women in Aviation chapter and a coach for the university's NIFA flight team.  In addition, he serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Oklahoma City FSDO area. E-mail: KThomas@SE.edu.

Ludwig Joseph "Lou" Wipotnik, Master CFI Wheeling  IL
Lou Wipotnik, a 9-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Lou is an independent Chicago-area flight and ground instructor at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK).  The 1996 Nationl CFI of the Year and the holder of an FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, he is also a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's DuPage FSDO area and serves in the Civil Air Patrol's Illinois Wing E-mail: Jan.Lou@comcast.net.

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org