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 seven 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.

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

RENEWALS
Donna Forsyth WILT, Master CFI; Williamsburg  VA
E-mail: DFWilt@aol.com
Donna Wilt recently renewed her Master Instructor designation.  Donna is a flight instructor with Jamestown Flight Center at the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport (JGG).  She is active in the Ninety-Nines and works with AOPA's Airport Support Network.

Traci Michelle WHITE, Master CFI ; Orlando  FL
E-mail: Logan021396@cs.com
Traci White recently renewed her Master Instructor designation.  Traci is serving as an instructor pilot at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach.  She is an ERAU graduate and is presently working toward a masters degree in aeronautical science.

Raymond Lee "Ray" MEADE, Master CFI; Chester  VA
E-mail: RayMeade@att.net
Raymond Meade recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Ray works as an independent flight instructor at the Dinwiddie County (PTB) and Chesterfield County Airports (FCI).  He also works with AOPA's Airport Support Network and serves as a pilot examiner for the Richmond FSDO.

Bernard Francis "Barney" KING, Master CFI; Salina  KS
E-mail: KingB@sal.ksu.edu
Bernard King recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Barney works in the Department of Aviation at Kansas State University specializing in CFI ground training and Part 141 progress checks.  He also serves in the Civil Air Patrol and is a retired Army aviator.

Hal Raymond ELLIS, Master CFI; Centerville  VA
E-mail: HRE1@cox.net
Hal Ellis recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Hal specializes primary and advanced instruction at the Quantico Flying Club, a Part 141 school at Marine Corps Base Quantico (NYG).  He also serves as an Air Force officer with the Defense Information Systems Agency in Falls Church.

Michael Walter "Mike" BROWN, Master CFI; Frederick MD  
E-mail: Michael.W.Brown@faa.gov
Michael Brown recently renewed his Master CFI designation.  Mike is a former AOPA employee and is now an aviation safety analyst with the FAA's AFS-840 in Washington.  FAA Administrator Marion Blakey presented him with his Master CFI renewal credentials during the AirVenture 2003 "Meet the Masters" breakfast.

INITIALS
Richard Scott "Rich" KAPLAN, Master CFI; Uniontown  PA
E-mail: RKaplan@FlyIMC.com
Richard Kaplan recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Rich is the owner of Flight Level Aviation at Greene County Airport (WAY) in Waynesburg and specializes in instrument and simulator training.  He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor and medical examiner for the Allegheny FSDO.

Emmett James HOOLIHAN, Master CFI; La Verne  CA
E-mail: EJloulou@earthlink.net
Emmett Hoolihan recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Emmett is a staff flight instructor with the Runway 3-7 Flight School at La Verne's Brackett Field Airport (POC).  He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Los Angeles FSDO.

Amanda Jean GRUDEN, Master CFI; Milan  MI
E-mail: AGruden@wmich.edu
Amanda Gruden recently earned her Master Instructor designation.  Amanda is a lead flight instructor and Part 141 check pilot for Western Michigan University's College of Aviation at Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek (BTL).  She also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Grand Rapids FSDO.

Mark James BOYD, Master CFI; Santa Cruz  CA
E-mail: MarkBoyd@aol.com
Mark Boyd recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Mark is a flight instructor with the Santa Cruz Flying Club at Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) specializing in instrument and commercial training.  He is also an active Young Eagles pilot and mentors new CFIs.

FMI: www.nafinet.org