Designation Recognized By The FAA For CFI Renewal

Five flight instructors completed the Master Instructors course to receive the prestigious designation in the month of March. 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.

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

Sean Walsh, Master CFI, New Fairfield, CT. Sean Walsh, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Sean is lead flight and ground instructor as well as the founder of Motion Simulations LLC, a school specializing simulator, avionics, and high performance training at Danbury Municipal Airport (DXR).  He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Windsor Locks FSDO area. E-mail:   Sean.Walsh@FullMotionFlight.com

Hobart Caleb "Hobie" Tomlinson, Master CFI, Huntington, VT. Hobart C Tomlinson, a 6-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  The 2012 National CFI of the Year, Hobie is a CSIP instructor and manager of Montairair Flight Services LLC at Burlington International Airport (BTV).  He also serves as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Portland Maine FSDO area. E-mail: HobieTW@att.net

Raymond Francis "Ray" Spengler Jr, Master CFI & Master GI, Odessa, TX. Raymond F Spengler, a 4-time double Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI and Master GI accreditations.  Ray is the president of Skypark Aviation LLC, a Cessna Pilot Center at Odessa-Schlemeyer Airport (ODO).  He also serves in the Civil Air Patrol's Texas Wing and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Lubbock FSDO area. E-mail: Ray@SkyparkFlying.com

Elaine Helen Kauh, Master CFI, Green Bay, WI. Elaine Kauh, a 2-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.  Elaine is a ground and flight instructor with Wisconsin Aviation at Watertown Municipal Airport (RYV).  A committed career flight instructor and aerobatic pilot, she also serves as a FAASTeam representative for the Milwaukee FSDO area. E-mail: Elaine.Kauh@WisconsinAviation.com

Charles Henry "Chuck" Ebbecke, Master CFI, Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Charles H Ebbecke, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Chuck is a flight and ground instructor with Mooney's MAPA Safety Foundation, as well as a senior aviation consultant and an independent instructor at Defuniak Springs Airport (54J).  He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Birmingham FSDO area. E-mail: Ebbecke@mchsi.com

FMi: www.MasterInstructors.org