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 three 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 December are:

RENEWALS

Charles Arthur "Charlie" SKELTON, Master CFI, Branford  CT 
E-mail:    RBOCAS@msn.com
Charles Skelton recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Charlie is president and chief flight instructor of Yale University's Aviation Club at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN).  He also serves with AOPA's Airport Support Network and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Windsor Locks FSDO.

Walter Schuyler "Walt" SCHAMEL, Master CFI, Winter Haven  FL
E-mail:    WSSchamel@aol.com
Walter Schamel has renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Walt is the training manager for Airline Transport Professionals at Craig Municipal Airport (CRG) in Jacksonville.  He also serves in the Civil Air Patrol and is a safety counselor and pilot examiner for the Orlando FSDO.

William Jeffrey "Jeff" EDWARDS, Master CFI, Chesterfield  MO
E-mail:    VtailJeff@aol.com
Jeffrey Edwards recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Jeff is an independent flight instructor specializing in primary and recurrent training at the Spirit of St Louis Airport (SUS).  He also works as an aircraft accident investigator and serves as a safety counselor and examiner for the St Louis FSDO.

Christopher Timothy "Chris" ANDERSON, Master CFI, Janesville  WI
E-mail:    AV8@ticon.net
Christopher Anderson recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Chris is acting chief CFI for Wisconsin Aviation Academy and owner of Progressive Air, both located at Rock County Airport (JVL).  He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Milwaukee FSDO.

INITIALS

Joel David WEANER, Master CFI, Jacksonville  FL 
E-mail:    Joel@Beachbanners.com
Joel Weaner recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Joel is an independent flight instructor and owner of Beach Banners, a banner towing business located at Craig Airport (CRG).  He also provides airborne traffic reporting for many radio and TV stations in the Jacksonville area.

Robert Joseph "Bob" SPERA, Master CFI, Wise  VA   
E-mail:    Liberty@mounet.com
Robert Spera recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Bob is the manager of Lonesome Pine Airport (LNP) and the owner of Liberty Flying Service.  He also serves in the CAP, works with AOPA's Airport Support Network and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Charleston FSDO. 

Jesse "Jess" SHERWOOD, Master CFI, Stilwell  KS
E-mail:   Jesse@idir.net
Jesse Sherwood recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Jess provides primary airplane instruction at Olathe's Johnson County Airport (OJC) for Air Associates, a Cessna Pilot Center, and Kansas City Aviation Center.  He also works as a helicopter instructor.

Anthony Louis "Tony" PALESOTTI, Master CFI, Searcy  AR 
E-mail:    TPalesotti@landofrost.com
Anthony Palesotti recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Tony is president and chief flight instructor for Flight Training Center at Searcy Municipal Airport (SRC).  He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Little Rock FSDO and was named Arkansas' 2002 CFI of the Year.

Arlynn Marine MC MAHON, Master CFI, Versailles  KY
E-mail:   Arlynn@aerotech.net
Arlynn McMahon recently earned her Master Instructor designation.  Arlynn is the chief flight instructor and director of marketing for Aero-Tech Inc, a flight school with campuses in Lexington (LEX), Louisville (LOU) and Jamestown (K24), KY.  She also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Louisville FSDO.

Charles Ray "Chuck" MC GILL, Master CFI, San Diego  CA
E-mail:    Chuck@SafeFlightIntl.com
Charles McGill recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Chuck is the owner of Safe Flight International and provides high performance Cessna and Mooney instruction at Montgomery Field (MYF).  He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the San Diego FSDO and is a retired United States Marine.

Daniel Paul "Dan" MAHONEY, Master CFI, Key Colony Beach  FL 
E-mail:    DM2953@aol.com
Daniel Mahoney recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Dan is an independent flight instructor at Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) as well as an Airbus A330 check airman for US Airways.  He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Miami FSDO.

Gregory "Greg" KESHISHIAN, Master CFI, New York  NY
E-mail:   GregKesh@att.net
Gregory Keshishian recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Greg is an independent flight instructor specializing in high-performance singles and light twins in the New York metropolitan area.  He also instructs with the Bonanza Society's Pilot Proficiency Program and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Alan Ross EDWARDS, Master CFI, Foley  AL   
E-mail:    Yachts2@gulftel.com
Alan Edwards recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Alan is independent flight instructor specializing in instrument and glider instruction at the Foley (5R4) and Gulf Shores (JKA) Airports in Alabama.  He is also a teacher of mathematics at Foley High School.

Leanne Marie CHANDLER, Master CFI, Holland  MI  
E-mail:    LCM20C@aol.com
Leanne Chandler recently earned her Master Instructor designation.  Leanne is a lead flight instructor for Western Michigan University's College of Aviation at Kellogg Airport (BTL) in Battle Creek.  She is currently restoring an S1C Pitts aircraft and is working toward an A&P certificate.

FMI: www.nafinet.org