Organization Lauds February's Master CFIs

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) just announced their February Master Instructors appointment/renewals. The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA that is earned by a candidate through a rigorous process of continuing education and peer review. Much like a flight instructor's certificate, it must be renewed biennially.

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. 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. 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 February are:

Sean Eric ELLIOTT, Master CFI   
Oshkosh  WI
E-mail:   SElliott@eaa.org
Sean Elliott recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Sean is a 1990 graduate of ERAU in Daytona Beach and has served as CEO of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) since 1996. He is now director of flight operations for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). 

Henry Kim "Hank" HOLEVINSKY, Master CFI    
Lowell  IN
E-mail:   Prone2Flight@yahoo.com
Henry Holevinsky recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Hank is a faculty member and aviation instructor in the Department of Engineering and Technology at South Surban College.  He also instructs for Associated Air Activities at Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ).

Margaret Crenshaw RIDDLE, Master CFI        
Raleigh  NC
E-mail:   MCRiddle@intrex.net
Margaret Riddle recently renewed her Master CFI designation.  Margaret is an independent flight and ground instructor specializing in instrument and CFI training in the Raleigh-Durham area.  She is also active in The 99s and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Greensboro FSDO.

Stewart Douglas "Doug" STEWART, Master CFI    
North Egremont  MA
E-mail:   Doug@DSFlight.com
Douglas Stewart recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Doug is owner of DSFI (www.DSFlight.com), a flight school located at Kline Kill Airport (NY1) in Ghent, NY.  He also serves as a designated pilot examiner and safety counselor for FSDOs in Windsor Locks and Albany.

Vaclav George "Jim" UJCIK, Master CFI     
Dayton  OH
E-mail:   FlyTeach@mindspring.com
Jim Ujcik recently earned his Master Instructor designation for the fourth time.  Jim is the owner of Soaring Eagles Flying Services.  Soaring Eagles is an independent flight instruction company operating at Dayton's Greene County Airport (I19).

Peter Michael "Pete" KRPATA, Master CFI          
Bonita Springs  FL
E-mail:    Krpatak@hotmail.com
Peter Krpata recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Pete worked as a CFI and Part 135 charter pilot for Express Flight at Missouri's Rosecrans Airport (STJ) in St Joseph.  He is now instructing and flying charters with London Aviation Group at Florida's Naples Airport (APF).

Laurie Ann PUCKETT, Master CFI      
Laurel  MT    
E-mail:   LPuckett@NorthernSkies.com
Laurie Puckett recently earned her Master Instructor designation.  Laurie is assistant chief flight instructor and a ground instructor with Northern Skies Aviation at Laurel Municipal Airport (6S8).  She also works with local high school students interested in aviation careers.

FMI: www.nafinet.org