The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) has announced its newest selections for its prestigious "Master CFI" designation, a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of these very special aviation educators.

To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 87,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500 of them have earned the Master designation thus far.

The last ten FAA National Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs, according to NAFI. 

"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," said NAFI to Aero-News

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

RENEWALS

• Edward William "Bill" Otway, Master CFI     
  San Antonio, TX
• David James "Dave" McVinnie, Master CFI      
  Albuquerque, NM
• David Allen Koehn, Master CFI       
  Tulsa, OK
• Helen D "Pat" Knight, Master CFI      
  Naperville, IL
• Edgar Melville "Ed" Fink, Master CFI      
  Fort Myers, FL
• David Dudley Bradley, Master CFI         
  Boonville, MO

INITIALS

• Leanne Walsh, Master CFI         
  Arlington, TX
• Matthew Fredrick "Matt" Velure, Master CFI    
  Scappoose, OR
• Sven Samson, Master CFI   
  Sanford, FL
• Randal Rock "Randy" Rowles, Master CFI    
  Fort Worth, TX
• Craig Michael Patterson Master CFI    
  Midland, TX

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.

In addition, the FAA has approved the designation as an alternate means for CFIs to renew their flight instructor certificates.

FMI: www.nafi.net