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 February are:

RENEWALS

Thomas Joseph "Tom" CONNOLLY, Master CFI 
Port Orange  FL  
E-mail:    ConnollT@erau.edu
Thomas Connolly recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Tom is associate dean and presidential chair of aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. He also serves with the University Aviation Association and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Orlando FSDO.

Barry Wayne CROUSE, Master CFI  
Atlanta  GA
E-mail:    Barry.Crouse@ipst.gatech.edu
Barry Crouse recently renewed his Master Instructor designation. Barry is the faculty advisor for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Flying Club and instructs at the Fulton County Airport (FTY). He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Atlanta FSDO.

Richard Loren "Rich" STOWELL, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Ventura  CA
E-mail:    Rich@richstowell.com
Richard Stowell recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic designation. Rich is an aviation author and lecturer and works as an independent aerobatic flight instructor. He has done more than 22,600 spins -- the equivalent of traveling 1,100 vertical miles in a spin. He also serves as an ASC for the Van Nuys FSDO.

INITIALS

Richard Kurt BARNHART, Master CFI 
Farmersburg  IN
E-mail:    R-Barnhart@indstate.edu
Kurt Barnhart recently earned his Master Instructor designation. Kurt is an assistant professor of aviation at Indiana State University's Department of Aerospace Technology in Terre Haute. He also works as a CFI, an A&P and a designated mechanic examiner at Sullivan County Airport (SIV).

Boni Oseisie CALDEIRA, Master CFI
Columbia  MD 
E-mail:    Caldeira@comcast.net
Boni Caldeira recently earned his Master Instructor designation. Boni is an independent CFI at Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) in Gaithersburg. He instructs primarily for the TSS Flying Club and specializes in primary, instrument and GPS training.

Thomas Michael "Mike" GARRISON, Master CFI 
Leawood  KS 
E-mail:    MGarrison@gbutler.com
Michael Garrison recently earned his Master Instructor designation. Mike is an independent flight instructor as well as a professional engineer. He specializes in instrument and multiengine instruction at Olathe's Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC) and New Century Aircenter (IXD).

Steven William "Steve" TKACHUK, Master CFI
Battle Creek  MI 
E-mail:    S.Tkachuk@wmich.edu
Steven Tkachuk recently earned his Master Instructor designation. Steve is a Western Michigan University flight instructor at Kellogg Airport (BTL) in Battle Creek. He also serves as a coach for the University's flight team as well as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Grand Rapids FSDO.

Charles Barcley "Chip" VERSAW, Master CFI  
Kenai,  Alaska 
E-mail:    CVersaw@ak.net
Charles Versaw recently earned his Master Instructor designation. Chip is chief pilot and owner of Alaska Flying Network at Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN). He also serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Anchorage FSDO and was named Alaska's 2002 Safety Counselor of the Year.

FMI: www.nafinet.org