National Accreditation Recognized By The FAA

Three instructors have earned their first Master Instructor designation in the month of November.

Master Instructors LLC said in a news release that all were accredited as Masters by Master Instructors LLC, the international Master Instructor accrediting authority. All obtained their designation through the Master Instructor "Fluid Review" program online.

Professional aviation educators who earned or renewed their "Master" title during November 2019 are:

Mark John Szpak, Prescott Valley, AZ. Master CFI
SAFE member Mark Szpak earned his second Master CFI accreditation on November 20. A graduate of ERAU-Prescott, Mark provides flight, ground, and simulator instruction with JetWright Aviation LLC at Prescott's Earnest Love Field (KPRC), Cottonwood Airport (P52) and Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (KDVT). He specializes in flight instructor training and jet transition training.

David James "Dave" McVinnie, Albuquerque, NM. Master CFI
David J McVinnie, a 12-time Master and charter SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI accreditation November 15. Dave is the president of McVinnie Aviation LLC where he specializes in technically advanced aircraft flight and ground training. A retired US Air Force veteran, he also serves as a pilot examiner (DPE) and FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Albuquerque FSDO area. He was the seventh (7th) aviation educator to earn the Master designation when the accreditation program was introduced by then-FAA Administrator Barry Valentine during Oshkosh AirVenture 1997.

Lara Zook Gaerte, Fort Wayne, IN. Master CFI
Lara Gaerte, a 7-time Master and SAFE member, renewed her Master CFI accreditation October 31. Lara is the president of the Air Race Classic and serves as a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Grand Rapids FSDO area. Additionally, she is the CEO, chief pilot and manager of Century Aviation, a full-service FBO at Indiana's DeKalb County Airport (KGWB).

Many of the most recent National Flight Instructors of the Year or National FAASTeam Representatives 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.

(Images provided by the individual Master Instructors)

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org